CG cheat sheet

A research question specifies one person, one event or relationship, one place, and one date range; compound questions are split before planning.

A research plan contains objective, known facts, hypotheses, sources to search, scope limits, and evidence-evaluation criteria.

A research log records date, repository, source, search terms, results, negative findings, and citation for every search.

Record priority rule: search original records with direct informants before derivative indexes; use indexes only to locate originals.

Jurisdiction rule: identify the court, church, or office with authority at the event date; boundary changes can move the record.

Timeline rule: place all known events on a dated timeline; gaps and overlaps generate the next research questions.

Stopping rule: end a research phase when planned sources are exhausted, evidence is sufficient, or new searches repeat known information.

Hypothesis rule: state a testable answer and list records that would confirm or refute it before searching.

Original source: created at or near the event by a knowledgeable person; derivative source: copied, abstracted, indexed, or compiled from another record.

Primary information comes from a direct informant; secondary information comes from someone reporting at second hand or long after the event.

Source analysis evaluates origin, provenance, completeness, legibility, purpose, and custody before information is used.

Citation formula: creator, title, date, place, publisher or repository, collection, identifier, and access date or URL.

Each genealogical statement is cited to the specific entry, page, image, or certificate number that contains it.

A derivative source is a finding aid until the original or an acceptable image is examined and cited.

Citation test: another researcher can use the citation to find the same source without asking the author.

When a record is missing or illegible, the citation notes the gap and the repository's response.

Direct evidence explicitly answers the question; indirect evidence implies an answer; negative evidence is an inference from absence after exhaustive search.

Source, information, and evidence are separate: a source contains information, and information becomes evidence when used to answer a question.

Corroboration requires independent sources; two derivative copies of one original count as one source, not two.

Conflict resolution weighs informant proximity, record purpose, timing, bias, and independence; the closest informed source is not automatically correct.

Preponderance standard: a conclusion stands when the whole body of evidence makes it more likely true than not.

Hypothesis testing seeks disconfirming evidence; a conclusion is weakened when a predicted record is absent without explanation.

Negative evidence is valid only when the searched record type would ordinarily mention the event and the search was exhaustive.

Chain of evidence: each inferential step is stated and supported, with no unexplained leap from record to conclusion.

Identity rule: link records only when multiple independent identifiers agree; name alone is insufficient for common names.

Identifiers include name variants, dates, places, occupation, religion, signature, spouse, children, neighbors, and record numbers.

FAN club method: trace friends, associates, and neighbors to separate same-name persons and to infer migration or kinship.

Kinship by blood is consanguinity; kinship by marriage is affinity; adoptive, step, and social relationships are labeled separately.

Parent-child conclusion requires direct evidence or a combination of indirect and negative evidence that excludes alternative parents.

DNA shared centimorgan ranges suggest relationship degrees; proof also needs segment triangulation and documentary correlation.

Same-name resolution builds a profile for each candidate and tests it against every record; conflicting identifiers indicate separate persons.

Proof statement: a concise conclusion with citations, used when direct and uncontested evidence answers the question.

Proof summary: a brief explanation of evidence and reasoning, used when some conflict or indirect evidence exists.

Proof argument: a detailed narrative that states the question, examines all evidence, resolves conflict, and justifies the conclusion.

Report structure: research question, answer, known facts, evidence by source, analysis, conclusion, and further research.

Writing rule: separate source information from the researcher's inference and label each clearly.

Conflicting evidence is presented openly, then weighed; omitting contrary evidence weakens the conclusion.

Citations appear at the point of each fact, not only in a bibliography; appendices can hold transcripts and logs.

Terminology rule: define kinship, place, and record terms on first use; avoid ambiguous words such as cousin without degree.

Living individuals' data are confidential; publication requires consent or sufficient anonymization.

Informed consent covers purpose, risks, benefits, and use of DNA or personal data before testing or research participation.

Plagiarism includes unattributed words, analysis, and data; quotations and collaborators are credited.

Conflict of interest is disclosed when financial, personal, or professional interests could bias research or recommendations.

Documentation standard: every fact, negative search, and conclusion is traceable to a citation or log entry another researcher can verify.

Fabrication, alteration, and suppression of records are ethical violations; errors are corrected openly.

Repository rules govern copying, photography, publication, and access; copyright is separate from physical custody.

Competence rule: accept work only within education, training, and experience; refer complex matters to qualified specialists.