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Solving Tough Research Problems—Overcoming Brick Walls (view source)
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<br>See also [[United States, How to Find Genealogy Records]]<br> | <br>See also [[United States, How to Find Genealogy Records]]<br> | ||
[[Image:Brick wall 2494.jpg|thumb|right | [[Image:Brick wall 2494.jpg|thumb|right]]Use this checklist of concepts and research techniques to help you solve a variety of difficult research problems. | ||
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| valign="middle" | '''Solutions''' | | valign="middle" | '''Solutions''' | ||
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| valign="middle" | 1. Unproductive attitude | | valign="middle" | 1. Unproductive attitude | ||
| valign="middle" | Develop a relentless "track 'em down" attitude.<ref name="one" /> | | valign="middle" | Develop a relentless "track 'em down" attitude.<ref name="one" /> | ||
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| valign="middle" | 2. Poor research logs | | valign="middle" | 2. Poor research logs | ||
| valign="middle" | Partially fill out logs BEFORE looking at each source. This includes each search’s goal (person and event you seek to document).<ref>G. David Dilts, "Research Logs: The Most Important Tool for Organizing Your Family History," [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/2250993referer=brief_results ''Genealogical Journal''] 30 (2002): 10-11. [FHL Book 973 D25gj v. 30 2002].</ref> | | valign="middle" | Partially fill out logs BEFORE looking at each source. This includes each search’s goal (person and event you seek to document).<ref>G. David Dilts, "Research Logs: The Most Important Tool for Organizing Your Family History," [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/2250993referer=brief_results ''Genealogical Journal''] 30 (2002): 10-11. [FHL Book 973 D25gj v. 30 2002].</ref> | ||
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| valign="middle" | 3. Inadequate research documentation | | valign="middle" | 3. Inadequate research documentation | ||
| valign="middle" | Document and organize AS YOU GO.<ref>Carol Harless, et. al., [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/82725149referer=brief_results ''PAF Documentation Guidelines''] (N.p.: Silicon Valley PAF Users Group, 1993), 1 [FHL Book 005.3 H224].</ref> | | valign="middle" | Document and organize AS YOU GO.<ref>Carol Harless, et. al., [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/82725149referer=brief_results ''PAF Documentation Guidelines''] (N.p.: Silicon Valley PAF Users Group, 1993), 1 [FHL Book 005.3 H224].</ref> | ||
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| valign="middle" | 4. Stagnant thinking on the problem | | valign="middle" | 4. Stagnant thinking on the problem | ||
| valign="middle" | Correlate what you have found. Use new forms to pull out new patterns and force your brain to try something different.<ref>Elizabeth Shown Mills, "Dissecting the Research Problem” (lecture in Course 4 Advanced Methodology Evidence, Institute for Genealogical and Historical Research at Samford University, Birmingham, Ala., 17 June 2005).</ref> | | valign="middle" | Correlate what you have found. Use new forms to pull out new patterns and force your brain to try something different.<ref>Elizabeth Shown Mills, "Dissecting the Research Problem” (lecture in Course 4 Advanced Methodology Evidence, Institute for Genealogical and Historical Research at Samford University, Birmingham, Ala., 17 June 2005).</ref> | ||
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| valign="middle" | Trap the answer to the question in a web of associates and neighbors on both sides of the county boundary line.<ref>Mills, “Dissecting the Research Problem.”</ref> | | valign="middle" | Trap the answer to the question in a web of associates and neighbors on both sides of the county boundary line.<ref>Mills, “Dissecting the Research Problem.”</ref> | ||
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| valign="middle" | 6. Arbitrary research strategies | | valign="middle" | 6. Arbitrary research strategies | ||
| valign="middle" | 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.<ref>Mills, “Dissecting the Research Problem.”</ref> | | valign="middle" | 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.<ref>Mills, “Dissecting the Research Problem.”</ref> | ||
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| valign="middle" | 7. Researcher | | valign="middle" | 7. Researcher knowledge deficit<br><br> | ||
| valign="middle" | 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> | | valign="middle" | 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> | ||
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