BCG Documentation & Record Management 3 ā Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of information is considered 'primary' in genealogical source evaluation?
- Information provided by someone with firsthand knowledge of the event (Correct answer)
- Information found in a government record
- Information that has been published
- Information corroborated by two or more sources
Correct answer: Information provided by someone with firsthand knowledge of the event
Primary information is supplied by someone with firsthand knowledge of the event being recorded, regardless of when or where the record was created.
Question 2: A researcher wants to document a negative findingāthat a search of county probate records found no will for an ancestor. How should this be recorded?
- It should not be recorded since nothing was found
- It should be noted in the research log with the date, repository, and scope of the search (Correct answer)
- It should be listed only if the researcher is certain the ancestor owned property
- It should be recorded only after a second search confirms the absence
Correct answer: It should be noted in the research log with the date, repository, and scope of the search
Negative findings are genealogically significant and must be recorded with the date, repository, record set searched, and scope of search so the work is not unnecessarily repeated.
Question 3: When abstracting a census record, what is the key difference between an abstract and a transcription?
- A transcription is shorter than an abstract
- An abstract captures all essential data points while a transcription copies the record word-for-word
- An abstract uses the researcher's own words; a transcription does not change any wording (Correct answer)
- There is no practical difference between the two
Correct answer: An abstract uses the researcher's own words; a transcription does not change any wording
A transcription copies the original text verbatim, while an abstract summarizes the record's key points in the researcher's own words, condensing non-essential details.
Question 4: Which BCG standard requires that every conclusion be supported by a written or oral explanation of the evidence and reasoning?
- Reasonably exhaustive search
- Complete and accurate citations
- Skillfully written conclusion (Correct answer)
- Correlation and conflict resolution
Correct answer: Skillfully written conclusion
The GPS requires a 'skillfully written conclusion'āa narrative that explains how the evidence was analyzed and why the conclusion follows from it.
Question 5: A researcher finds a family bible record listing birth dates. What class of source is the bible record itself?
- An authored work
- An original source (Correct answer)
- A derivative source
- A record set
Correct answer: An original source
The physical family bible is an original source because it is the record itself, not a copy or derivative of another document.
Question 6: What is the correct approach when a researcher cannot determine the informant of a specific data point in a vital record?
- Assume the informant was the surviving spouse
- Classify the information as secondary until the informant can be identified (Correct answer)
- Disregard the data point entirely
- Classify the data as primary because it appears in an official record
Correct answer: Classify the information as secondary until the informant can be identified
When the informant's identity and knowledge of an event cannot be determined, the information should be treated as secondary (uncertain) until the informant's firsthand knowledge can be established.
Question 7: What is the function of a research log in genealogical documentation?
- To replace the need for source citations
- To chronologically record every repository visited, search conducted, and result obtained (Correct answer)
- To store final conclusions only
- To serve as the published genealogy
Correct answer: To chronologically record every repository visited, search conducted, and result obtained
A research log systematically records repositories, records searched, dates, and findingsāpreventing duplication of effort and creating an audit trail of the research process.
BCG Documentation & Record Management 3
Which type of information is considered 'primary' in genealogical source evaluation?