Select Records to Search

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Step 3: Select records to search.

Selecting a record to search is the most complex part of the research process. You will need to—


 * Identify a category of sources.
 * Choose a record type.
 * Select specific records.
 * Describe the record on a research log.

This is called a record selection strategy—an orderly approach for identifying the records most helpful for your research objective.

At the end of this step you will have a research log with descriptions of records you will search to meet your objective.

= Identify a Category of Sources =

There is no substitute for learning about records in order to select the best records to search. The more you understand about the records used for genealogical research, the more effectively you will be able to select and use them. The first step to understanding the records used in research is to learn the genealogical classification of records You can then use that classification to help you select appropriate records. You cannot select an appropriate records unless your objective is clearly defined.

You cannot select an appropriate record unless your objective is clearly defined.

Genealogical sources can be grouped into two divisions, each with tow categories. The following chart illustrates the relationship of these four categories.

Helpful Guessing Skills
To find useful source documents, a researcher needs to be good at guessing information needed to find documents. Each of the following involves being able to guess some additional information based on what is already shown on a family group record:


 * Guessing a Name Variation for every name on that family group.
 * Guessing a Place for every event on that family group.
 * Guessing a Date for every event on that family group.
 * Guessing a Record Type to Use for finding information about any person’s event on that group record.

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