CG flashcards
CG · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Research question
- A narrow query specifying a person, event, place, and time; it guides source selection and prevents unfocused searching.
- Research plan
- A written outline of objective, known facts, hypotheses, sources to search, scope limits, and evaluation criteria for a genealogical project.
- Research log
- A chronological record of searches, repositories, sources consulted, negative results, and citations; it prevents duplicate work and documents research completeness.
- Negative search result
- A documented absence of a record after a specified search; it is evidence only when the searched source would likely contain the event.
- Jurisdictional boundary
- The geographic area where a court, church, or government office kept records; changes over time affect where a record may be found.
- Stopping rule
- A pre-set criterion for ending research when sources are exhausted, evidence is sufficient, or further searches yield diminishing returns.
- Original source
- A record created at or near the event by a person with direct knowledge, such as a contemporaneous birth register entry.
- Derivative source
- A record made from an original or another derivative, such as an index, abstract, transcript, or compiled genealogy; it may contain errors.
- Primary information
- Information provided by a person with direct knowledge of the event, usually recorded near the event; it is generally more reliable than secondary information.
- Citation elements
- Creator, title, date, place, publisher or repository, collection, identifier, and access information; these allow a reader to locate the cited source.
- Source provenance
- The origin and custody history of a record, including who created it and how it reached the repository; provenance affects reliability and interpretation.
- Direct evidence
- Evidence that explicitly states the event or relationship in question, such as a death certificate naming parents, without requiring inference.
- Indirect evidence
- Evidence that does not explicitly answer the research question but implies an answer when combined with other information and reasoning.
- Negative evidence
- An inference from the absence of a record in an exhaustive search of a source that would ordinarily mention the person or event.
- Preponderance standard
- A conclusion reached when the evidence, weighed as a whole, is more likely true than not; genealogical proof does not require absolute certainty.
- Conflicting evidence
- Two or more sources that disagree; resolution requires comparing informant knowledge, record purpose, timing, bias, and independence of each source.
- Corroboration
- Independent sources or information items that support the same conclusion; true corroboration requires that the items do not derive from a common source.
- Identity resolution
- The process of deciding whether records refer to the same person by comparing names, dates, places, relationships, occupations, signatures, and other identifiers.
- FAN club
- Friends, associates, and neighbors who appear with a person in records; their records can distinguish same-name individuals and reveal migration or kinship.
- Consanguinity
- Kinship by blood or shared ancestry, as distinguished from affinity, which is kinship created by marriage.
- DNA shared cM
- A measured amount of centimorgans shared between testers; ranges suggest relationship possibilities but require documentary and segment evidence for proof.
- Proof statement
- A concise sentence or paragraph stating a conclusion and citing the supporting evidence, used when the evidence is direct and uncontested.
- Proof summary
- A brief explanation of evidence and reasoning for a conclusion when some conflict or indirect evidence exists, shorter than a full proof argument.
- Proof argument
- A detailed narrative that states a question, examines all relevant evidence, resolves conflicts, and explains why the conclusion is sound.
- Research question in writing
- A clearly stated question at the start of a report that defines the scope and focuses the evidence and conclusion that follow.
- Evidence versus inference
- Evidence is the information a source provides; inference is the reasoning drawn from it. Reports should label each separately to avoid overstating certainty.
- Confidentiality
- The ethical duty to protect personal information about living individuals and to obtain consent before publishing sensitive genealogical or DNA data.
- Informed consent
- Agreement by a person to participate in research or DNA testing after understanding the purpose, risks, benefits, and use of results.
- Plagiarism
- Presenting another person's words, analysis, or data as one's own without attribution; genealogical writing must credit sources and collaborators.
- Conflict of interest
- A personal, financial, or professional interest that could bias research decisions; it should be disclosed to clients or readers.
- Documentation standard
- Every factual statement, negative search, and conclusion should be traceable to a citation or research log entry that another researcher can verify.
- Professional competence
- A genealogist should accept work only within their education, training, and experience and should refer complex matters to qualified specialists.