Lisa Louise Cooke
Episode 23: Get Your Free Research Worksheet
In today's episode we're going to follow up on the powerful process for doing your genealogy research that we discussed in Episode 20 called the Genealogical Proof Standard, or GPS.
The GPS process has been used for years by professional genealogists to ensure the quality, accuracy and success of their research. And now you can use it too. This is the ideal time to start because it may save you going back and re-doing some of your hard work later down the road.
As you’ll recall from episode 20, we got an overview of the GPS from Mark Tucker of the ThinkGenealogy Blog. Well, in today’s episode I’m going to help you put these ideas into concrete action. And I have a downloadable free tool that will help you do the job.
Related Links:
Transcript
THE MAILBOX: recently got the following email from listener Maria Romano, and thought it was a good follow up question to episode 12 on Ancestry’s family trees. She wanted to know how to export her family tree from Ancestry.com to her computer hard drive so that she could have the flexibility to import it into her genealogy software program.
How to Export Your Family Tree Gedcom from Ancestry
1. Go to Ancestry.com
2. Click the Family Tree menu tab
3. Under the My Trees tab you will see the name of your family tree. Right under it you will see two links: View Tree, and Manage Tree - Click MANAGE TREE
4. On that page you will see a box which includes Tree Name, Tree Description and Management Tools. Next to Management Tools click the EXPORT TREE link
5. The system will ask you if you are sure you want to export your tree, saying that it will take some time. Go ahead and click OK. It should walk you through the process from there.
Research Plan and Worksheet
Wouldn’t it be nice to have a worksheet that prompts you through the Genealogical Proof Standard process and helps you keep track of everything and stay organized? Well, I wanted something like that myself and so I went out and searched on the Web and pretty much came up empty handed. I think we need more than just a blank form, we need and want a detailed worksheet that not only gives the area to record our findings, but also incorporates all the key areas of the Genealogical Proof Standard so that we can be sure we aren’t missing anything.
And I’ve got just that for you. In LINKS column above you will see listed the Example Research Worksheet. Just click on that and it will take you to the PDF file that you can save to your computer. I also have a link to a blank Research Worksheet for your use.
According to the Board of Certification of Genealogists the 5 keys elements of the Genealogical Proof Standard are:
- a reasonably exhaustive search
- complete and accurate source citations
- analysis and correlation of the collected information
- resolution of any conflicting evidence
- a soundly reasoned, coherently written conclusion
I’ve incorporated these elements while keep in mind Mark Tucker’s process map worksheet (see Links section above) into my Research Worksheet.
- Research Objective
- Known Facts
- Working Hypothesis
- Research Strategy
- Identified Sources
- Final Conclusions
In your conclusion which is called a Proof Argument you should:
1. explain the problem
2. Review the known sources which you identified on your worksheet
3. Present the evidence with source citations and the analysis of those sources
4. Discuss any conflicting evidence.
5. Summarize the main points of your research and state your conclusion.
So there you have it. A tool that is free to use and one that will hopefully set you free from chasing your own tale so to speak. With the Research Worksheet you’ll have your research strategy laid out and you’ll be able to put it down when time runs out and the next time you pick it up again you’ll know exactly where you left off.
ACTION ITEMS
1. Download the Example Research Worksheet and the Blank Research Worksheet
2. Download the Correspondence Log (See LINKS in right hand column above)
3. Sign up for the Genealogy Gems e-Newsletter and get my 20 page e-book entitled 5 Fabulous Google Research Strategies for the Family Historian for FREE! It’s stuffed with step-by-step how to information that you can start using right away to get so much more out of Google.com. (See LINKS column)
4. If you’re enjoying the show, help encourage others to listen by going to the iTunes listing for Family History: Genealogy Made Easy and leave a 5 Star Positive Review. Thanks!
5. Email your comments and questions to genealogymadeeasy@gmail.com
