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''[[Principles of Family History Research|Principles of Family History Research]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Use the Information|Step 5. Use the Information]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[ | ''[[Principles of Family History Research|Principles of Family History Research]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Use the Information|Step 5. Use the Information]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Evaluate the Evidence|Evaluate the Evidence]]'' | ||
Having found one or more records about a person, it is time to evaluate what you found and determine how helpful and reliable it is. For example, a birth date from a birth record is probably more accurate than a birth date derived from a census record. | Having found one or more records about a person, it is time to evaluate what you found and determine how helpful and reliable it is. For example, a birth date from a birth record is probably more accurate than a birth date derived from a census record. | ||
Evaluating the evidence takes place in several phases. It starts as soon as you find a document that must be evaluated to see if it is relevant to the family you are researching. It continues as you transfer the information from the source to your genealogical records and compose a source footnote. In that phase you are evaluating in two ways: (1) a preliminary evaluation of the reliability of the source, and (2) a comparison and contrast of data on the source with other information about the family to see if it corroborates or contradicts other sources. Later, after research on the family is mostly completed, carefully make a final, well-reasoned re-evaluation of '''all''' the sources compared to each other to help you reach a reasonable conclusion and write a proof statement subject to the [[ | Evaluating the evidence takes place in several phases. It starts as soon as you find a document that must be evaluated to see if it is relevant to the family you are researching. It continues as you transfer the information from the source to your genealogical records and compose a source footnote. In that phase you are evaluating in two ways: (1) a preliminary evaluation of the reliability of the source, and (2) a comparison and contrast of data on the source with other information about the family to see if it corroborates or contradicts other sources. Later, after research on the family is mostly completed, carefully make a final, well-reasoned re-evaluation of '''all''' the sources compared to each other to help you reach a reasonable conclusion and write a proof statement subject to the [[Genealogical Proof Standard|Genealogical Proof Standard]]. | ||
The records you have found provide evidence relative to your objective. ''Evidence'' is information or facts about an event or a situation. The researcher must evaluate if the evidence is valid for meeting the research objective and therefore producing some level of proof. You will want to consider all relevant evidence, but remember that all evidence is not equal. | The records you have found provide evidence relative to your objective. ''Evidence'' is information or facts about an event or a situation. The researcher must evaluate if the evidence is valid for meeting the research objective and therefore producing some level of proof. You will want to consider all relevant evidence, but remember that all evidence is not equal. | ||
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*'''''Background information''''' is sometimes misinterpreted or applied incorrectly to individual cases. For example, just because most immigrants joined friends or relatives in their new country does not mean your ancestor had relatives when he arrived in his new country. | *'''''Background information''''' is sometimes misinterpreted or applied incorrectly to individual cases. For example, just because most immigrants joined friends or relatives in their new country does not mean your ancestor had relatives when he arrived in his new country. | ||
{| | {| cellspacing="1" cellpadding="12" border="1" align="center" style="width: 556px; height: 41px" | ||
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| bgcolor="#ffff99" align="center" | <center>'''Even a source recorded close to the time of the event may have errors.'''</center> | | bgcolor="#ffff99" align="center" | <center>'''Even a source recorded close to the time of the event may have errors.'''</center> | ||
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'''''Primary Information''''' was recorded at or near the time of the event by someone closely associated with it. It is usually found in original records. However, ''not'' all information in an original record is "primary." For example, a death record usually contains primary information about the death, but secondary information about the person's birth. If the information does not come from a primary account of the event, consider it suspect. If you cannot determine where the information originated, it is undocumented, and therefore less reliable information.<br> | '''''Primary Information''''' was recorded at or near the time of the event by someone closely associated with it. It is usually found in original records. However, ''not'' all information in an original record is "primary." For example, a death record usually contains primary information about the death, but secondary information about the person's birth. If the information does not come from a primary account of the event, consider it suspect. If you cannot determine where the information originated, it is undocumented, and therefore less reliable information.<br> | ||
{| | {| cellspacing="1" cellpadding="12" border="1" align="center" style="width: 250px; height: 34px" | ||
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| bgcolor="#ffff99" align="center" | <center>'''Prefer primary information.'''</center> | | bgcolor="#ffff99" align="center" | <center>'''Prefer primary information.'''</center> | ||
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'''''Direct statements''''' give a straightforward fact. For example, a baptismal record may state the birth date of the child being baptized. Whenever possible, try to find records that directly state specific facts as proof of a genealogical event or relationship. | '''''Direct statements''''' give a straightforward fact. For example, a baptismal record may state the birth date of the child being baptized. Whenever possible, try to find records that directly state specific facts as proof of a genealogical event or relationship. | ||
{| | {| cellspacing="1" cellpadding="12" border="1" align="center" style="width: 220px; height: 34px" | ||
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| bgcolor="#ffff99" align="center" | <center>'''Prefer direct evidence.'''</center> | | bgcolor="#ffff99" align="center" | <center>'''Prefer direct evidence.'''</center> | ||
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In most cases, evidence in an original record created closest to the event is most likely to be correct. However, if several credible records (original or derivative) of a later date suggest different information, the evidence that the first record is incorrect may be clear and convincing. Sometimes this is called the preponderance of the evidence. | In most cases, evidence in an original record created closest to the event is most likely to be correct. However, if several credible records (original or derivative) of a later date suggest different information, the evidence that the first record is incorrect may be clear and convincing. Sometimes this is called the preponderance of the evidence. | ||
{| | {| cellspacing="1" cellpadding="12" border="1" align="center" style="width: 400px; height: 40px" | ||
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| bgcolor="#ffff99" align="center" | <center>'''Proof is the accumulation of acceptable evidence.'''</center> | | bgcolor="#ffff99" align="center" | <center>'''Proof is the accumulation of acceptable evidence.'''</center> | ||