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Archiver > GENBOX > 2010-08 > 1282621955


From: Donald Zochert <>
Subject: Re: [GENBOX] Recording erroneous information
Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2010 22:52:35 -0500
References: <4C72E404.6040603@att.net>
In-Reply-To: <4C72E404.6040603@att.net>


Hi, Kathy,

I enter variant evidence in a research note attached to the pertinent event along with a summary of what I find unreliable or suspect about it. If it's justified I include my analysis of why I conclude some evidence is "known, reliably sourced information" and other evidence is not. This avoids evidence surety rankings and the use of alternate events. Both add clutter and not clarity to a database, in my view. This practice also links my analysis of evidence directly to the event in question, makes it accessible to me as the researcher, and brings my thoughts on an issue together rather than fragmenting them. I have a hard enough time keeping my thoughts together as it is.

The analysis of conflicting evidence in most cases is something that might go in a footnote rather than be part of the body of a report. In any event, use of the information is made easier by having the evidence (and analysis) together in one place.

For the record, I think of it as "conflicting evidence" rather than "erroneous information."

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