If you want to make family history easier and more accurate, you need to take a systematic approach to your research, develop your skills in critical analysis, and keep good documentation.
Taking a systematic approach means working through the possibilities methodically, rather than jumping between sources.
Critical analysis means finding the right people in the best sources, with good information and strong evidence.
Good documentation means knowing what you’ve done, what you still need to do, and why you reached your conclusions, so you can convince others too.
My approach to genealogical research follows the methods I teach and write about, and it’s built around a specific framework: the research process.
My five step research process
Briefly:
You start by setting clear Goals for what you want to find out.
Scoping means reviewing what’s already known and what sources are available, before you commit time to the search.
In the Tasks step you break that down into the specific repositories and sources you need to check.
Research is where you carry out the search itself.
Review is where you evaluate what you found and decide whether to revise your goals and go around again.
Plan
Research planning helps you prioritise your efforts, avoid duplication, and identify the tasks still ahead, so you’re set up for research success.
Document
Good documentation is not just a record of what you found. It supports new research and helps you interpret what you discover.
DNA
DNA evidence should be integrated with documentary evidence to help establish identity and biological relationships.
Research
Good research skills, tools and techniques help you search effectively and find the best sources, information and evidence to support strong conclusions.
Organise
Being well organised helps you find and use the information you’ve collected and keeps your research ready for the next task.
Analyse
Accurate family history depends on critical analysis: choosing the best sources, weighing the evidence, and reaching reasonable, defensible conclusions.
Maintain
Like any system, your family history tools and records need regular upkeep to keep working smoothly. Maintenance also helps you find and correct errors in your research and information.
Read my articles
What is good quality family history? and What is a Good Genealogist?
You can also find more on my YouTube channel.