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Ethics & Standards
I follow the Genealogical Proof Standard as set forth by the Board of Certified Genealogists (BCG) to ensure the highest quality research. Furthermore, I also follow their Genealogist’s Code of Ethics to preserve privacy.
What is the Genealogical Proof Standard?
Accuracy is fundamental to genealogical research. The Board of Certified Genealogists (BCG) created the Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS) to ensure professional genealogists obtain valid results and are competent to meet five key requirements.
What are the requirements of the GPS?
The five minimum standards must be met to obtain valid results. Family historians adapted concepts from the field of law to develop guidelines to assess their research results. It remains the only set of standards in the field since 2000.
1. Reasonably exhaustive research has been conducted.
2. Each statement of fact has a complete and accurate source citation.
3. The evidence is reliable and has been skillfully correlated and interpreted.
4. Any contradictory evidence has been resolved.
5. The conclusion has been soundly reasoned and coherently written.
Remember: Genealogical research is an ongoing process. Proof statements are always subject to re-evaluation if new evidence emerges.
Historical Context
Time reveals context, context reveals ancestors.
Providing context for a time period illuminates the general mood of the era. Awareness of historical events surrounding your ancestors broadens your understanding of the society at the time and how it may have influenced or impacted them.
Historical context breathes life into you ancestor’s stories, fostering empathy for their world and guiding your interpretation of past voices.
Evidence Analysis
Sources can be biased, incomplete, or even inaccurate. Understanding the origin, purpose and limitation is crucial before blindly accepting the information in a source. Dates, names and events need to be situated within the historical framework of the time period.
Many times genealogists come across contradictions in the information. Analyzing conflicting information and weighing evidence from different sources helps build a comprehensive and objective picture of your ancestor’s life.
Where History Speaks in Whispers, Analysis Amplifies the Truth
Simply having facts isn’t enough; you need to connect the dots and draw conclusions about what they reveal about your ancestor’s lives, motivations, and experiences.
What are the phases of evaluating evidence?
1. Identifying the source origin, type (primary vs. secondary), and purpose.
2. Compare information from different sources to corroborate details and identify inconsistencies.
3. Resolve conflicting information. Compare the credibility and consistency of conflicting information. Prioritize primary sources and credible secondary sources over hearsay or rumor. Genealogists sometimes research further to explain or clarify discrepancies.
4. Draw conclusions about the subject based on the analysis and acknowledge uncertainties and its significance within the larger historical context.
Photo by Volodymyr Hryshchenk, Unsplash
Accuracy is Fundamental to Genealogical Research
Genealogists bolster claims and reduce reliance on a single narrative that might contain inaccuracies and bias. Researchers want to expand their perspective to include multiple sources to corroborate information and details.
While gathering evidence is crucial, the true strength of genealogical research lies in analyzing and correlating the disparate pieces. Examining connections across sources, considering historical context, and resolving discrepancies allows us to build a robust proof argument or conclusion.
The subtle connections can show up as patterns or themes within the evidence. Identifying those can contribute to a more holistic understanding of your ancestors’ lives.