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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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| '''Solutions''' | | '''Solutions''' | ||
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| 1. Unproductive attitude. | | 1. Unproductive attitude. | ||
| Develop a relentless "track 'em down" attitude.<sup>1</sup> | | Develop a relentless "track 'em down" attitude.<sup>1</sup> | ||
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| Partially fill out logs BEFORE looking at each source. This includes each search’s goal (person and event you seek to document).<sup>2</sup> | | Partially fill out logs BEFORE looking at each source. This includes each search’s goal (person and event you seek to document).<sup>2</sup> | ||
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| 3. Inadequate research documentation. | | 3. Inadequate research documentation. | ||
| Document and organize AS YOU GO.<sup>3</sup> | | Document and organize AS YOU GO.<sup>3</sup> | ||
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| 4. Stagnant thinking on the problem.' | | 4. Stagnant thinking on the problem.' | ||
| Correlate what you have found. Use new forms to pull out new patterns and force your brain to try something different.<sup>4</sup> | | Correlate what you have found. Use new forms to pull out new patterns and force your brain to try something different.<sup>4</sup> | ||
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| 5. Failure to put an ancestor in community context.<sup>5</sup> | | 5. Failure to put an ancestor in community context.<sup>5</sup><br> | ||
| Trap the answer to the question in a web of associates and neighbors on both sides of the county boundary line.<sup>6</sup> | | Trap the answer to the question in a web of associates and neighbors on both sides of the county boundary line.<sup>6</sup> | ||
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| 6. Arbitrary research strategies. | | 6. Arbitrary research strategies. | ||
| 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.<sup>7</sup> | | 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.<sup>7</sup> | ||
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