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Solving Tough Research Problems—Overcoming Brick Walls: Difference between revisions
Solving Tough Research Problems—Overcoming Brick Walls (view source)
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Your attitude about tough family history research problems has a big impact on your chances of success. Whether you think you can, or whether you think you cannot—you are right! Develop a relentless “track-‘em-down” attitude pursuing and analyzing all sources.<sup>1 </sup> Never give up on the problem, and never give up searching for new ideas and ways of researching the problem. Hunt down the answers no matter what it takes. | Your attitude about tough family history research problems has a big impact on your chances of success. Whether you think you can, or whether you think you cannot—you are right! Develop a relentless “track-‘em-down” attitude pursuing and analyzing all sources.<sup>1 </sup> Never give up on the problem, and never give up searching for new ideas and ways of researching the problem. Hunt down the answers no matter what it takes. | ||
{| class="[object Object] FCK__ShowTableBorders" | |||
|+ '''Common Causes of Problems and Their Solutions''' | |||
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| '''Common Causes of Research Problems''' | |||
| '''Solutions''' | |||
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| 1. Unproductive attitude. | |||
| Develop a relentless "track 'em down" attitude.<sup>1</sup> | |||
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| 2. Poor research logs. | |||
| Partially fill out logs BEFORE looking at each source. This includes each search’s goal (person and event you seek to document).<sup>2</sup> | |||
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| 3. Inadequate research documentation. | |||
| Document and organize AS YOU GO.<sup>3</sup> | |||
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| 4. Stagnant thinking on the problem. | |||
| Correlate what you have found. Use new forms to pull out new patterns and force your brain to try something different.<sup>4</sup> | |||
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| 5. Failure to put an ancestor in community context.<sup>5</sup><br> | |||
| Trap the answer to the question in a web of associates and neighbors on both sides of the county boundary line.<sup>6</sup> | |||
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| 6. Arbitrary research strategies. | |||
| Thoughtfully plan how, who, what, when, and where you will do the research to solve the problem. Be flexible if a new find takes you in a new direction.<sup>7</sup> | |||
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| 7. Researcher ignorance.<br><br> | |||
| Keep asking why the records show what they show (or do not show) and what that implies. Continue your genealogical education the rest of your life.<br><br> | |||
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== '''A Few Common Causes of Tough Research Problems and Their Solutions''''''''' == | == '''A Few Common Causes of Tough Research Problems and Their Solutions''''''''' == | ||