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= '''Focus on One Research Objective''' = | = '''Focus on One Research Objective''' = | ||
Within a family you can more freely choose which individual you will research. You can skip around among family members seeking first the easiest-to-document events in the family. The easier to document events will lead to new clues for finding more-difficult-to-document events in the family. | Within a family you can more freely choose which individual you will research. You can skip around among family members seeking first the easiest-to-document events in the family. The easier to document events will lead to new clues for finding more-difficult-to-document events in the family. | ||
Compare all the events on the family group record. Notice which events are most complete and have the best documentation. Also note the events with missing, partial, or estimated information, or with poor source footnotes. In general, first check on the already-cited sources to verify your own records. Then one event in a person’s life at a time you look up new sources to document a poorly sourced event. Start first with events that have the most complete place, and most complete dates. | Compare all the events on the family group record. Notice which events are most complete and have the best documentation. Also note the events with missing, partial, or estimated information, or with poor source footnotes. In general, first check on the already-cited sources to verify your own records. Then one event in a person’s life at a time you look up new sources to document a poorly sourced event. Start first with events that have the most complete place, and most complete dates. | ||
You should be able to name the exact person and identify exactly which event in his life you want to document. Stay focused on that research objective. Do not change research objectives lightly | You should be able to name the exact person and identify exactly which event in his life you want to document. Stay focused on that research objective until you find at least one source that documents it. Do not give up or change research objectives lightly. | ||
As you begin to find things, slowly work | If at first you don’t succeed, continue with the same research objective. But look for name variations, search a variety of records and record types, change the jurisdictions you search, inquire at many repositories, and if necessary research even kin and associates in order to find documentation for your chosen research objective. | ||
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As you begin to find things, slowly work your way to objectives involving the least sourced events in the family, with skimpiest place or date information. Sometimes events are not mentioned on the family group record, but it is important to guess they happened anyway. Try to obtain complete genealogical information for each family member. Stick with the same family until work on documenting all the events in their lives is mostly finished. | |||
== '''Helpful Guessing Skills''' == | |||
To find useful source documents, a researcher needs to be good at [[How to Guess Where to Start|guessing where to start]]. Each of the following involves being able to guess some '''''additional''''' information based on what is already shown on a family group record:<br>1. [[Guessing A Name Variation]] for every name on that family group.<br> 2. [[Guessing a Place]] for every event on that family group.<br> 3. [[Guessing a Date]] for every event on that family group. <br> 4. [[Guessing the Easiest to Research Person and Event]] on that family group. <br> 5. [[Guessing a Record Type to Use]] for finding information about any person’s event on that family group.<br> <!--{12077652235781} --> | |||
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= '''Using a Research Log''' = | = '''Using a Research Log''' = | ||