Background: Online genealogies are promising data sources for demographic research, but their limitations are understudied. This paper takes a critical approach to evaluating the potential strengths and weaknesses of using online genealogical data for population studies. We focus on the FamiLinx dataset, which contains demographic information and kinship ties across multiple countries and centuries. Objective: We propose novel measures to assess the completeness and the quality of demographic variables in the FamiLinx data at both the individual and the familial level over the 1600–1900 period. Utilizing Sweden as a test country, we investigate how the age–sex distribution and the mortality levels of the digital population extracted from FamiLinx diverge from the registered population. Methods: We employ descriptive statistics, negative binomial regression modeling, and standard life table techniques for our measures of completeness and quality. Results: Missing values and accuracy in demographic information from FamiLinx are selective. When one demographic variable is available, researchers can effectively anticipate the availability of other demographic information. The completeness and quality of demographic variables within kinship networks are markedly higher for individuals with more complete and accurate demographic information. Populations from FamiLinx display lower mortality levels than the registered population and their representativeness improves towards the end of the 19th century. Contribution: This study sheds new light on the opportunities and challenges of harnessing online genealogies for demographic research. Although this data source offers much promise, its usability in population studies is dependent on the quality and completeness of its recorded demographic information and their selectivity.

中文翻译：

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使用在线家谱数据进行人口统计研究：FamiLinx 数据库的实证检验（作者：Andrea Colasurdo、Riccardo Omenti）


背景：在线家谱是人口学研究的有前途的数据源，但其局限性研究不足。本文采用批判性方法来评估使用在线家谱数据进行人口研究的潜在优势和劣势。我们专注于 FamiLinx 数据集，其中包含多个国家和多个世纪的人口统计信息和亲属关系。目的：我们提出了新的措施来评估 1600-1900 年期间 FamiLinx 数据中个人和家庭水平人口变量的完整性和质量。以瑞典为测试国家，我们调查了从 FamiLinx 中提取的数字人口的年龄-性别分布和死亡率水平如何与注册人口不同。方法：我们采用描述性统计、负二项式回归建模和标准寿命表技术来衡量完整性和质量。结果：FamiLinx 人口统计信息中的缺失值和准确性是选择性的。当一个人口统计变量可用时，研究人员可以有效地预测其他人口统计信息的可用性。对于人口统计信息更完整和准确的个体，亲属网络中人口统计变量的完整性和质量明显更高。来自 FamiLinx 的种群的死亡率水平低于注册种群，并且他们的代表性在 19 世纪末有所提高。贡献： 这项研究为利用在线家谱进行人口研究的机遇和挑战提供了新的视角。 尽管该数据源提供了很大的前景，但它在人口研究中的可用性取决于其记录的人口统计信息的质量和完整性及其选择性。