Overview of Source Analysis
The Source Analysis step in the Research Like a Pro (RLP) process entails evaluating the reliability of the sources, their information (or the informant), and the evidence created. Source analysis helps us correlate our research findings and make solid conclusions. Here are the three essential components of source analysis.
SOURCES
The source is the container that holds the information we need to answer the research question. Sources are documents, books, artifacts, or people classified into three types.
- Original: First creation of a source; usually the most reliable type of source
- Derivative: Subsequent copy of an original source; transcribed copy, index, abstract, etc.
- Authored: Compiled by an author or researcher
INFORMATION
The information items in the sources are the building blocks we use to create evidence, such as the informant’s knowledge of dates, places, names, etc. The informant’s knowledge falls into three categories.
- Primary: The informant has first-hand knowledge of the event or relationship.
- Secondary: The informant has second-hand knowledge of the event or relationship.
- Undetermined: The researcher cannot determine whether the informant’s knowledge is primary or secondary.
EVIDENCE
We create evidence as we develop a tentative answer to our research question by correlating and comparing the information items from each source. Developing and evaluating evidence is the purpose of source analysis. We classify evidence into three categories.
- Direct: Evidence supported with a direct statement that answers a question.
- Indirect: Two or more pieces of information that do not directly state the answer to a question but give ideas and information that lead to an answer when combined.
- Negative: When missing information or evidence leads to an answer to a question. Negative evidence must be layered with other evidence to be proven true.
To learn more about the Source Analysis step in the Research Like a Pro process, listen to Diana and Nicole’s podcast called RLP 3: Analyze Your Sources.
Write Easy-to-Follow Analysis:
Even after years of experience with source analysis, I still struggle with determining exactly which terminology to use in tricky situations. Knowing the terminology is truly important, but even more important is explaining the reliability of the sources and their information and then creating evidence from them. I avoid overusing genealogical terminology in my source analysis for my client reports. Instead, I try to use layman’s vocabulary to make the report easy to understand. This approach will work well for my John Stokes project and the report I will write for my family.
With this in mind, I wrote simple but meaningful blurbs for each record in my Research Log Timeline. Since the research question has a bearing on which genealogy terminology I used, I added an extra field called “Research Question About Event.” This column helped me keep the source analysis focused correctly. Then I explained each element in simple layman’s terms.
Here are my source analysis fields:
- Research Question About Event
- Source
- Information
- Evidence
Here is a screenshot of my preliminary source analysis in my Airtable for my RLP project.
Stating Source Reliability in Source Citations:
Additionally, I use a researcher’s description in my source citations to give clues about the source’s reliability. The descriptive phrase in a genealogy citation communicates the state or format of the source as viewed by the researcher. The short and simple description conveys the potential reliability of the source.
Here are some examples of a researcher’s description:
Original Sources:
These researcher’s descriptions indicate a possible original source, which can be more reliable than a derivative. The researcher must examine the source thoroughly.
- database images
- digitized microfilm
- images of digitized microfilm
- original record in researcher’s possession
- digital photo of a gravestone
- digital image emailed by repository
Derivative Sources:
These descriptions indicate that the source is derivative and may not be as reliable.
- microfilmed index
- database index
- website index
- transcription
- images of abstractions
- typed copy
Authored Sources:
These descriptions indicate an authored source.
- compiled linage
- family history narrative
- website article
- grave memorial
To learn more about how I use researcher’s descriptions, read my blog post, Master Citation Template Part 2: Access Information.
Some other helpful terminology :
I use the term “database” to indicate that I used a database search engine to find the source. I use the term “browsable” in a researcher’s description to indicate that I found the record without using a database search engine. This term is an important clue to help other researchers understand how to locate the source. Then, I ensure the source citation contains all the needed information to browse for the image. Ideally, I include a stable URL in the citation that leads directly to the image.
Source Analysis Example from my Assignment:
Timeline Event: Birth of child (Young [Stokes])
Timeline Year: 1772
Source Citation: Jason Presley (Find a Grave ID 46598252), memorial #10068209 for Young Stokes (1772-1856); memorial with headstone image, Find a Grave (http://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10068209 : accessed 17 Sep 2023); citing marker in Stokes Chapel Cemetery Crossville, White County, Illinois.
Note: The researcher’s description in this citation, “memorial with headstone image,” indicates that the memorial is an authored source with an attached image of an original source.
Research Question About Event: When and where was Unknown Stokes 0’s son Young Stokes born?
SOURCE:
Gravestone- Original.
Memorial- Authored. Jason Presley is the author of the FaG memorial.
INFORMATION (Informant):
Gravestone- Undetermined. An unknown informant gave Young’s age and birth year for the engraving.
Memorial- Secondary. Jason Presley, the informant for the memorial, listed Young’s birth year as 1772 and his birthplace as North Carolina. Jason used the headstone information for the birth year but listed no sources for Young’s birthplace. He has created over 21,000 memorials, and “Stokes” isn’t one of his listed surnames, making this information less reliable.
EVIDENCE:
Gravestone- Direct. The gravestone directly states Young’s birth year and age—no birthplace listed.
Memorial- Direct. The memorial directly states Young’s birth year, age, and birthplace (North Carolina).
I hope this source analysis overview helps you in your genealogy research. Next week in Research Like a Pro, we will discuss creating a Locality Guide.