Negative evidence

Negative Evidence: Evidence that Negates?
Our last posting about negative evidence and EE’s QuickLesson 17 drew quite a few shares. That led to an interesting discussion on the page of one of those who shared the posting. At the root of that discussion lay another common confusion: Negative evidence is not a “finding” that NEGATES something else we found.
EE Tue, 11/13/2018 - 12:26
Negative Evidence vs. Negative Findings

A teaching tool for researchers just came across EE's desk. To paraphrase: The tool asks whether a needed record exists. Then it instructs: If it does not exist, you now have negative evidence.

No. Nope. Non and nyet!

EE Tue, 11/13/2018 - 11:52

Applying the EAM to DNA: Part 3, Evidence

Why do we take DNA tests? Reasons vary. Many people hope it will “tell me who I am.” That’s a reasonable expectation for adoptees and others with questions about their own parents and siblings. Others swab or spit because they think it will tell them where their ancestors come from. Experienced family historians turn to DNA to help resolve questions for which paper-trail research has turned up no explicit answer.