©Jason MacConnell 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
FHGEN 110 - Study Questions With Correct
Answers A+
In what four areas does this course teach for success in family history and genealogy? -
Answer✔Personal research, Consultancy work, Professional research, Educational work
In which of the four areas do you see yourself working? - Answer✔Right now I am focusing on
the consultancy work and educational work, but in the future it will switch to personal research
and professional research.
What is GPS? - Answer✔Genealogical Proof Standard, detailed in the BCG Genealogical
Standards Manual
Why is GPS important, or how is it used? - Answer✔guide genealogists of how to research.
Used in documentation, research, and writing. "Measure the credibility of conclusions about
ancestral identities, relationships, and life events."
What are the five elements of the GPS? - Answer✔Reasonably exhaustive research
complete and accurate source citations
through analysis and correlation
resolution of conflicting evidence
soundly written conclusion based on the strongest evidence
Why do you need a research plan? - Answer✔Ensures all available and relevant information has
been located, examined, and organized. Helps to answer the research question and formulate
hypotheses.
What are some suggested steps in research planning? - Answer✔study pre-info relating to the
request, question, or problem; evaluate source type, reliability; define goal/objective and primary
person; make source list (reach goal, answer question, solve problem); if a location has sources
and if/how to access sources)
What types of resources can you use to ensure your research plan includes a breadth of sources?
- Answer✔reference books, websites, census + vital records, directories
1
, ©Jason MacConnell 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
What is the purpose of a research log? - Answer✔Shows you followed and completed planned
research. Can add to it if research question was not solved. Ability for anyone to recreate
research session by reading it.
What are the basic elements of a research log? - Answer✔Researcher name, Research date,
Person name being researched, Specific research goal, Specific details for each source searched
(whole citation, how source searched, source results, document citation)
What information should be included in your source citations to successfully track your
research? - Answer✔Individual record, page, document number
What are some common errors to avoid? - Answer✔researching without research log (restart
process), only recording records found (need to record searched as well)
How should you determine when your research is finished? - Answer✔?Questions answered,
searched record breadth (hard-to-find, different types, all sources), used methods to find less
obvious info, replace info in derivative records with original source documents, does this info
resolve conflicts?
Why are citations so important to genealogists? - Answer✔provide accurate guide to source of
original information; give researcher credibility
What should be included in a citation? - Answer✔author, title, publication + All important
details about specific record being examined and found again;
What resources are available to help you write citations? - Answer✔CMOS, FH & Genealogy
Research:Citing Your Sources 14.23, Evidence Explained by Elizabeth Mills, BYU Idaho Guide
to Citing Sources
What does the author say is the main reason why you, as a genealogist, should cite your sources?
- Answer✔Complete and accurate source citations demonstrate the research extent and sources'
quality
Why is it important that, as a genealogist, you are able to analyze the credibility of a particular
source? - Answer✔so that we can rely upon the best possible source in terms of quality and
content.
What kinds of questions should you ask yourself when citing a source? - Answer✔Is this an
original document or a copy? Was this created at time of event or later? By primary or secondary
witness?
Would the primary witness have motive to live, legal duty to say truth?
Is this within the time period?
Is there two ink types on paper?
2
FHGEN 110 - Study Questions With Correct
Answers A+
In what four areas does this course teach for success in family history and genealogy? -
Answer✔Personal research, Consultancy work, Professional research, Educational work
In which of the four areas do you see yourself working? - Answer✔Right now I am focusing on
the consultancy work and educational work, but in the future it will switch to personal research
and professional research.
What is GPS? - Answer✔Genealogical Proof Standard, detailed in the BCG Genealogical
Standards Manual
Why is GPS important, or how is it used? - Answer✔guide genealogists of how to research.
Used in documentation, research, and writing. "Measure the credibility of conclusions about
ancestral identities, relationships, and life events."
What are the five elements of the GPS? - Answer✔Reasonably exhaustive research
complete and accurate source citations
through analysis and correlation
resolution of conflicting evidence
soundly written conclusion based on the strongest evidence
Why do you need a research plan? - Answer✔Ensures all available and relevant information has
been located, examined, and organized. Helps to answer the research question and formulate
hypotheses.
What are some suggested steps in research planning? - Answer✔study pre-info relating to the
request, question, or problem; evaluate source type, reliability; define goal/objective and primary
person; make source list (reach goal, answer question, solve problem); if a location has sources
and if/how to access sources)
What types of resources can you use to ensure your research plan includes a breadth of sources?
- Answer✔reference books, websites, census + vital records, directories
1
, ©Jason MacConnell 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
What is the purpose of a research log? - Answer✔Shows you followed and completed planned
research. Can add to it if research question was not solved. Ability for anyone to recreate
research session by reading it.
What are the basic elements of a research log? - Answer✔Researcher name, Research date,
Person name being researched, Specific research goal, Specific details for each source searched
(whole citation, how source searched, source results, document citation)
What information should be included in your source citations to successfully track your
research? - Answer✔Individual record, page, document number
What are some common errors to avoid? - Answer✔researching without research log (restart
process), only recording records found (need to record searched as well)
How should you determine when your research is finished? - Answer✔?Questions answered,
searched record breadth (hard-to-find, different types, all sources), used methods to find less
obvious info, replace info in derivative records with original source documents, does this info
resolve conflicts?
Why are citations so important to genealogists? - Answer✔provide accurate guide to source of
original information; give researcher credibility
What should be included in a citation? - Answer✔author, title, publication + All important
details about specific record being examined and found again;
What resources are available to help you write citations? - Answer✔CMOS, FH & Genealogy
Research:Citing Your Sources 14.23, Evidence Explained by Elizabeth Mills, BYU Idaho Guide
to Citing Sources
What does the author say is the main reason why you, as a genealogist, should cite your sources?
- Answer✔Complete and accurate source citations demonstrate the research extent and sources'
quality
Why is it important that, as a genealogist, you are able to analyze the credibility of a particular
source? - Answer✔so that we can rely upon the best possible source in terms of quality and
content.
What kinds of questions should you ask yourself when citing a source? - Answer✔Is this an
original document or a copy? Was this created at time of event or later? By primary or secondary
witness?
Would the primary witness have motive to live, legal duty to say truth?
Is this within the time period?
Is there two ink types on paper?
2
