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    Source Citations

    A recent article in Family Tree magazine reviews the three top genealogy software programs for PC and their sourcing system within these programs and how they all use Evidence Explained (EE) as a guide for creating source citations.
    Does anyone know the philosophy of Reunion and whether it uses the same EE guide for source citations?

    #2
    Re: Source Citations

    Originally posted by drlott View Post
    A recent article in Family Tree magazine reviews the three top genealogy software programs for PC and their sourcing system within these programs and how they all use Evidence Explained (EE) as a guide for creating source citations.
    Does anyone know the philosophy of Reunion and whether it uses the same EE guide for source citations?
    I asked this question when Reunion 11 was released and was told that Reunion would not comply with EE. To me this is one of the major drawbacks of the proram. EE is cosidered the model and to use Reunion sources one must ether do free form or revamp all the templates. But then there is no way to utilize the same source for the 2nd reference or bibliography. For such a good program in other ways, it is definitely lacking in this critical aspect.

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      #3
      Re: Source Citations

      Originally posted by CAshbridge View Post
      I asked this question when Reunion 11 was released and was told that Reunion would not comply with EE. To me this is one of the major drawbacks of the proram. EE is cosidered the model and to use Reunion sources one must ether do free form or revamp all the templates. But then there is no way to utilize the same source for the 2nd reference or bibliography. For such a good program in other ways, it is definitely lacking in this critical aspect.
      I don't have this problem at all... My sources comply with EE but I do them in two stages.

      While my written sources may not be in the same sequence that EE prefers I do very well with getting all the information in there.

      I start writing them at the "Source" level where I start with the broadest information and move towards the more focused information. For brevity I'll let you know how I do them.

      Using a made up book as an example I would start the freeform source as...

      Prunty, Thomas, "Pages From Our Past, A History of Scott County", (Published by the Scott County Historical Society; Huntsville, Tennessee) 1985

      Then in the details I would cite Page 185

      It gets glued together... now the census sources are much more complex as the first half has the broad 1940's census information and the detail would have the household, city and etc part of the citation.

      The only limitation I've found is the detail field is 250 characters. But... with some creative abbreviations I've been able to adapt.

      Quite honestly, Reunion is one of the most adaptable programs I've seen. Every roadblock I've come up to I've learned if I just "think different" I can get it to do what I want it to do.

      Allen

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        #4
        Re: Source Citations

        Originally posted by CAshbridge View Post
        EE is cosidered the model.
        By some. It was invented for academia, wasn't it? If it ever appears in Reunion, I trust it will be optional. I prefer to structure my own sources.

        Comment


          #5
          Re: Source Citations

          Originally posted by Michael Talibard View Post
          By some. It was invented for academia, wasn't it? If it ever appears in Reunion, I trust it will be optional. I prefer to structure my own sources.
          I do "hybridize" my own sources because I feel that they should start with the most broad detail of the source and move on towards the more precise. I find EE to be kind of jumbled when writing out the source.

          As long as I know that someone looking at my research can reasonably find the source if they attempt to find it. I find so much information that's out there that has absolutely no proof as to where they got it. Even if it's an interview with a person who is now dead it still gives me an idea of how reliable the source may have been.

          I don't do this for academia, but it's nice for someone to know I've done my homework and haven't just assembled information that's posted willy-nilly on a website.

          Allen

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            #6
            Re: Source Citations

            Originally posted by Michael Talibard View Post
            ... If it ever appears in Reunion, I trust it will be optional. I prefer to structure my own sources.
            I fully concur. As Emerson has it: "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds."
            Bob Emnett
            V9.0c, X10.10.5
            rosebob.emnett "at" yahoo.com

            Comment


              #7
              Re: Source Citations

              Originally posted by Bob Emnett View Post
              I fully concur. As Emerson has it: "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds."
              Perhaps it's better to learn to write our OWN sources instead of relying of forms to fill out that generate it. I like the premise behind Evidence Explained, but sometimes feel it does not have the information needed to find the source. That is the whole purpose of the source is so that the reader of your research can find the source you cited. It sometimes focuses too much on putting the information you are citing in the source ahead of finding the actual source you are citing.

              Allen

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                #8
                Re: Source Citations

                Is anyone using the method by Ben Sayers, "Practical Citation" - available at Amazon?

                I adopted Ben's File & Folder system to organize my genealogy computer files, and am considering trying to clean up my citations utilizing this new tool - but I would love to hear if anyone else is utilizing this method, and what they think about it??

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: Source Citations

                  Originally posted by AlPrunty View Post
                  Perhaps it's better to learn to write our OWN sources instead of relying of forms to fill out that generate it. ...
                  I think I again concur. This was in response to my previous concurrence that any future tailoring within Reunion to "Evidence Explained" would be optional. The same applies to any other formulation. I want to be clear on this. Mills' work is an invaluable guide to the subject and I believe any serious genealogist would benefit from reading it and following its general direction. OTOH, I am not a fan of a forced compliance to a standard in areas (such as genealogy) where the state of the art is always evolving and where there is no serious consequence to doing otherwise.
                  Bob Emnett
                  V9.0c, X10.10.5
                  rosebob.emnett "at" yahoo.com

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: Source Citations

                    Originally posted by CAshbridge View Post
                    …Reunion would not comply with EE. To me this is one of the major drawbacks of the program.
                    I beg to differ on this one. I was taught how to use sources when I was at university. I prefer to use my own sources templates following the guidelines I learn there and guidelines from such worthy institutions as Oxford University.
                    Jan Powell
                    in Wellington, New Zealand
                    http://www.rellyseeker.nz/
                    --
                    Apple/Mac since 1987, Reunion since 1993

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Re: Source Citations

                      Originally posted by Jan Powell View Post
                      I beg to differ on this one. I was taught how to use sources when I was at university. I prefer to use my own sources templates following the guidelines I learn there and guidelines from such worthy institutions as Oxford University.
                      Me too, Jan. In the 1960's, I wrote a full-length senior thesis and numerous term papers while at a university where form was most assuredly a part of one's grade. Moreover, I generated beer money from typing (!) classmates' term and research papers. Mind you, this was back in the days of carbon paper since photocopying hadn't yet caught fire. This "small business" experience is germane because I had to look very carefully at dozens of bibliographies and thousands of footnotes in the process of converting manuscripts (in a variety of disciplines) to final versions. I've got a pretty good idea of what constitutes acceptable documentation.

                      I own Mills' "Evidence! Citation & Analysis for the Family Historian" as well as a couple of her Quick Sheets. It's helpful to have a scholar of her repute suggesting standards for genealogy-specific sourcing situations as well as her take on how best to cite information coming from aggregators via the Internet.

                      Since I use Ben Sayer's folder system as the organizing principle of my research (in DEVONthink Pro Office), I bought and read his Kindle version of "Practical Citation: Reunion 10 Edition."

                      What I enter into Reunion will continue to be documented in the forms I believe will be most helpful to as yet unidentified readers. I want them to find assurance of the integrity and quality of my research, sources, and conclusions.

                      Terry
                      Last edited by Terry Smith; 10 June 2015, 07:33 PM. Reason: Correct the title of my Mills book.

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Re: Source Citations

                        Originally posted by AlPrunty View Post
                        Perhaps it's better to learn to write our OWN sources instead of relying of forms to fill out that generate it. …

                        Allen
                        Hi all,

                        (and sorry if I'm resurrecting a thread that everyone considered interred)

                        I am not impressed with any particular prescription for sourcing. As Allen says, the point is to be able to locate the original source. (I would add that the ethical point is to give credit where it is due.)

                        But…I disagree with the idea that it's better to "write our OWN sources instead of relying on forms…". The point of a form in a database is to structure the information that you are entering, ensuring that it is both appropriate and complete. This also makes sources searchable in a more structured and consistent way.

                        If the only source structure I used was "Freeform" (in Reunion), my citations would inevitably vary from one example to the next, no matter how consistently I tried to write each one.

                        If you don't like the initial citation forms in Reunion, it's easy to make new ones. It's also easy to change the order in which fields are used to suit your personal preferences.
                        --
                        Matt McCaffrey

                        Proprietor of the "family business" since 2015

                        Researching McCaffrey, Duffy, Garrow/Garand/Garant, Alden, Cadieux, Gagne

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Re: Source Citations

                          Originally posted by anitab View Post
                          Is anyone using the method by Ben Sayers, "Practical Citation" - available at Amazon?

                          I adopted Ben's File & Folder system to organize my genealogy computer files, and am considering trying to clean up my citations utilizing this new tool - but I would love to hear if anyone else is utilizing this method, and what they think about it??
                          I use Ben Sayers' 'Practical Citation' because I found the academic guides too inflexible to cope with the many and varied sources of one's genealogy research. I believe that if I was able to find the information, then surely others will be able to. I just make sure that others using my sources can find the information too.

                          I tried using one of the 'Evidence Explained' guides but got confused when some of the examples didn't follow the theory. Ben's system works for me, every time.
                          Robin
                          Victoria, Australia

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Re: Source Citations

                            I too use Ben Sayer's, Practical Citations and have done since its inception. It works for me but everyone needs to find what works them.
                            I want my sources to be transferable via gedcom and to ensure I or anyone else can refind the data if they need to.
                            People need to go to each source, evaluate the data, then decide whether THEY trust the information, the source citation doesn't make the data trustworthy nor does the way it's written.
                            I know some really good researchers, who are terrible at the organisational and sourcing side of genealogy.

                            Sue
                            Last edited by suzivegemite; 25 January 2016, 02:08 PM. Reason: Spelling

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Re: Source Citations

                              Thank you, Robin and Sue for your responses - very encouraging to have your input!
                              Anita

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