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United States Census Analyzing Census Data (view source)
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The elements of good census analysis include thoroughness, source citations, correlating and corroborating sources, testing for relevance, likelihood, and reasonableness, explaining contradictions, and follow up through sharing findings and your continuing education. | Additional Information may be found on the [https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Portal:United_States_Census United States Census Portal] page. | ||
<br>The elements of good census analysis include thoroughness, source citations, correlating and corroborating sources, testing for relevance, likelihood, and reasonableness, explaining contradictions, and follow up through sharing findings and your continuing education. | |||
The more of these ideas you use, the better your analysis will be. | The more of these ideas you use, the better your analysis will be. | ||
= '''Be | = '''Be Thorough'''<sup>1</sup> = | ||
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| bgcolor="#ffff99 | | align="center" bgcolor="#ffff99" | '''“Census records are the most used—yet most under used of all genealogical resources.”'''<sup>2</sup> | ||
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Confidence that a reasonably thorough search has been made is a cornerstone of good census analysis. Use all the censuses and use them well. And don't forget the value of comparing censuses to other sources. | Confidence that a reasonably thorough search has been made is a cornerstone of good census analysis. Use all the censuses and use them well. And don't forget the value of comparing censuses to other sources. | ||
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'''''Study the family in community context.'''''<sup>3</sup> Proximity implies a relationship. Research each individual in the same census household with a different surname. Look several census pages before and after an ancestor for people with similar given names, family names, occupations, or places of origin to see if they could be relatives. | '''''Study the family in community context.'''''<sup>3</sup> Proximity implies a relationship. Research each individual in the same census household with a different surname. Look several census pages before and after an ancestor for people with similar given names, family names, occupations, or places of origin to see if they could be relatives. | ||
'''''Compare with non-census sources.''''' Find as many non-census sources as you can for each family member. Begin a preliminary evaluation by briefly comparing censuses with other documents, especially land records, to identify neighbors and relatives. Study all sources to identify family associates and discover their relationship. | '''''Compare with non-census sources.''''' Find as many non-census sources as you can for each family member. Begin a preliminary evaluation by briefly comparing censuses with other documents, especially land records, to identify neighbors and relatives. Study all sources to identify family associates and discover their relationship. | ||
= '''Cite | = '''Cite Your Sources''' = | ||
Good record keeping contributes to good analysis. Start with a well documented family group record even before you look at a census. Keep organized and document as you go. Good source footnotes are another cornerstone of good analysis. | Good record keeping contributes to good analysis. Start with a well documented family group record even before you look at a census. Keep organized and document as you go. Good source footnotes are another cornerstone of good analysis. | ||
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'''''Footnote the other events found in all the non-census sources''''' for each family member. | '''''Footnote the other events found in all the non-census sources''''' for each family member. | ||
'''''Use the comment field of each footnote''''' for a preliminary evaluation of the source. A few words of comment about the source's reliability, or how the new data compares with data in other sources will improve the more formal analysis later. | '''''Use the comment field of each footnote''''' for a preliminary evaluation of the source. A few words of comment about the source's reliability, or how the new data compares with data in other sources will improve the more formal analysis later. | ||
= '''Correlate, | = '''Correlate, Corroborate, Analyze and Interpret''' = | ||
After you have conducted a thorough search of the sources, and source footnoted them, you are ready to correlate, analyze, and interpret the evidence. Thoughtful correlation and comparison of many sources is what analysis is all about. | After you have conducted a thorough search of the sources, and source footnoted them, you are ready to correlate, analyze, and interpret the evidence. Thoughtful correlation and comparison of many sources is what analysis is all about. | ||
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'''''Likelihood of events.''''' Logically, could the events described on the census have really happened in the order suggested when compared to other sources? Does census information reflect what really happened? | '''''Likelihood of events.''''' Logically, could the events described on the census have really happened in the order suggested when compared to other sources? Does census information reflect what really happened? | ||
'''''Milk censuses for what they imply.''''' Think about the implications of what is on the census and what is not on the census. For example what does it mean when someone appears, disappears, or lives nearby on the census. Could a 14 year old girl with a different surname appearing in a household be a niece as well as a maid? Could the disappearance of a lady in her 60s mean she died, or went to live with one of her children? If an ancestor with the surname CRAIG lives next to someone with the surname GREG could they be related with different versions of the same name? | '''''Milk censuses for what they imply.''''' Think about the implications of what is on the census and what is not on the census. For example what does it mean when someone appears, disappears, or lives nearby on the census. Could a 14 year old girl with a different surname appearing in a household be a niece as well as a maid? Could the disappearance of a lady in her 60s mean she died, or went to live with one of her children? If an ancestor with the surname CRAIG lives next to someone with the surname GREG could they be related with different versions of the same name? | ||
= '''Explain | = '''Explain Contradictory Evidence''' = | ||
Do not ignore contradictions. Embrace contradictory evidence in censuses or other sources and try to explain it. This honesty will strengthen the case you are trying to make. | Do not ignore contradictions. Embrace contradictory evidence in censuses or other sources and try to explain it. This honesty will strengthen the case you are trying to make. | ||
= '''Check for | = '''Check for Reasonable Conclusions''' = | ||
Be wary of far-fetched conclusions. Are your analysis and interpretation well-reasoned and are they reasonable? | Be wary of far-fetched conclusions. Are your analysis and interpretation well-reasoned and are they reasonable? | ||
= '''Follow | = '''Follow-Up''' = | ||
'''''Share.''''' One of the final steps of good analysis is to share your findings with others. This allows them to make constructive suggestions and may lead to new evidence. Share and collaborate with others to improve your census analysis. | '''''Share.''''' One of the final steps of good analysis is to share your findings with others. This allows them to make constructive suggestions and may lead to new evidence. Share and collaborate with others to improve your census analysis. | ||
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'''''Continue your education.''''' Another part of analysis follow up is continuing to learn about censuses, analysis, and genealogical research. Read about good research and analysis in books, periodicals, and the Internet. Take classes, go to conferences, and institutes to learn more. Trips to places where ancestors lived are also part of your genealogical education. | '''''Continue your education.''''' Another part of analysis follow up is continuing to learn about censuses, analysis, and genealogical research. Read about good research and analysis in books, periodicals, and the Internet. Take classes, go to conferences, and institutes to learn more. Trips to places where ancestors lived are also part of your genealogical education. | ||
<br> Using all the censuses available for all the family members, carefully citing censuses in source footnotes, corroborating censuses and other sources, checking the likelihood of events, milking them for all the possible implications, explaining contradictions, and drawing reasonable conclusions are all part of good census analysis. Share your census findings and analysis with others, and continue to grow through education to sharpen your analytical skills. | <br>Using all the censuses available for all the family members, carefully citing censuses in source footnotes, corroborating censuses and other sources, checking the likelihood of events, milking them for all the possible implications, explaining contradictions, and drawing reasonable conclusions are all part of good census analysis. Share your census findings and analysis with others, and continue to grow through education to sharpen your analytical skills. | ||
== '''Related Content''' == | == '''Related Content''' == | ||