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A key to interpreting information is determining how close in time it was recorded to the event it describes. ''Information'' is the statement(s) of fact(s) in a record, not the record itself. It is either primary or secondary. | A key to interpreting information is determining how close in time it was recorded to the event it describes. ''Information'' is the statement(s) of fact(s) in a record, not the record itself. It is either primary or secondary. | ||
'''''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 from, 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 from, it is undocumented, and therefore less reliable information.<br> | ||
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'''''Secondary Information'''''was recorded much later than the event or recorded by a person who was not associated with the event. Thus a census taker, who records an adult's age, is recording secondary birth information. The further removed the record is from the event or situation it is reporting, the more secondary it is. Most compiled records and many printed records (except directories and newspapers) contain secondary information, but not all printed information is secondary. | '''''Secondary Information''''' was recorded much later than the event or recorded by a person who was not associated with the event. Thus a census taker, who records an adult's age, is recording secondary birth information. The further removed the record is from the event or situation it is reporting, the more secondary it is. Most compiled records and many printed records (except directories and newspapers) contain secondary information, but not all printed information is secondary. | ||
'''''Accuracy''''' | '''''Accuracy''''' | ||
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'''''Insufficient Information''''' | '''''Insufficient Information''''' | ||
Often information is missing from a record you expect should include it. <!--{ | Often information is missing from a record you expect should include it. <!--{12093429151560} --> <!--{12093429151561} --> <!--{12093429151562} --> <!--{12093429151563} --> <!--{12093429151564} --> <!--{12093429151565} --> <!--{12093429151566} --> <!--{12093429151567} --> <!--{12093429151568} --> | ||
<!--{ | <!--{12093429151569} --> | ||
== '''Consistency and Clarity of the Facts''' == | == '''Consistency and Clarity of the Facts''' == | ||