Phil in SF commented on Mastering Genealogical Proof by Thomas W. Jones
Mastering Genealogical Proof teaches family historians and genealogists how to reconstruct the relationships and lives …
Content warning assembling evidence
The portion of chapter 6 on assembling evidence doesn't really make sense to me. It's just a 5 item classification of conflicts & resolutions. It's not wrong, but it's not really "assembling evidence".
- Direct evidence and no conflict.
- Resolved conflicting direct evidence.
- Resolved conflict between direct evidence and indirect or negative evidence.
- Indirect evidence, negative evidence, or a combination of the two; an absence of direct evidence; and no conflict. No known source answers the research question directly, but the assembled indirect or negative evidence agrees on one answer.
- Resolved conflicting indirect evidence, negative evidence, or a combination; and an absence of direct evidence. No known source answers the research question directly, indirect/negative-evidence items disagree on the answer, and the genealogist resolves the disagreement.
One of the requirements for BCG certification is demonstrating one's ability with research questions where items 4 or 5 apply. At least in this chapter, Jones doesn't go into how to "assemble" evidence. He gives examples, but no "how".