In my #40Days40Reviews first post, I mentioned the SOAP method I use in my research. This is the original Facebook post. The S.O.A.P. method follows GPS (Genealogy Proof Standards.) I make every attempt to follow GPS in my work. You will notice that the reviews ToDo Lists were adjusted based on what Genealogy question I was answering. I may not have written that question down in the review. It was in my mind when I started.
June Butka Genealogy Photos
Is your Tree in the FOG? Use S.O.A.P. to bring it out of the fog and into the light of day.
S.O.A.P. Notes is what I learned to do in Healthcare. It is also how I started doing my Family Search. My goal was to disprove, in hopes of proving, the family Stories. It basically is the Who, What, Where Is, Where In, When, How, & How much, approach to research the problem. Medical or Story wise.
S-Subjective
O-Objective
A-Assessment
P-Plan
This approach can be revisited each time you speak with someone. You can re-evaluate based on the answers. It is an ongoing evaluation of the patient(ancestor) using a mnemonic system.
I use the S.O.A.P. system approach in family research. It is an ongoing evaluation of each person you interview or research.
SUBJECTIVITY: using the mnemonic system of SOAP for my research as follows.
You expand on the information by asking questions along the way.
L-Location-where were they born, resided, died
D-Duration- How long we they there
C-Character- Story telling or historian with facts/supporting evidence
A-Alleviating/ Aggravating factors-resolving the conflict or perpetuating an untruth
R-Radiation of the problem – Myths
T-Temporal pattern- doing the same thing with the same results
S-Severity- how deep is the problem
L-Location who else is in the same location, did they move as a unit
O-Onset of a move & why
C-Chronology- what societal or environment event impacted them
Q- Quality of life-of research
S-Severity of the errors found
M-Modifying factors- reviewing sources; making correction when newer information found
A-Additional symptoms, an unrelated sources or input that appears to affect your results or research
T-Treatment-are you using peer review, support, new tools available to you
OBJECTIVLY: I observe the Genealogical Proof Standards in my research.
What do I see?
What weight can I give the document-?
What is the purpose of the document?
Who will beifit from the information?
How do they benefit from it?
Possible involvement of others, Is it pertinent to the question?
Where is the document or information?
When was the information or document created?
Results can vary depending of the validity of the information input or records types found.
Results from sources need to follow the same SOAP method evaluation.
ASSESSMENT: is more of the Hypothesis based on our work and beliefs, to the best of our knowledge, available tools, and research.
We assess what we have,
What we need,
How to get it,
Who can get it,
Where can we get it,
Where is the family keeping it-[make a notation of where and who]
Do other have access to it
PLAN: to enter the information, sources, citations, goals, “To Do’s”, into our Family Tree, for each aspect of that tree. It is not static. It is an ongoing evaluation to achieve the best results we can offer ourselves and our ancestors.
Now go out there using SOAP to clean up your family trees of Old.
Don’t be afraid to rethink yourself or your work. We grow in our views as we age. Learn new things. Utilize them to our best capacity.
Date the notes you make. this shows your thought process at the time of the note and research found.
Re-evaluation of ourselves and our trees, are who we are.
Dame Gussie's Genealogy 