Week 7: Ethical Considerations in Genealogy Quiz

Week 7: Ethical Considerations in Genealogy Quiz

Question 1: Your DNA matches reveal that your 85-year-old grandmother likely has a different biological father than she believes. She's never expressed interest in genealogy and seems content with her family story. How should you proceed?

Investigate further privately but don't share findings unless she specifically asks
Tell her immediately since truth is more important than comfort
Share your findings with other family members to get their advice
Stop all research on that family line to avoid further complications

Question 2: While researching Cherokee ancestry, you discover that joining a federally recognized tribe requires documentation that your ancestor appeared on specific historical rolls. Your family's oral tradition claims Cherokee heritage, but you find no documentary evidence. How should you approach this research?

Accept that oral tradition is sufficient proof of Cherokee ancestry
Research thoroughly, respect tribal sovereignty, and acknowledge if no documentation exists
Search for any Native American documentation to support the family story
Assume the records were lost and include the Cherokee heritage in your tree

Question 3: A distant DNA match contacts you claiming your shared ancestor owned enslaved people. They want to collaborate on researching both the enslaver's family and the enslaved families. You're uncomfortable with this aspect of your ancestry. What's the most ethical response?

Decline to participate and avoid researching that family line
Collaborate respectfully, acknowledging the historical trauma while helping document all families involved
Research only your direct ancestor and ignore the enslaved families
Share your research but let them handle the enslaved family documentation

Question 4: Your research reveals that your great-uncle, still living at age 90, was adopted but never told. His adoptive parents are deceased, and he has living biological siblings he doesn't know about. One of them has contacted you through DNA matching, hoping to connect. How do you handle this situation?

Give the biological sibling your great-uncle's contact information immediately
Facilitate an introduction by telling your great-uncle about the match and offering to help if he's interested
Tell the biological sibling that your great-uncle doesn't want contact (without asking him)
Ignore the contact request to avoid family complications

Question 5: You're researching immigrants from Eastern Europe and discover that your ancestor changed not only their name but also claimed to be from a different country to avoid persecution. Modern descendants are proud of their assumed heritage. How should you document this finding?

Document both the actual and claimed origins with historical context about persecution
Keep the actual origins private to preserve family pride
Correct the family tree without explaining the historical context
Focus research only on the post-immigration period

Question 6: You discover that a published family genealogy from the 1920s contains fabricated connections to noble families, and several modern researchers have unknowingly built on these false claims. You have evidence proving the connections are impossible. What's your responsibility to the genealogy community?

Keep your findings private to avoid embarrassing other researchers
Publish your corrected research with respectful documentation of the errors
Privately contact each researcher you know who has used the false information
Report the false genealogy to genealogy societies for official correction