Hypothesize verses Fantasize

Genealogy research requires the researcher to speculate where to search for documents and various sources.  Sometimes all we have are vague ideas of our ancestors during their migrations or life altering events such as a marriage.  Both, specific speculation and research experience allow us to hypothesize where to search next.  This process can be either our help or hindrance. 

There comes a time in all research when you are required to transition.  After thoroughly searching and locating all possible documents and sources, a researcher then must transition to the next step.  It is this transition phase that some beginning researchers are stuck or lost.  Some researchers will not budge on various probable locations or lost because they are overwhelmed with possibilities and cannot define a specific location.

To hypothesize means to make a good educated guess, or to make a suggested theory.  Ideas and theories formulated may expand logical search possibilities.  A hypothesis supported, by fact-supported information, may then become foundational information to support the new theory.

To fantasize means creating romantic or extravagant notions.  Factual evidence does not support fantasy and generally is a result of family lore and family stories.  Family lore and stories are usually “fantasy” with threads of fact interwoven, but family lore may hinder research rather than help it.  Fantasy is usually not intentionally misleading, but rather the natural fading of memory. 

Hypothesizing and fantasizing have their value in research, until facts and sources gathered and cited.


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