FamilySearch Wiki

Genealogical Maturity: Difference between revisions

Page Talk

Genealogical Maturity (view source)

Revision as of 18:34, 23 January 2011

2,493 bytes added ,  23 January 2011
Add the steps
VisualWikitext
(Fill in the tables)
(Add the steps)
Line 1: Line 1:
Genealogical Maturity is a system of self evaluation and self improvement first proposed by the Ancestry Insider in 2009. The Genealogical Maturity model measures one's understanding and use of the [[Genealogical Proof Standard|Genealogical Proof Standard]]. and the associated Evidence Analysis Research Process Map. The model measures improvement in five categories: sources, citations, information, evidence, and conclusions.<br>  
Genealogical Maturity is a system of self evaluation and self improvement first proposed by the Ancestry Insider in 2009. The Genealogical Maturity improvement system measures one's understanding and use of the [[Genealogical Proof Standard|Genealogical Proof Standard]] and the associated Evidence Analysis Research Process Map. The system encourages improvement in five categories: sources, citations, information, evidence, and conclusions.<br>  


== Definitions  ==
== Definitions  ==


The Genealogical Maturity model uses dictionary definitions as much as possible, with clarifications from leading genealogists.  
Terminology used in the Genealogical Maturity improvement system uses common, dictionary definitions. Definitions for the following terms are taken from the dictionary, with clarifications from leading genealogists.  


'''source '''– 1. the origin that supplies information.<ref>''Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary'', online edition (www.m-w.com : accessed 23 November 2009), “source.”</ref> 2. “an artifact, book, document, film, person, recording, website, etc., from which information is obtained.”<ref>Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL, FNGS, FASG, FUGA, ''Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace'', 2nd ed. [hereinafter, ''EE2''] (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2009), 828.</ref>  
'''source '''– 1. the origin that supplies information.<ref>''Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary'', online edition (www.m-w.com : accessed 23 November 2009), “source.”</ref> 2. “an artifact, book, document, film, person, recording, website, etc., from which information is obtained.”<ref>Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL, FNGS, FASG, FUGA, ''Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace'', 2nd ed. [hereinafter, ''EE2''] (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2009), 828.</ref>  
Line 15: Line 15:
'''conclusion '''– 1. “a reasoned judgment.”<ref>''Merriam-Webster'', “conclusion.”</ref> 2. “a decision [that should be] based on well-reasoned and thoroughly documented evidence gleaned from sound research.”<ref>Mills, ''EE2'', 820.</ref>  
'''conclusion '''– 1. “a reasoned judgment.”<ref>''Merriam-Webster'', “conclusion.”</ref> 2. “a decision [that should be] based on well-reasoned and thoroughly documented evidence gleaned from sound research.”<ref>Mills, ''EE2'', 820.</ref>  


== Self Evaluation  ==
== Step 1. Self Evaluation  ==


The model asks that a person place a check mark next to each of the following statements that describes him or her. <br>  
The self evaluation step of the Genealogy Maturity system consists of reading through the following five tables, placing a check mark next to each statement that describes you. There is one table for each of the five categories. Ignore row number and maturity level during the self evaluation step.<br>  


=== Sources  ===
=== Sources  ===
Line 31: Line 31:
| Entry  
| Entry  
| Typically relies on compiled genealogies.  
| Typically relies on compiled genealogies.  
|  
| <br>
|-
|-
| 2.  
| 2.  
| Emerging  
| Emerging  
| Mostly relies on compiled genealogies and online sources.  
| Mostly relies on compiled genealogies and online sources.  
|  
| <br>
|-
|-
| 3.  
| 3.  
| Practicing  
| Practicing  
| Uses a limited number of record types and repositories. Mostly relies on online and microfilmed sources.  
| Uses a limited number of record types and repositories. Mostly relies on online and microfilmed sources.  
|  
| <br>
|-
|-
| 4.  
| 4.  
| Proficient  
| Proficient  
| Uses a wide variety of record types. Often contacts record custodians to obtain copies of high-quality sources.  
| Uses a wide variety of record types. Often contacts record custodians to obtain copies of high-quality sources.  
|  
| <br>
|-
|-
| 5.  
| 5.  
| Stellar  
| Stellar  
| Insightfully pursues research at multiple, targeted repositories, making use of a plethora of records and record types. "Burned counties" are not roadblocks.  
| Insightfully pursues research at multiple, targeted repositories, making use of a plethora of records and record types. "Burned counties" are not roadblocks.  
|  
| <br>
|}
|}


Line 66: Line 66:
| Entry  
| Entry  
| Captures URLs for online sources and citations for published sources.  
| Captures URLs for online sources and citations for published sources.  
|  
| <br>
|-
|-
| 2.  
| 2.  
| Emerging  
| Emerging  
| Increasingly captures necessary information for manuscript sources.  
| Increasingly captures necessary information for manuscript sources.  
|  
| <br>
|-
|-
| 3.  
| 3.  
| Practicing  
| Practicing  
| Typically produces complete source citations.  
| Typically produces complete source citations.  
|  
| <br>
|-
|-
| 4.  
| 4.  
| Proficient  
| Proficient  
| Gives complete and accurate source citations including provenance and quality assessment.  
| Gives complete and accurate source citations including provenance and quality assessment.  
|  
| <br>
|-
|-
| 5.  
| 5.  
| Stellar  
| Stellar  
| Overcomes limitations of genealogical software to create well organized, industry standard reference notes and source lists.  
| Overcomes limitations of genealogical software to create well organized, industry standard reference notes and source lists.  
|  
| <br>
|}
|}


Line 101: Line 101:
| Entry  
| Entry  
| Typically does not realize the need to judge information quality and has no basis for doing so.  
| Typically does not realize the need to judge information quality and has no basis for doing so.  
|  
| <br>
|-
|-
| 2.  
| 2.  
| Emerging  
| Emerging  
| Emerging realization that information quality differs. Muddles evaluation by thinking of primary/secondary sources instead of primary/secondary information, leading to muddled evaluation when sources contain both.  
| Emerging realization that information quality differs. Muddles evaluation by thinking of primary/secondary sources instead of primary/secondary information, leading to muddled evaluation when sources contain both.  
|  
| <br>
|-
|-
| 3.  
| 3.  
| Practicing  
| Practicing  
| Judges information by source type, informant knowledge, and record timing. Applies "primary/secondary" to information instead of sources.  
| Judges information by source type, informant knowledge, and record timing. Applies "primary/secondary" to information instead of sources.  
|  
| <br>
|-
|-
| 4.  
| 4.  
| Proficient  
| Proficient  
| Additionally, learns history necessary to recognize and evaluate all explicit information in a source.  
| Additionally, learns history necessary to recognize and evaluate all explicit information in a source.  
|  
| <br>
|-
|-
| 5.  
| 5.  
| Stellar  
| Stellar  
| Additionally, utilizes implicit information in a source. Finds information in cases like illegitimacy that stump most researchers.  
| Additionally, utilizes implicit information in a source. Finds information in cases like illegitimacy that stump most researchers.  
|  
| <br>
|}
|}


Line 136: Line 136:
| Entry  
| Entry  
| Limited understanding of evidence and the role it plays. Typically ignores conflicting evidence.  
| Limited understanding of evidence and the role it plays. Typically ignores conflicting evidence.  
|  
| <br>
|-
|-
| 2.  
| 2.  
| Emerging  
| Emerging  
| Captures direct, supporting evidence and increasingly depends upon it.  
| Captures direct, supporting evidence and increasingly depends upon it.  
|  
| <br>
|-
|-
| 3.  
| 3.  
| Practicing  
| Practicing  
| Additionally, captures directly conflicting evidence.  
| Additionally, captures directly conflicting evidence.  
|  
| <br>
|-
|-
| 4.  
| 4.  
| Proficient  
| Proficient  
| Additionally, recognizes and captures indirect, supporting evidence.  
| Additionally, recognizes and captures indirect, supporting evidence.  
|  
| <br>
|-
|-
| 5.  
| 5.  
| Stellar  
| Stellar  
| Additionally, recognizes and captures indirect, conflicting evidence.  
| Additionally, recognizes and captures indirect, conflicting evidence.  
|  
| <br>
|}
|}


Line 171: Line 171:
| Entry  
| Entry  
| In the absence of analysis, reaches conclusions by instinct.  
| In the absence of analysis, reaches conclusions by instinct.  
|  
| <br>
|-
|-
| 2.  
| 2.  
| Emerging  
| Emerging  
| Learning to evaluate the quality of sources, information, and evidence. Emerging ability to resolve minor discrepancies.  
| Learning to evaluate the quality of sources, information, and evidence. Emerging ability to resolve minor discrepancies.  
|  
| <br>
|-
|-
| 3.  
| 3.  
| Practicing  
| Practicing  
| Additionally, resolves conflicting evidence or uses it to disprove prevalent opinion. Usually applies correct identity to persons mentioned in sources.  
| Additionally, resolves conflicting evidence or uses it to disprove prevalent opinion. Usually applies correct identity to persons mentioned in sources.  
|  
| <br>
|-
|-
| 4.  
| 4.  
| Proficient  
| Proficient  
| Additionally, when necessary creates soundly reasoned, coherently documented conclusions utilizing direct and indirect evidence.  
| Additionally, when necessary creates soundly reasoned, coherently documented conclusions utilizing direct and indirect evidence.  
|  
| <br>
|-
|-
| 5.  
| 5.  
| Stellar  
| Stellar  
| Additionally: Publishes clear and convincing conclusions. Teaches and inspires others.  
| Additionally: Publishes clear and convincing conclusions. Teaches and inspires others.  
|  
| <br>
|}
|}


== Self Improvement ==
== Step 2. Inventory ==


<br>  
Identify the first blank row number in each category table.&nbsp; For example, in the Conclusions category if I placed check marks in rows 1 and 2 and no other rows, then row 3 is the first row without a check mark.<br>  
 
Write the first blank row numbers in this inventory table:<br>
 
{| cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1" style="width: 248px; height: 129px;"
|-
! scope="col" | Category<br>
! scope="col" | First Blank Row #<br>
|-
| Sources<br>
| <br>
|-
| Citations<br>
| <br>
|-
| Information<br>
| <br>
|-
| Evidence<br>
| <br>
|-
| Conclusions<br>
| <br>
|}
 
== Step 3. Identify<br>  ==
 
Identify a category for improvement. The category can be the one with the lowest number in the inventory table, or another category of interest. Go back to the chosen category table. From the first blank row of the chosen category, note the description. The description identifies the skill or practice that you must adopt to advance to the next maturity level.<br>
 
For example, if I chose the Conclusions category and row 3 is the first blank row, I identify that I need to learn to use or resolve conflicting evidence and I need to correctly identify persons mentioned in sources.<br>
 
== Step 4. Improve<br>  ==
 
Set a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMART_criteria S.M.A.R.T.] goal to improve in the identified skill or practice. A SMART goal is Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound.<br>
 
For example, to improve in row 3 in the Conclusions category, I might set a goal to ask a [[Board for Certification of Genealogists|certified genealogist]] to recommend a book, article, or class that I might use to learn how to resolve conflicting evidence, and to complete this goal by the end of the week.
 
== Step 5. Iterate  ==
 
At the end of the time period for the goal in step 4, go back through steps 1 through 4 and set a new goal. Do this whether or not you successfully completed the last goal.
 
For example, if I completed a goal to get a recommendation on a resource for learning how to resolve conflicting evidence, I might set a new goal to use that resource.


== Notes  ==
== Notes  ==


<references /><br>
<references /><br>
RaymondRS
1,147

edits

Retrieved from "https://integration-ru.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Special:MobileDiff/537889"