Genealogical Maturity

Genealogical Maturity is a system of self evaluation and self improvement first proposed by the Ancestry Insider in 2009. The Genealogical Maturity improvement system measures one's understanding and use of the Genealogical Proof Standard and the associated Evidence Analysis Research Process Map. The system encourages improvement in five categories: sources, citations, information, evidence, and conclusions.

Definitions
Terminology used in the Genealogical Maturity improvement system uses common, dictionary definitions. Definitions for the following terms are taken from the dictionary, with clarifications from leading genealogists.

source – 1. the origin that supplies information. 2. “an artifact, book, document, film, person, recording, website, etc., from which information is obtained.”

citation – 1. “citations are statements in which we identify our source or sources for…particular [information].” 2. “a citation states where you found [the cited] piece of information.”

information - 1. “knowledge obtained from investigation.” 2. “the content of a source—that is, its factual statements or its raw data.”

evidence – 1. “something that furnishes proof.” 2. “information that is relevant to the problem.” 3. analyzed and correlated information assessed to be of sufficient quality. 4. “the information that we conclude—after careful evaluation—supports or contradicts the statement we would like to make, or are about to make, about an ancestor.”

conclusion – 1. “a reasoned judgment.” 2. “a decision [that should be] based on well-reasoned and thoroughly documented evidence gleaned from sound research.”

Step 1. Self Evaluation
The self evaluation step of the Genealogy Maturity system consists of reading through the following five tables, placing a check mark next to each statement that describes you. There is one table for each of the five categories. Ignore row number and maturity level during the self evaluation step.

Conclusions
Forms conclusions “based on well-reasoned and thoroughly documented evidence gleaned from sound research.”

Step 2. Inventory
Identify the first blank row number in each category table. For example, in the Conclusions category if I placed check marks in rows 1 and 2 and no other rows, then row 3 is the first row without a check mark.

Write the first blank row numbers in this inventory table:

Step 3. Identify
Identify a category for improvement. The category can be the one with the lowest number in the inventory table, or another category of interest. Go back to the chosen category table. From the first blank row of the chosen category, note the description. The description identifies the skill or practice that you must adopt to advance to the next maturity level.

For example, if I chose the Conclusions category and row 3 is the first blank row, I identify that I need to learn to use or resolve conflicting evidence and I need to correctly identify persons mentioned in sources.

Step 4. Improve
Set a S.M.A.R.T. goal to improve in the identified skill or practice. A SMART goal is Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

For example, to improve in row 3 in the Conclusions category, I might set a goal to ask a certified genealogist to recommend a book, article, or class that I might use to learn how to resolve conflicting evidence, and to complete this goal by the end of the week.

Step 5. Iterate
At the end of the time period for the goal in step 4, go back through steps 1 through 4 and set a new goal. Do this whether or not you successfully completed the last goal.

For example, if I completed a goal to get a recommendation on a resource for learning how to resolve conflicting evidence, I might set a new goal to use that resource.