Record linkage is the task of identifying records within one or multiple databases that refer to the same entity. Currently, there exist many different approaches for record linkage. Some approaches incorporate the use of heuristic rules, mathematical models, Markov models, or machine learning. This thesis focuses on the application of record linkage to genealogical records within family trees. Today, large collections of genealogical records are stored in databases, which may contain multiple records that refer to a single individual. Resolving duplicate genealogical records can extend our knowledge on who has lived and more complete information can be constructed by combining all information referring to an individual. Simple string matching is not a feasible option for identifying duplicate records due to inconsistencies such as typographical errors, data entry errors, and missing data.
Record linkage algorithms can be classified under two broad categories, a rule-based or heuristic approach, or a probabilistic-based approach. The Cocktail Approach, presented by Shirley Ong Ai Pei, combines a probabilistic-based approach with a rule-based approach for record linkage. This thesis discusses a re-implementation and adoption of the Cocktail Approach to genealogical records.
","abstract_html":"<p>Record linkage is the task of identifying records within one or multiple databases that refer to the same entity. Currently, there exist many different approaches for record linkage. Some approaches incorporate the use of heuristic rules, mathematical models, Markov models, or machine learning. This thesis focuses on the application of record linkage to genealogical records within family trees. Today, large collections of genealogical records are stored in databases, which may contain multiple records that refer to a single individual. Resolving duplicate genealogical records can extend our knowledge on who has lived and more complete information can be constructed by combining all information referring to an individual. Simple string matching is not a feasible option for identifying duplicate records due to inconsistencies such as typographical errors, data entry errors, and missing data.</p> <p>Record linkage algorithms can be classified under two broad categories, a rule-based or heuristic approach, or a probabilistic-based approach. The Cocktail Approach, presented by Shirley Ong Ai Pei, combines a probabilistic-based approach with a rule-based approach for record linkage. This thesis discusses a re-implementation and adoption of the Cocktail Approach to genealogical records.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Shah, Pooja P."],"institution":null,"degree_name":"MS in Computer Science","degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":"Computer Science","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Franz Kurfess"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2015,"date_issued":"2015-03-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2015-03-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:31:35Z","subjects":["Genealogical","Record Linkage","Computational Engineering"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["10.15368/theses.2015.12"],"render_values":[{"text":"10.15368/theses.2015.12","href":"https://doi.org/10.15368/theses.2015.12","code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/1353","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Franz Kurfess"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Shah, Pooja P."]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2015-03-13T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Computer Science"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["MS in Computer Science"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Genealogical","Record Linkage","Computational Engineering"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/1353","10.15368/theses.2015.12"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Record linkage is the task of identifying records within one or multiple databases that refer to the same entity. Currently, there exist many different approaches for record linkage. Some approaches incorporate the use of heuristic rules, mathematical models, Markov models, or machine learning. This thesis focuses on the application of record linkage to genealogical records within family trees. Today, large collections of genealogical records are stored in databases, which may contain multiple records that refer to a single individual. Resolving duplicate genealogical records can extend our knowledge on who has lived and more complete information can be constructed by combining all information referring to an individual. Simple string matching is not a feasible option for identifying duplicate records due to inconsistencies such as typographical errors, data entry errors, and missing data.
Record linkage algorithms can be classified under two broad categories, a rule-based or heuristic approach, or a probabilistic-based approach. The Cocktail Approach, presented by Shirley Ong Ai Pei, combines a probabilistic-based approach with a rule-based approach for record linkage. This thesis discusses a re-implementation and adoption of the Cocktail Approach to genealogical records.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Combination of a Probabilistic-Based and a Rule-Based Approach for Genealogical Record Linkage"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Franz Kurfess"],"dc:creator":["Shah, Pooja P."],"dc:date.available":["2015-03-13T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Record linkage is the task of identifying records within one or multiple databases that refer to the same entity. Currently, there exist many different approaches for record linkage. Some approaches incorporate the use of heuristic rules, mathematical models, Markov models, or machine learning. This thesis focuses on the application of record linkage to genealogical records within family trees. Today, large collections of genealogical records are stored in databases, which may contain multiple records that refer to a single individual. Resolving duplicate genealogical records can extend our knowledge on who has lived and more complete information can be constructed by combining all information referring to an individual. Simple string matching is not a feasible option for identifying duplicate records due to inconsistencies such as typographical errors, data entry errors, and missing data.
Record linkage algorithms can be classified under two broad categories, a rule-based or heuristic approach, or a probabilistic-based approach. The Cocktail Approach, presented by Shirley Ong Ai Pei, combines a probabilistic-based approach with a rule-based approach for record linkage. This thesis discusses a re-implementation and adoption of the Cocktail Approach to genealogical records.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/1353","10.15368/theses.2015.12"],"dc:subject":["Genealogical","Record Linkage","Computational Engineering"],"dc:title":["Combination of a Probabilistic-Based and a Rule-Based Approach for Genealogical Record Linkage"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Computer Science"],"thesis:degree_name":["MS in Computer Science"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:31:35Z"}