Family History - Paul Matthews

Home Genealogy Favourites About me            
What's New Membership Research RAAF Site Search Links      

Standards for sound genealogical research

This site is provided as a representation of my family history research, primarily in recognition of item 9 below. That is, anyone interested is more than welcome to my research data.  I cannot, however, claim compliance with all the items below. This is primarily because a lot of my data was gathered before I became aware of the requirements for recording sources, recognising contributors and rigourously verifying facts. Please bear this in mind when viewing my research.

Remembering always that they are engaged in a quest for truth, family history researchers consistently:

  1. record the source for each item of information they collect.
  2. test every hypothesis or theory against credible evidence, and reject those that are not supported by the evidence.
  3. seek original records, or reproduced images of them when there is reasonable assurance they have not been altered, as the basis for their research conclusions.
  4. use compilations, communications and published works, whether paper or electronic, primarily for their value as guides to locating the original records, or as contributions to the critical analysis of the evidence discussed in them.
  5. state something as a fact only when it is supported by convincing evidence, and identify the evidence when communicating the fact to others.
  6. limit with words like "probable" or "possible" any statement t08-Mar-2008 the reasons for concluding that it is probable or possible.
  7. avoid misleading other researchers by either intentionally or carelessly distributing or publishing inaccurate information.
  8. state carefully and honestly the results of their own research, and acknowledge all use of other researchers’ work.
  9. recognize the collegial nature of genealogical research by making their work available to others through publication, or by placing copies in appropriate libraries or repositories, and by welcoming critical comment.
  10. consider with open minds new evidence or the comments of others on their work and the conclusions they have reached.

© 2000, 2001 by National Genealogical Society. Permission is granted to copy or publish this material provided it is reproduced in its entirety, including this notice.

Tassie Flag

Visit the Tasmanian Genealogy and Family History webring for other family histories with at least some Tasmanian content.

Visitors so far:   408