How to successfully conduct detailed ancestry research.
Conducting individual and family history research for writing and history is a skill requiring preparation and planning, detailed and exhaustive research, and careful correlation, analysis and reporting. Based on my personal and narrative research, the following are a few thoughts I have on the meaning of how to conduct a detailed and exhaustive search.
Preparation and planning for individual and family ancestry research
Develop a research plan based on analyzing and defining the research problem you seek to resolve. Preparation and planning require that you place the problem in its legal and social context, identify related and associated individuals, and identify relevant resources, tools and methods, as well as the pros and cons in the use of those resources. See the article, “Easy 5 Step Ancestry Research Process for Historians.”
Use all appropriate finding aids and sources, recognizing that differences exist in each source. To be thorough, examine each record or record set for flaws, quirks and strengths. As you identify information, create a complete citation, noting the source of information and when you accessed it. Look for clues, placing all new information into a geographic and legal context. You will extract as much relevant information from that source as possible, looking for crucial details that might require an immediate revision of your research plan and marking anything that needs subsequent study. You’ll conduct follow-up research on all family and associates whose records might shed light on the person of interest.
Carefully correlate, analyze and report individual and family research
Correlate all pieces of information that you find — no matter how small — looking for connections and patterns. Summarize your findings and analyze what you’ve learned. Does your analysis warrant a conclusion, or does the information lead you to expand your original plan? Prepare a conclusion or proof statement for ongoing research and reference.
Stay focused on the research you start
Once you have a clear picture of the specific individual, couple or family group, it’s time to define your objective. Do you want to prove a statement? Do you have a question to answer? Do you have a theory or hypothesis you want to test?
It’s a good idea to create a brief timeline of events for the individual to help you determine what questions you still need to answer and what information you hope to find, such as your date of birth.
At this point, you can build your research plan. This plan identifies what you want to search, where you will search and what resources you will search.
As you follow the plan you’ve created, keep a research log, which will keep you focused on your goals and help you document where you’ve been and where you want to go.
Adopt the “Power of One” Strategy
It’s very easy to start researching one line of thought, become interested in another, and change direction, all in a matter of a few minutes. Soon you’re surrounded by papers, documents, names, dates and locations and are left with a head full of swirling questions.
You will find your research more productive if you identify your research goals, develop a research plan and focus on their completion. The following are a few ideas for keeping your research on track and manageable.
Focus on specific sections of your individual and family research at a time. This can include the following:
- A specific individual or family line or surname
- A specific time and place
- A specific individual or family unit
- A specific question to solve
Make an appointment with yourself to conduct research
If you have a hard time finding the time or are spending too much time researching, schedule time with yourself. Make your appointments start and end on time. There is something about a deadline that helps keep you on track.
Once you have focused on a specific area to research, create a log to help you develop a big picture of what you have and where you want to go. Keep the log up-to-date — it will save you time and energy. Note when and where you viewed the information. The log can include, but is not limited to, the following:
- Who you have talked to and information provided
- Information you have found and citations
- The questions you still seek answers to
- Thoughts of where to research
- The answers you have found
- Ideas and assumptions you are making and why
Keep a to-do list — a plan as to what research you seek to perform. Organize the plan, so the most critical research gets done first. Often, when you focus on top priority research, many other items on your list are also completed.
Group your to-do items by the source you will use to conduct research.
Create a ‘future research’ file for individual and family research
As you conduct your focused research, you will always come up with ideas for research you want to conduct outside the focus of your current line of inquiry. Record it — whether it’s an idea, a paragraph, a printed document, a photocopy or whatever else — put it in the file and forget about it until you are done with the task at hand. You can then go through the file later, organize your notes, and start the next task. Don’t be surprised if you begin doubling your accomplishments.
