Standards
All hobbies have standards. Model railroading has standard gauges of track. Coin collecting has standards for describing the condition of coins. As a hobby, genealogy is no exception. Research standards and standards of evidence continue to be an important topic for all genealogy researchers. Standards have perhaps become more important with the increasing popularity of genealogy. The fact that there are more researchers engaged in genealogy increases the need for standards and the consistency which standards provide.

The National Genealogical Society (World Wide Web site at http://www.genealogy.org/~ngs) has recently endorsed three standards for genealogists. These three are: Standards for Sound Genealogical Research; Standards for Using Records Repositories and Libraries; and Standards for Use of Technology in Genealogical Research.

span class="subhead">Standards for Use of Technology
The Standards for Use of Technology in Genealogical Research are of particular interest to the readers of this column. These standards on technology are listed in full at the end of this article (see page 62) and may be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.genealogy.org/~ngs/standtec.html. Of course, there have been previous technology-oriented standards, such as the widely accepted GEnealogical Data COMmunications (GEDCOM) standard for sharing genealogical information between diverse software programs. However, as far as I am aware, these standards from the National Genealogical Society are the first to address how technology should be used as a research tool.

It's useful to review some of the points in these standards and emphasize their importance. The standards provide a solid framework for assessing how technology can assist us in our genealogical research. The opening sentence of the standards list sets the tone by reminding us that computers are tools. As with any tool we use, we remain responsible for using the tool either badly or well. Here are five elements of the standards which are particularly noteworthy.

Be Polite
"Genealogists treat people online as courteously and civilly as they would treat them face-to-face, not separated by networks and anonymity."

Always be kind to the people you meet online. You never know if the person on the other end of the wire might turn out to be your fourth cousin, twice removed—the one with the family Bible in the attic! If someone online gets your hackles up, try responding as you would if they were sitting next to you. The temptation to respond more strongly must be resisted. When meeting people electronically, good manners are more, not less, important.

Be Skeptical
"Genealogists preserve the integrity of their own databases by evaluating the reliability of downloaded data before incorporating it into their own files."

The old saying about computers ("garbage in, garbage out") should really be changed to "garbage in, gospel out," because we are so apt to believe in the accuracy of computerized output. This is due to the authority which computers seem to lend to the data they process. All information from any source should be carefully scrutinized for its accuracy before any reliance is placed on it. Computerized information is no exception.

Be Thorough
"Genealogists treat compiled information from online sources or digital databases like that from other published sources, useful primarily as a guide to locating original records, but not as evidence for a conclusion or assertion."

As with any genealogical resource which has been derived from original source material, computerized information should be used as a road sign pointing back to the original source records. When an entry is found in a database such as the International Genealogical Index or in one of the commercially available CD-ROM databases, the entry can only be used as a helpful clue. The information from the entry must be further verified by consulting the original record.

Be Accurate
"Genealogists cite sources for data obtained online or from digital media with the same care that is appropriate for sources on paper and other traditional media, and enter data into a digital database only when its source can remain associated with it."

Genealogical information without proper citations is only hearsay. We've all learned the value of citing our sources of genealogical research. First, it helps us remember where we got our information, so that we can continue our research in such steps as cross-checking, re-evaluating, and comparison with information found later. Second, it shows other researchers with whom we share our research that we have conducted careful and reliable research. The electronic sources of genealogical information must be noted and preserved as carefully as any other source.

Be Aware
"Genealogists accept that technology has not changed the principles of genealogical research, only some of the procedures."

Returning to the theme of computers as tools, this point nicely summarizes the overall thrust of the standards. The basic principles which generate sound genealogical research have remained constant in the face of rapid technological change. The fundamental processes which guide quality genealogical work have not altered—only the tools have changed. The National Genealogical Society's Standards for Use of Technology in Genealogical Research are a good reminder of this fact.

Mark Howells is a Certified Information Systems Auditor and a Certified Information Systems Security Professional. He volunteers on the Internet as the host of the Norfolk-L genealogy mailing list and is chairman of the Internet Branch of the Norfolk Family History Society (see http://www.oz.net/~cyndihow/). His e-mail address is markhow@oz.net