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Add electronic research log
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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. | ||
'''Research log definition. '''A research log 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, analysis, and discrepancies. Download a PDF copy of the Research Log: [[Image:Research Log.pdf]] | '''Research log definition. '''A research log 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, analysis, and discrepancies. Download a PDF copy of the Research Log: or, download a blank Word document which can be used as an [https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Image:Research_Log.doc electronic research log].[[Image:Research Log.pdf]] | ||
== Value of Research Logs == | == Value of Research Logs == | ||
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*'''''Call number<nowiki>:</nowiki>'''''<nowiki /> library or archive call number, ''for example,'' FHL book 977.162 D3d | *'''''Call number<nowiki>:</nowiki>'''''<nowiki /> library or archive call number, ''for example,'' FHL book 977.162 D3d | ||
*'''''Source Description:''''' author, title, where the original is (''that is'' a publisher or repository), date, and page. | *'''''Source Description:''''' author, title, where the original is (''that is'' a publisher or repository), date, and page. | ||
*'''''Scope of Your Search:''''' What exactly did you search, what did you record, what parameters limited what you recorded as results? | *'''''Scope of Your Search:''''' What exactly did you search, what did you record, what parameters limited what you recorded as results? | ||
*'''''Document Number:''''' a number you make up to show where will you file your copy of the source. | *'''''Document Number:''''' a number you make up to show where will you file your copy of the source. | ||
*'''''Results:''''' a summary of the persons and events found.<br> | *'''''Results:''''' a summary of the persons and events found.<br> | ||
''Figure 1. Example top part of a blank research log available at Family HIstory Centers.'' [[Image:Log15.png]] | ''Figure 1. Example top part of a blank research log available at Family HIstory Centers.'' [[Image:Log15.png]] | ||
== What to Fill-in BEFORE a Search == | == What to Fill-in BEFORE a Search == | ||
It is important to partially fill-in a research log before you view a source:<br> | It is important to partially fill-in a research log before you view a source:<br> | ||
#Date | #Date | ||
#Place of research<br> | #Place of research<br> | ||
#'''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;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;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;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;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. | ||
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 stratgies 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 stratgies 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 == | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| valign="middle" align="center" | | | valign="middle" align="center" | | ||
William FRAZIER (1826-1881)<br> | William FRAZIER (1826-1881)<br> <nowiki>#8</nowiki> | ||
<nowiki>#8</nowiki> | |||
|} | |} | ||
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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. | 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. | ||
''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]] | ||
== General Suggestions == | == General Suggestions == | ||