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| == '''A Few Common Causes of Tough Research Problems and Their Solutions''''''''' ==
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| {| class="[object Object] FCK__ShowTableBorders"
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| |+ '''A Few Common Causes of Problems and Their Solutions'''
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| | '''Common Causes of Research Problems'''
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| | '''Solutions'''
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| | 1. Unproductive attitude.
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| | Develop a relentless "track 'em down" attitude.<sup>1</sup>
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| | 2. Poor research logs.
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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>
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| | 3. Inadequate research documentation.
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| | Document and organize AS YOU GO.<sup>3</sup>
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| | 4. Stagnant thinking on the problem.'
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| | 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>
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| | 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.
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| | 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>
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| | 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><br>
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| |}
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| === '''Solving Tough Research Problems Checklist''' ===
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| Use the following ideas to find answers to really stubborn family history research problems (brick walls).
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| <br>
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| == '''A. Preliminaries''' == | | == '''A. Preliminaries''' == |