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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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|+ '''COMMON CAUSES OF RESEARCH PROBLEMS AND THEIR SOLUTIONS''' | |+ '''COMMON CAUSES OF RESEARCH PROBLEMS AND THEIR SOLUTIONS''' | ||
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| '''Causes of Problems''' | | valign="middle" | '''Causes of Problems''' | ||
| '''Solutions''' | | valign="middle" | '''Solutions''' | ||
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| 1. Unproductive attitude. | | valign="middle" | 1. Unproductive attitude. | ||
| Develop a relentless "track 'em down" attitude.<sup>1</sup> | | valign="middle" | Develop a relentless "track 'em down" attitude.<sup>1</sup> | ||
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| 2. Poor research logs. | | valign="middle" | 2. Poor research logs. | ||
| 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> | | valign="middle" | 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. | | valign="middle" | 3. Inadequate research documentation. | ||
| Document and organize AS YOU GO.<sup>3</sup> | | valign="middle" | Document and organize AS YOU GO.<sup>3</sup> | ||
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| 4. Stagnant thinking on the problem. | | valign="middle" | 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> | | valign="middle" | 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><br> | | valign="middle" | 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> | | valign="middle" | 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. | | valign="middle" | 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> | | valign="middle" | 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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| 7. Researcher ignorance.<br><br> | | valign="middle" | 7. Researcher ignorance.<br><br> | ||
| Keep asking why the records show what they show (or do not show) and what that implies. Continue your genealogical education the rest of your life.<br> | | valign="middle" | Keep asking why the records show what they show (or do not show) and what that implies. Continue your genealogical education the rest of your life.<br> | ||
|} | |} | ||