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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. | ||
'''<span></span>''''''<span>Research log definition.<span> | '''<span></span>''''''<span>Research log definition.<span> </span></span>'''<span>A <span>research log</span> is 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, and discrepancies.</span> | ||
== '''<span>Value of Research Logs</span>''' == | == '''<span>Value of Research Logs</span>''' == | ||
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# <span>Reduce unwanted duplication of effort.</span> | # <span>Reduce unwanted duplication of effort.</span> | ||
<span>Research logs show negative evidence (what you do not find). NO other tool does this nearly as well. And logs save time by helping avoid repetitive searches after a research pause. Logs can become a table of contents to documents in your file. Research logs'' ''serve as a foundation on which the next generation of researchers can build. Use research logs to help in EVERY step of the research process.</span> | <span>Research logs show negative evidence (what you do not find). NO other tool does this nearly as well. And logs save time by helping avoid repetitive searches after a research pause. Logs can become a table of contents to documents in your file. Research logs''''serve as a foundation on which the next generation of researchers can build. Use research logs to help in EVERY step of the research process.</span> | ||
== '''<span>Contents</span>''' == | == '''<span>Contents</span>''' == | ||
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<span>Research logs vary in form and content. The following elements work well for most researchers.</span> | <span>Research logs vary in form and content. The following elements work well for most researchers.</span> | ||
* <span></span><span>'''''Ancestor''''''''''’s name''''' '''''and years:''''' husband being researched, ''for example,'' William FRAZIER 1826-1881</span> | * <span></span><span>'''''Ancestor''''''''''’s name''''''''''and years:'''''husband being researched,''for example,''William FRAZIER 1826-1881'''''</span> | ||
* <span></span><span>'''''Researcher''''''''''’s name:''''' your name.</span> | * <span></span><span>'''''Researcher''''''''''’s name:'''''your name.'''''</span> | ||
* <span></span><span>'''''Date''''''' of search''<nowiki>: </nowiki><span>for example,</span> 8 May 2001; Records you plan to search without a date until searched.</span> | * <span></span><span>'''''Date''''''' of search''<nowiki>:</nowiki><span>for example,</span> 8 May 2001; Records you plan to search without a date until searched.''</span> | ||
* <span></span><span>'''''Place of research'''''<nowiki>: use full mailing address, telephone/fax number, e-mail address, or Internet URL.</nowiki></span> | * <span></span><span>'''''Place of research'''''<nowiki>: use full mailing address, telephone/fax number, e-mail address, or Internet URL.</nowiki></span> | ||
* <span></span><span>'''''Purpose''''' (objective) of search: '''event '''and '''person''' being sought (use symbols), ''for example,'' '''<nowiki>*</nowiki>''' | * <span></span><span>'''''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><span> </span></span>'''<span><span></span></span>'''<span>'''oo'''<nowiki>=marriage</nowiki><span> </span>'''†'''<nowiki>=death)</nowiki></span> | ||
* <span></span><span>'''''Call number'''''''<nowiki>: </nowiki>''library or archive call <span>number, | * <span></span><span>'''''Call number'''''''<nowiki>:</nowiki>''library or archive call <span>number,</span>FHL book 977.162 D3d''for example''''</span> | ||
* <span></span><span>'''''Source Description'''''<nowiki>: author, title, where the original is (</nowiki>''that is'' a publisher or repository), date, and page.</span> | * <span></span><span>'''''Source Description'''''<nowiki>: author, title, where the original is (</nowiki>''that is'' a publisher or repository), date, and page.</span> | ||
<span><span> | <span><span> </span>1. Log the source information at the catalog BEFORE retrieving the item.</span> | ||
<span><span> | <span><span> </span>a. Source information is easier to find in the catalog than in the source itself.</span> | ||
<span><span> | <span><span> </span>b. It is easier to write '''nil''' if the search is negative; overcomes a temptation to not write it at all.</span> | ||
<span><span> | <span><span> </span>2. Write source descriptions in [[Cite Your Sources (Source Footnotes)|footnote format]]. Use the ''Chicago Manual of Style'''''' as a guide.<sup><span><sup><span>[i]</span></sup></span></sup></span> | ||
* <span></span>'''''<span>Document number</span>'''''<span> (your number) makes your ''log'' a table of contents to your copies.</span> | * <span></span>'''''<span>Document number</span>'''''<span>(your number) makes your ''log'' a table of contents to your copies.</span> | ||
# <span><span></span>If the search results are negative, leave the document number field blank.</span> | # <span><span></span>If the search results are negative, leave the document number field blank.</span> | ||
# <span><span></span>If positive, use husband’s name/years (file name), plus the next unused number, ''for example:'' | # <span><span></span>If positive, use husband’s name/years (file name), plus the next unused number, ''for example:'' '' <br>''</span> | ||
<div><center><span> | <div><center><span> | ||
{| class="plain FCK__ShowTableBorders" | |||
|- | |||
| William | |||
FRAZIER | |||
1826-1881 | |||
8 | |||
|} | |} | ||
</span><br><span></span></center></div> | |||
<span>'''''''</span> | |||
* <span></span>'''''<span>Results</span>'''''<span>of search (positive or negative).</span> | |||
* <span></span>'''''<span>Results</span>'''''<span> of search (positive or negative).</span> | |||
# <span><span></span>List event and person found. Use the same event symbols as you would for the ''Purpose'' column. </span> | # <span><span></span>List event and person found. Use the same event symbols as you would for the ''Purpose'' column.</span> | ||
# <span><span></span>Do not list dates. This forces you to look at document copies.</span> | # <span><span></span>Do not list dates. This forces you to look at document copies.</span> | ||
# <span><span></span>If search results are negative, use “nil” or Ø (as opposed to blank).</span> | # <span><span></span>If search results are negative, use “nil” or Ø (as opposed to blank).</span> | ||
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* <span></span><span>Keep everything on one set of research logs per family; do NOT keep separate correspondence logs.</span> | * <span></span><span>Keep everything on one set of research logs per family; do NOT keep separate correspondence logs.</span> | ||
<span><span> | <span><span> </span>a. Keep a copy of all letters.</span> | ||
<span><span> | <span><span> </span>b. Assign a document number to both the inquiry and the reply.</span> | ||
* <span></span><span>Make paper printouts of '''all''' electronic sources, including written notes of telephone interviews.</span> | * <span></span><span>Make paper printouts of '''all''' electronic sources, including written notes of telephone interviews.</span> | ||
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== '''<span>Special Situations</span>''' == | == '''<span>Special Situations</span>''' == | ||
'''''<span>Individual in two families. </span>'''''<span>Each ancestor on your pedigree was in at least two families, once as a child, and once as a parent:</span> | '''''<span>Individual in two families.</span>'''''<span>Each ancestor on your pedigree was in at least two families, once as a child, and once as a parent:</span> | ||
* <span></span><span>Events before marriage go on the father’s research log.</span> | * <span></span><span>Events before marriage go on the father’s research log.</span> | ||
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# <span>Put the document copy in that family’s file.</span> | # <span>Put the document copy in that family’s file.</span> | ||
# <span>Compose your document number based on that family.</span> | # <span>Compose your document number based on that family.</span> | ||
# <span>Write your document number on the back of the copy, AND . . . </span> | # <span>Write your document number on the back of the copy, AND . . .</span> | ||
# <span>Log such a source on '''all''' applicable ''logs''. Some logs will list another family’s numbers.</span> | # <span>Log such a source on '''all''' applicable ''logs''. Some logs will list another family’s numbers.</span> | ||
<span> | <span> | ||
</span> | |||
<div><br | <div><br> | ||
---- | ---- | ||
=== | === <span>Endnote</span> === | ||
<div id="edn1"> | <div id="edn1"> | ||
<span><span> </span></span><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span><span><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span>[i]</span></span></span></span></span><span>G. David Dilts, “Citing Sources Using the ''Chicago''''Manual of Style'''''''',” ''Genealogical Journal'' 24: 4 (1996), 149-53. See also Elizabeth Show Mills, ''Evidence Explained'' (Balitmore: Genealogical Publishing, 2007).'''</span> | |||
<span><span> | |||
</div></div> | </div></div> | ||