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= Evidence = | = Evidence = | ||
Evidence is more than information. It is the information we judge, as genealogists, to have some relevance to our research. Evidence is variously defined as “something that furnishes proof;” “information that is relevant to the problem;” analyzed and correlated information assessed to be of sufficient quality; and “the information that we conclude—after careful evaluation—supports or contradicts the statement we would like to make, or are about to make, about an ancestor.” | Evidence is more than information. It is the information we judge, as genealogists, to have some relevance to our research. Evidence is variously defined as “something that furnishes proof;”<ref>''Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary'', online edition (www.m-w.com : accessed 23 November 2009), “[http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/evidence evidence].”</ref> “information that is relevant to the problem;”<ref>Elizabeth Shown Mills, ''Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace'', 2nd ed. (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2009), 822.</ref> analyzed and correlated information assessed to be of sufficient quality;<ref>Christine Rose, ''Genealogical Proof Standard: Building a Solid Case'' (San Jose, California: CR Publications, 2005), 2.</ref> and “the information that we conclude—after careful evaluation—supports or contradicts the statement we would like to make, or are about to make, about an ancestor.”<ref>The Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG), ''The BCG Genealogical Standards Manual'', ed. Helen F. M. Leary (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2000), 8.</ref> | ||
We review a lot of information. Most of it is not applicable to our current search. What is relevant depends on the research question at hand. It determines what information is evidence and what is not. The information doesn’t have to be correct to be evidence. If it is relevant, it is still evidence. Seemingly contrary evidence may prove to be correct in the end. No genealogical conclusion is ever completely final. | We review a lot of information. Most of it is not applicable to our current search. What is relevant depends on the research question at hand. It determines what information is evidence and what is not. The information doesn’t have to be correct to be evidence. If it is relevant, it is still evidence. Seemingly contrary evidence may prove to be correct in the end. No genealogical conclusion is ever completely final. | ||
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= Direct Evidence = | = Direct Evidence = | ||
Having been converted to the need for evidence, emerging genealogists depend almost exclusively on direct evidence. ''Direct evidence'' is relevant information that directly states the answer to a research question. | Having been converted to the need for evidence, emerging genealogists depend almost exclusively on direct evidence. ''Direct evidence'' is relevant information that directly states the answer to a research question.<ref>Mills, ''Evidence Explained'', 25.</ref> | ||
Let’s look at an example. Alonzo Pearis Raymond is Robert’s great-great-grandfather. His death certificate directly answers the question of his death date. It also directly answers the question of his birth date. While birth information on a death certificate is second hand, it is still direct evidence. | Let’s look at an example. Alonzo Pearis Raymond is Robert’s great-great-grandfather. His death certificate directly answers the question of his death date. It also directly answers the question of his birth date. While birth information on a death certificate is second hand, it is still direct evidence. | ||