BCG Risk Management & Mitigation 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A genealogist working with immigrant ancestors finds name spelling varies across documents. Which approach BEST mitigates the risk of missing records?
- Search only under the spelling used on the death certificate
- Search all phonetic and variant spellings systematically, including Soundex and foreign-language forms (Correct answer)
- Accept the most common spelling found and ignore outliers
- Use only indexes rather than browsing original images to save time
Correct answer: Search all phonetic and variant spellings systematically, including Soundex and foreign-language forms
Systematic variant-spelling searches, including phonetic tools and native-language forms, prevent records from being missed due to inconsistent transliteration or clerical variation.
Question 2: Under BCG standards, what risk does a 'reasonably exhaustive search' specifically guard against?
- The risk of spending too much money on genealogical research
- The risk that undiscovered records contradict or refute the proposed conclusion (Correct answer)
- The risk of violating privacy laws for living individuals
- The risk of using records that predate the U.S. Census
Correct answer: The risk that undiscovered records contradict or refute the proposed conclusion
A reasonably exhaustive search ensures that relevant existing records have been consulted, reducing the chance that missed evidence would overturn the conclusion.
Question 3: Which scenario introduces the greatest risk of a false-positive kinship conclusion in genealogical research?
- Using a DNA test from a reputable laboratory
- Relying solely on a common surname as evidence of a family relationship without documentary corroboration (Correct answer)
- Conducting interviews with elderly relatives about family history
- Consulting a professional genealogist for an independent review
Correct answer: Relying solely on a common surname as evidence of a family relationship without documentary corroboration
Shared surnames, especially common ones, do not establish kinship without documentary evidence; this mistake is one of the most frequent sources of false lineage claims.
Question 4: A researcher finds conflicting birth years for the same individual across multiple records. Which step BEST mitigates the risk of choosing the wrong date?
- Always prefer the date recorded closest to the birth event and explain the discrepancies in writing
- Average all recorded dates and use the result as the birth year (Correct answer)
- Discard all but the most recently created record
- Defer to the date recorded in the family Bible regardless of other evidence
Correct answer: Average all recorded dates and use the result as the birth year
Records created closest in time to the event tend to be more reliable, but all discrepancies should be analyzed and explained rather than silently ignored.
Question 5: What is the primary risk associated with publishing genealogical conclusions without a written proof argument when evidence is indirect or conflicting?
- Publication without a proof argument violates U.S. copyright law
- Readers cannot evaluate the reasoning, allowing errors to propagate unchecked into the genealogical record (Correct answer)
- The publication will be rejected by all genealogical journals automatically
- BCG will revoke the researcher's certification immediately
Correct answer: Readers cannot evaluate the reasoning, allowing errors to propagate unchecked into the genealogical record
Without a written proof argument, the logical steps connecting evidence to conclusion are invisible, preventing readers from assessing or correcting the reasoning.
Question 6: Which of the following data-preservation practices BEST mitigates the risk of losing digital genealogical files?
- Store all files on a single external hard drive kept in a fireproof safe
- Maintain multiple backups in geographically separate locations using at least two different media types (Correct answer)
- Upload files to one cloud service and rely on that provider's backup
- Print all digital files to paper and rely solely on physical copies
Correct answer: Maintain multiple backups in geographically separate locations using at least two different media types
The 3-2-1 backup principle—three copies, two media types, one off-site—protects against hardware failure, fire, theft, and cloud-service discontinuation simultaneously.
Question 7: A genealogist encounters a record that appears to be a photocopy of an original document but lacks any archival certification. What risk does this introduce?
- The photocopy cannot be cited under any genealogical standards
- The image may have been altered, selectively cropped, or may represent a different document than claimed (Correct answer)
- Photocopies are always considered original sources under GPS rules
- Using a photocopy violates the BCG's ethical guidelines on intellectual property
Correct answer: The image may have been altered, selectively cropped, or may represent a different document than claimed
Uncertified photocopies carry the risk of manipulation or misrepresentation, making it advisable to verify against the original or a certified copy whenever possible.
BCG Risk Management & Mitigation 3
A genealogist working with immigrant ancestors finds name spelling varies across documents.
Which approach BEST mitigates the risk of missing records?