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= '''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. | 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. | ||
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. | |||
<br> | The process of genealogical research seeks ''information'' (facts about events) to answer ''questions'' (research objectives) about people. The records we search are the source of the information we seek; therefore you must evaluate both the information you found ''and'' the record(s) you found it in. When considering the ''record'', evaluate its—<br> | ||
* ''relevance''<br> | |||
* ''category''<br> | |||
* ''format'' | |||
When considering the ''information'', compare it with what you have found in other sources and evaluate the—<br> | |||
* ''origin'' of the information | |||
* ''facts'' given in the records | |||
* ''events'' described | |||
* ''directness'' of the evidence | |||
Evaluating all of these elements together will help you determine what level of proof you have found, and if more research is needed. The [[Genealogical Proof Standard]] show how to evaluate and use all the evidence to create a credible proof statement. | |||
== '''Relevance of the Record''' == | == '''Relevance of the Record''' == | ||
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'''''Places''''' | '''''Places''''' | ||
Are the places named and clearly identified? | Are the places named and clearly identified? '''''Relationships''''' | ||
'''''Relationships''''' | |||
Does the document state relationships directly, or only suggest them? | Does the document state relationships directly, or only suggest them? | ||
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=== '''''Genealogical Proof Standard''''' === | === '''''Genealogical Proof Standard''''' === | ||
The Genealogical Proof Standard is another way of improving the likelihood that genealogical conclusions reflect reality. | The Genealogical Proof Standard is another way of improving the likelihood that genealogical conclusions reflect reality. <!--{12093126797813} --> <!--{12093126797814} --> | ||
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= '''Transfer the Information''' = | = '''Transfer the Information''' = | ||