Reviewing/Indexing

DianeLotherington

Hello

When you are reviewing and correct details on certain images, how does this feed back to the person who input the incorrect information?

Thanks

Diane Lotherington

slotbuddy

That's the problem, it really doesn't. Years ago, they used to let the indexer see their errors so they could see what they were doing incorrectly and realize their errors, but the powers that be felt this wasn't right and now the errors just go on unless the indexer happens to find someone mentioning it on this site and realizes they are making the same error and changes it.

slotbuddy

Excuse me, I should have written that to say that years ago, they let the indexer see their own work with the corrections just the way it was and thus, they saw the errors. The rest of us didn't see the corrections only the indexer.

DianeLotherington

Thanks for your answer.

Not really the best approach to the situation, I wish there was a page for each individual project, then questions could be input under the relevant project.

I think this would help cut down on the errors.

thanks

Diane

barbaragailsmith1

In an ideal world, having the indexers learn from their mistakes in seeing how the arbitrator corrected their work would have been very helpful. But once they began having indexers see their corrected work, Family Search was inundated with calls and chats from indexers complaining about arbitrators changing work that was correct to begin with. I think everyone, especially Family Search, was stunned by the number of arbitrators that didn't seem to understand the basic indexing guidelines and never read the specific project instructions. I never learned anything from the results of my arbitrated batches except that most arbitrators weren't reading the instructions. That was why I became an arbitrator myself, to help offset that. The newer system was implemented to save time in having the work published and they decided that even with the errors in the end, the records could still be found by researchers. Bless the reviewers who follow instructions, but even those who don't most likely do catch gross errors.

DianeLotherington

Hello

Thanks for your reply, it has really surprised me that the arbitrators had not read the instructions.

I was with Ancestry. com for 10 years inputting and reviewing. You had to have 95% of your cases correct before you could be considered for reviewing. Unfortunately, Ancestry no longer have volunteers inputting they stopped in Feb2023. I am uncertain if I will continue with Family search as it does not make the best of the people it has volunteering. Everything seems not to be user friendly.

Regards

Diane

barbaragailsmith1

Not everyone is rules oriented and reads directions and many newer people can't read the handwriting well. People generally get better with practice. But regardless of errors, the records are still published and can be found on Family Search. The volunteers are essential and Family Search is the only organization like this that is free to use for everyone. I hope you stick with it. It sounds like you're on the ball. Remember, every project does have it's specific instructions and does give general indexing guidelines given with every batch. But people have to look at them. Family Search used to have a window pop up first thing with every batch telling where to find the instructions and field helps and for a time would put messages on the indexing page reminding people to read the instructions. It didn't seem to make any difference. People are people and we can't babysit them. All we can do is our own best. The ideal thing would be (for members of the LDS church) for their ward or stake indexing specialists to train the indexers under them. And this forum and Share Batch Indexing, Etc. of Facebook are good helps for getting answers to questions.