73,385
edits
add content
m (reorganize) |
(add content) |
||
| Line 85: | Line 85: | ||
'''''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.''''' Secondary information is not necessarily less correct. In any record, a recorder can make a mistake or may deliberately mislead. With secondary information, the chance for error is increased because the recorder is not familiar with the events and may have to interpret information from several sources. In printed information, (either primary or secondary) errors may be made in the publishing process. | ||
'''''Sources of Information.''''' Ask who recorded the information and how did the recorder know what happened? This will help you determine if the information is primary or secondary. | |||
'''''Insufficient Information.''''' Often information is missing from a record you expect should include it. For example, you may only have the year for a marriage or the province, not the town, of an event. Sometimes the clerk did not know or could not remember the specific information. If such information is all you have, consider the following: | |||
<!--{120934325371823} --> | |||
'''''Insufficient Information''''' | |||
Often information is missing from a record you expect should include it. | |||
<!--{ | |||
== '''Consistency and Clarity of the Facts''' == | == '''Consistency and Clarity of the Facts''' == | ||