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Belgium Research Tips and Strategies: Difference between revisions
Belgium Research Tips and Strategies (view source)
Revision as of 14:56, 10 June 2020
, 10 June 2020→How to identify a person
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The first name and surname is not sufficient to identify a person, but what is? | The first name and surname is not sufficient to identify a person, but what is? | ||
<big> Matching information </big> | |||
To verify if two records describe the same person, consider the data points that describe the person (name, age, name of parents, ...). The more information the two record have in common, the more certain you can be that they describe the same person. Unfortunately it is impossible to have absolute certainty. However, having four independent data points, such as first name, surname, year or place of birth or death, rarely creates errors without being to restrictive. | To verify if two records describe the same person, consider the data points that describe the person (name, age, name of parents, ...). The more information the two record have in common, the more certain you can be that they describe the same person. Unfortunately it is impossible to have absolute certainty. However, having four independent data points, such as first name, surname, year or place of birth or death, rarely creates errors without being to restrictive. | ||
Although, some common sense is advised. For example: | Although, some common sense is advised. For example: | ||
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* Having a birth date within the correct age range of 20 year does not count. Rather, not having it within that range is conflicting information. | * Having a birth date within the correct age range of 20 year does not count. Rather, not having it within that range is conflicting information. | ||
<big> Conflicting information </big> | |||
Even with the above standard, it is still possible to make mistakes. | Even with the above standard, it is still possible to make mistakes. | ||
These can be spotted by conflicting information. | These can be spotted by conflicting information. | ||
However, most conflicting information does not make a match impossible. People can change their name, the age might be wrong by a couple of years, ... Although, conflicting information should not be ignored. | However, most conflicting information does not make a match impossible. People can change their name, the age might be wrong by a couple of years, ... Although, conflicting information should not be ignored. | ||
== Research for the 20<sup>th</sup> century == | == Research for the 20<sup>th</sup> century == | ||