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== Introduction == | |||
[[Image:Research Logs.jpg|right|200x117px|Research Logs.jpg]] | |||
Use this important tool to help organize and track your research work. Research logs document where you search, and what has or has NOT been found. | Use this important tool to help organize and track your research work. Research logs document where you search, and what has or has NOT been found. | ||
'''Research log definition. | '''Research log definition.''' A research log is a comprehensive list of sources you already searched, or plan to search including the purpose of each search (what you want to find), a summary of significant findings and where your copies are, notations showing sources searched where you found nothing, and plenty of comments about your search strategies, suggestions, questions, analysis, and discrepancies. | ||
*[[Media:Research_Log.pdf|'''Research log''']] - Download a PDF copy of a research log which can be printed. | |||
== Value of Research Logs == | == Value of Research Logs == | ||
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*'''''Place of research'''''<nowiki>: use full mailing address, telephone/fax number, e-mail address, or Internet URL.</nowiki> | *'''''Place of research'''''<nowiki>: use full mailing address, telephone/fax number, e-mail address, or Internet URL.</nowiki> | ||
*'''''Purpose''''' (objective) of search: '''event''' and '''person''' being sought (use symbols), ''for example,'' '''<nowiki>*</nowiki>''' Robert (Event symbols for objectives and results: '''<nowiki>*</nowiki>'''<nowiki>=birth</nowiki> '''∞'''<nowiki>=marriage</nowiki> '''†'''<nowiki>=death)</nowiki> | *'''''Purpose''''' (objective) of search: '''event''' and '''person''' being sought (use symbols), ''for example,'' '''<nowiki>*</nowiki>''' Robert (Event symbols for objectives and results: '''<nowiki>*</nowiki>'''<nowiki>=birth</nowiki> '''∞'''<nowiki>=marriage</nowiki> '''†'''<nowiki>=death)</nowiki> | ||
*'''''Call number<nowiki>:</nowiki>'''''<nowiki /> library or archive call number, ''for example,'' | *'''''Call number<nowiki>:</nowiki>'''''<nowiki /> library or archive call number, ''for example,'' FS Library book 977.162 D3d | ||
*'''''Source Description:''''' author, title, where the original is (''that is'' a publisher or repository), date, and page. | *'''''Source Description:''''' author, title, where the original is (''that is'' a publisher or repository), date, and page. | ||
*'''''Scope of Your Search:''''' What exactly did you search, what did you record, what parameters limited what you recorded as results? | *'''''Scope of Your Search:''''' What exactly did you search, what did you record, what parameters limited what you recorded as results? | ||
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*'''''Results:''''' a summary of the persons and events found.<br> | *'''''Results:''''' a summary of the persons and events found.<br> | ||
''Figure 1. Example top part of a blank research log available at | ''Figure 1. Example top part of a blank research log available at FamilySearch Centers.'' [[Image:Log15.png]] | ||
== What to Fill | == What to Fill In BEFORE a Search == | ||
It is important to partially fill | It is important to partially fill in a research log before you view a source:<br> | ||
#Date | #Date | ||
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#'''Purpose''' - write the person-event you seek for '''each''' search so you will later know whether you need to search the same source again for a different person or event. | #'''Purpose''' - write the person-event you seek for '''each''' search so you will later know whether you need to search the same source again for a different person or event. | ||
#Call Number (if any) | #Call Number (if any) | ||
#'''Source''' - write source descriptions in [[Cite Your Sources (Source Footnotes)|footnote format]] | #'''Source''' - write source descriptions in [[Cite Your Sources (Source Footnotes)|footnote format]] | ||
'''Why complete these before a search.''' Avoid the temptation to skip writing anything at all if the search results are negative. If you finish writing these items before the search, and if your ancestor is not mentioned in the source, it is easier to write '''nil''' than it would be to fill in all the data afterward. | '''Why complete these before a search.''' Avoid the temptation to skip writing anything at all if the search results are negative. If you finish writing these items before the search, and if your ancestor is not mentioned in the source, it is easier to write '''nil''' than it would be to fill in all the data afterward. | ||
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Source description information is easier to find in the catalog than in the source itself. Also, it helps other researchers to use the descriptive information the way it is found in the catalog at the repository where you found the source.<br> | Source description information is easier to find in the catalog than in the source itself. Also, it helps other researchers to use the descriptive information the way it is found in the catalog at the repository where you found the source.<br> | ||
'''Comments on your strategies, questions, discrepancies, and analysis.''' Research logs are also a good place to write your | '''Comments on your strategies, questions, discrepancies, and analysis.''' Research logs are also a good place to write your strategies and explain why you are searching certain sources. Explain what you want to find, why, and how you hope to find it. Also write questions about the family, or mention conflicting data. When a chain of sources are needed to reach a conclusion, use the research log to write an analysis explaining your findings. | ||
== What to Complete AFTER a Search == | == What to Complete AFTER a Search == | ||
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*If positive, use husband’s name/years (file name), plus the next unused number. For example, if you had already found and logged seven sources for the family of William Frazier, the next would be numbered like this: | *If positive, use husband’s name/years (file name), plus the next unused number. For example, if you had already found and logged seven sources for the family of William Frazier, the next would be numbered like this: | ||
{| cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1" align="center" style="width: 98px; height: 99px | {| cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1" align="center" style="width: 98px; height: 99px" | ||
|- | |- | ||
| valign="middle" align="center" | | | valign="middle" align="center" | | ||
William FRAZIER (1826-1881)<br> <nowiki>#8</nowiki> | William FRAZIER (1826-1881)<br><nowiki>#8</nowiki> | ||
|} | |} | ||
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*Blank results means you have not yet done a search in that source. | *Blank results means you have not yet done a search in that source. | ||
3. Scope of the search. The purpose of recording scope is to help you later decide whether you need to look at a source again with a broader scope. What you record on the research log should answer these questions: | 3. Scope of the search. The purpose of recording scope is to help you later decide whether you need to look at a source again with a broader scope. What you record on the research log should answer these questions: | ||
*Did you search the full record or stop when you found something? If you stopped, what pages did you search? | *Did you search the full record or stop when you found something? If you stopped, what pages did you search? | ||
*If a computer search is involved, what search term(s) did you try? Did you specify other fields, such as age, birthplace, etc., and if so, what age or birthplace did you specify? | *If a computer search is involved, what search term(s) did you try? Did you specify other fields, such as age, birthplace, etc., and if so, what age or birthplace did you specify? | ||
*If a database or website search gave a list of results, did you look at just the first screen of results, all of the results, or what? | *If a database or website search gave a list of results, did you look at just the first screen of results, all of the results, or what? | ||
*Decide what to record in your results, and document what you didn't record as results. For example, if looking at the census of Birmingham for John Adams who should have been about 27 years old, did you record every Adams in Birmingham, every John Adams in Birmingham, or only | *Decide what to record in your results, and document what you didn't record as results. For example, if looking at the census of Birmingham for John Adams who should have been about 27 years old, did you record every Adams in Birmingham, every John Adams in Birmingham, or only every John Adams in Birmingham between the ages of 25 and 30? | ||
*If the source was a book or manuscript, did you read every page of the book, only use the index to the book, or what? | *If the source was a book or manuscript, did you read every page of the book, only use the index to the book, just check the most relevant chapter, or what? | ||
<br> '''Importance of [[Document AS YOU GO!|documenting as you go]].''' In order to stay organized it is crucial to complete all paper work before starting another search. By keeping your research log and family group record up-to-date you have better access to the sources, and clues for finding more sources. Good documentation makes it easier to compare and contrast sources. This makes it easier to judge source reliability. It also increases the chances your conclusions will be informed and reasonable. | <br>'''Importance of [[Document AS YOU GO!|documenting as you go]].''' In order to stay organized it is crucial to complete all paper work before starting another search. By keeping your research log and family group record up-to-date you have better access to the sources, and clues for finding more sources. Good documentation makes it easier to compare and contrast sources. This makes it easier to judge source reliability. It also increases the chances your conclusions will be informed and reasonable. | ||
Failure to document as you go by completing a research log (and family group record) will result in confusion. The confusion may cause you to overlook important sources and come to wrong conclusions. | Failure to document as you go by completing a research log (and family group record) will result in confusion. The confusion may cause you to overlook important sources and come to wrong conclusions. For an example of a completed electronic research log, see [[Media:Research_Log_Example.pdf|log example]].<br> | ||
''Figure 2. Example of a partially filled-in homemade research log.'' [[Image:Log17.png]] | ''Figure 2. Example of a partially filled-in homemade research log.'' [[Image:Log17.png]] | ||
== General Suggestions == | == General Suggestions == | ||
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Keep everything on one set of research logs per family; do NOT keep separate correspondence logs. | Keep everything on one set of research logs per family; do NOT keep separate correspondence logs. | ||
a. Keep a copy of all letters and emails | |||
b. Assign a document number to both the inquiry letter or email and the reply. | |||
c. Enter telephone calls, queries, forum postings, and instant message conversations relating to family research on your research log and keep notes of what was said. Give your notes a document number and refer to them from the research log. | |||
Make paper printouts or backups of '''all''' electronic sources, including written notes of telephone interviews. | Make paper printouts or backups of '''all''' electronic sources, including written notes of telephone interviews. | ||
== Special Situations == | == Special Situations == | ||
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== Related Content == | == Related Content == | ||
[[Keeping a Research Log|Keeping a Research Log]] | *[[Keeping a Research Log|Keeping a Research Log]] | ||
*[[Document AS YOU GO!|Document AS YOU GO!]] | |||
*[https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/lesson/45 Research Logs: Part 1] | |||
*[https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/lesson/46 Research Logs: Part 2] | |||
[[ | [[es:Listas de investigación]] | ||
[[pt:Diários de Pesquisa]] | |||
[[Category:Beginners]] | [[Category:Beginners]] [[Category:FamilySearch_Research_Classes_Online]] [[Category:Charts_and_Forms]] | ||