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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. | ||
== '''A Few Common Causes of Tough Research Problems and Their Solutions'''' | == '''A Few Common Causes of Tough Research Problems and Their Solutions''''''' == | ||
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Use the following ideas to find answers to really stubborn family history research problems (brick walls). | Use the following ideas to find answers to really stubborn family history research problems (brick walls). | ||
== '''A. Preliminaries''' == | == '''A. Preliminaries''' == | ||
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5. '''''Do not trust indexes''''''' (that do not answer the main question)''. If he''should be''in the index''but is not'', search the record page-by-page until you find him. Even if you do find him in the index, thumb through the records for places they missed him in the index until you answer the research question.<sup>8</sup>'' | 5. '''''Do not trust indexes''''''' (that do not answer the main question)''. If he''should be''in the index''but is not'', search the record page-by-page until you find him. Even if you do find him in the index, thumb through the records for places they missed him in the index until you answer the research question.<sup>8</sup>'' | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
6. '''''Do not trust copies selected by someone else.''''' If possible, look at the original with your own eyes. | 6. '''''Do not trust copies selected by someone else.''''' If possible, look at the original with your own eyes. | ||
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These methods may not be needed for every problem, but often help solve tougher research questions. | These methods may not be needed for every problem, but often help solve tougher research questions. | ||
=== Force your brain to think about the problem in new ways.<br> === | |||
=== Force your | |||
brain to think about the problem in new ways. === | |||
14. '''''Draw a time line''''' showing EVERY documented event in John Doe’s life. Include schooling, wars, censuses, births-marriages-deaths of relatives, emigration, everything! Then work to fill in the blanks. | 14. '''''Draw a time line''''' showing EVERY documented event in John Doe’s life. Include schooling, wars, censuses, births-marriages-deaths of relatives, emigration, everything! Then work to fill in the blanks. | ||