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Research Logs: Difference between revisions
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'''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. | '''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 | *[[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 In BEFORE a Search == | == What to Fill In BEFORE a Search == | ||
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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 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. | '''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 == | ||