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Research Logs: Difference between revisions
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== [[Image:Research Logs.jpg|right|200x117px]]Introduction == | == [[Image:Research Logs.jpg|right|200x117px|Research Logs.jpg]]Introduction == | ||
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. '''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. Download a PDF copy of a [https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/images/5/50/Research_Log.pdf research log] or, download a blank Word document which can be used as an [https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/images/0/0f/Research_Log.doc electronic research log]. | '''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. Download a PDF copy of a [https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/images/5/50/Research_Log.pdf research log] or, download a blank Word document which can be used as an [https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/images/0/0f/Research_Log.doc electronic research log]. | ||
== Value of Research Logs == | == Value of Research Logs == | ||
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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]] (see the [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/51553085&referer=brief_results ''Chicago Manual of Style'']<ref>G. David Dilts, “Citing Sources Using the ''Chicago Manual of Style'',” [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/2250993&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;referer=brief_results ''Genealogical Journal''] 24: 4 (1996), 149-53 [FHL Book 973 D25gj v. 24 1996]. See also Elizabeth Show Mills, [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/126230149&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;referer=brief_results ''Evidence Explained''] (Balitmore: Genealogical Publishing, 2007)[FHL Book 929.1 M625ee].</ref>) | #'''Source''' - write source descriptions in [[Cite Your Sources (Source Footnotes)|footnote format]] (see the [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/51553085&referer=brief_results ''Chicago Manual of Style'']<ref>G. David Dilts, “Citing Sources Using the ''Chicago Manual of Style'',” [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/2250993&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;referer=brief_results ''Genealogical Journal''] 24: 4 (1996), 149-53 [FHL Book 973 D25gj v. 24 1996]. See also Elizabeth Show Mills, [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/126230149&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;referer=brief_results ''Evidence Explained''] (Balitmore: Genealogical Publishing, 2007)[FHL Book 929.1 M625ee].</ref>) | ||
'''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 == | ||
After you view a source, complete the remainder of the entry on the research log by filling-in the following: <br> | After you view a source, complete the remainder of the entry on the research log by filling-in the following: <br> | ||
1. Document number (a number you create) makes your log a table of contents to your copies.<br> | 1. Document number (a number you create) makes your log a table of contents to your copies.<br> | ||
*If the search results are negative, put nil or Ø in the document number field, but record what you did and what you mean by "nil." For example, does nil mean no Fraziers at all in the record, none named William, or no Williams between 35 and 45? | *If the search results are negative, put nil or Ø in the document number field, but record what you did and what you mean by "nil." For example, does nil mean no Fraziers at all in the record, none named William, or no Williams between 35 and 45? | ||
*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" | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 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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<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. For an example of a completed electronic research log, see [http://wiki.familysearch.org/en/images/4/4a/Research_Log_Example.pdf log example].<br> | 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 [http://wiki.familysearch.org/en/images/4/4a/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]] | ||