1: Get Organized   2: Learn the Basics   3: Form a Strategy   4: FMP Search Menus   5: Develop Search Skills   6: Solve Problems   7: Family History Trip   8: Descendants   9: Reading Handwriting   FMP Project 4           Translation Tips    Music   Print Friendly and PDF   










Project 4: Research


Goal 3: Form a Research Strategy



Goal 3: Form solid strategies to research your selected lines. Vault


A good research strategy will help you get more research done in less time. It will also help you know when to spend more time on a line and when to move on to the next one.

Note : If you have not done so already, you may want to review the Genealogical Proof Standard in Project 1 (scroll down) to learn its basic principles.


(3:17)

Choices


ALearn how to create and use research strategies.


  Guided Learning Video   |   Part 2


Summary
  1. Learn the basic concepts of research strategy.

    FS Wiki—Principles of Family History Research
    LDS—Focusing Your Research

  2. Use the WANDER approach to research, as explained by Amy Johnson Crow.

    AJC—The Genealogy Research Process: The WANDER Method - 2020
    APL—Finding Ancestors Without Going in Circles: The WANDER Research Method—53:24 - 2022



  3. Use time-saving tips from these articles to make your research more efficient.

    GC—Time-Saving Tips for Genealogists
    GC—What You Can Do in Two Days

  4. Read this article to learn how to avoid common mistakes in your research approach. For more ideas see, Goal 7 in Project 4: Discover.

    FS Wiki—Rookie Mistakes

  5. Learn about the art of estimating ("guessing") in your preliminary research.

    FS—How to Guess Where to Start

  6. Study the strategies for research in these articles.

    FS Wiki—A Guide to Research
    FL—How To Research in 30 Minutes a Day: Research Like a Pro 14-Day Mini Challenge - 2022

  7. Learn how to think more like a genealogist.

    BYU—Training Your Mind to Think Like a Genealogist—51:35 - 2024



    AF—Genealogy Discernment: A Thoughtful Journey into Family History - 2025

  8. Explore the FamilySearch Community to read or post questions about records.
Exercises



BDevise a research plan to use.


Summary

  1. Learn how to develop a solid research plan.

    LT—5 Steps to Developing a Genealogy Research Plan
    GE: How to Structure Your Research - 2022

  2. Create broad goals and refine them into specific goals, as shown in this video.

    AC—Crafting a Research Plan—23:49 - 2012



  3. Learn more about creating effective genealogy goals.

    LT—How To Set a Genealogy Research Goal
    HD—How To Elevate Your Genealogy Research With Goal Setting - 2024

  4. Here is a sample research plan template to use.

    Cyndi's Intermediate Research Plan Template

  5. Here are additional tips on building a research plan.

    FS—Building a Research Plan—6:03 - 2018
    FS—A Research Plan in Action—8:09 - 2018

  6. Develop a research plan in 6 steps.

    PR—How To Develop a Genealogy Research Plan in 6 Easy Steps
Exercises



C Take advantage of previous research.


The strategies in this Choice will help you when you search genealogy collections in Goal 4.

Summary
  1. Try the strategies in this FamilySearch Wiki document. Note : This document is titled as a United States article, but it applies well to research in any country.

    FS—United States Previous Research

  2. Learn how to find your ancestors in various family trees.

    FS—Finding Your Ancestors in Others’ Family Trees, Part 1—12:49 - 2021  

  3. Learn more about using previous research in these articles.

    GC—Previous Research in Families
    GC—Finding and Using Published Genealogies

  4. Learn how to check information in online trees for accuracy.

    RT—5 Steps for Fact-Checking Online Trees—10:22 - 2024



Inherited Genealogies
  1. Here are some steps to take when you receive family history research documents from others.

    FHD—The Simple Steps to Take When You Inherit Family History Research

  2. Learn how to use and evaluate published or inherited genealogies.

    AA—Using and Evaluating Published Genealogies—60:31 - 2019


  3. Learn how to handle inherited genealogy materials.

    CR—With to Do with Family History You've Inherited—10:26 - 2022


  4. Learn to examine inherited pedigrees carefully for possible problems.

    LDS—Examine Inherited Pedigrees Carefully

  5. Learn about next steps to take with inherited genealogies.

    AA—How to Progress from Inherited Research—63:00 - 2022



    Break Down Genealogy Brick Walls With Home Sources

  6. Explore the Genealogies feature in FamilySearch for online genealogies.


Exercise



D Use the family memories you have collected as sources for research.


  1. Gather and summarize notes from interviews for clues on family research.
  2. Examine photos—either those in your possession or those that have been uploaded to your family history site for research clues.
  3. Examine documents such as letters, wills, diaries, etc.—either those in your possession or those that have been uploaded—for research clues. See Goal 7 in Project 2: Memories for details.

Ancestor Diaries
  1. Learn about the history of ancestor diaries.

    AF—The History of Diaries: Did Your Ancestor Keep One? - 2016

  2. Get tips on where to search for ancestor writings.

    Genealogy: Where to search for your ancestors' writings - 2013


E Study surnames and naming patterns to get clues for your research.


Vault Summary
  1. Read these articles for tips on working with names and naming patterns.

    GC—Importance of Names and Naming Patterns
    FHD—Finding the Hidden Clues in First Names: A Starter Guide

  2. Learn about tracing surnames in these articles.

    TH—Last Name Meanings and Origins
    HD—How To Solve Your Genealogy Brick Wall With Surname Research

  3. Read this document to learn more about surname origins. There are many sub-articles, some dealing with international names.

    TH—Surname Meanings and Origins - 2018

  4. Learn about surname research in this article from the Society of Genealogists.

    Surname Searching at the SOG

  5. Learn about the Geneanet site in this video. You can Search Geneanet.org to find your surnames of interest.

    Geneanet Tutorial—3:04 - 2016



  6. Investigate single names at the Guild of One-Name Studies site. Watch this video for more information.

    FHF—Should You Do a One-Name Genealogy Study?—14:30 - 2019   



  7. Explore surname research in the right column of the Linkpendium site.
  8. To learn more about meanings and origins of surnames, use the Surname Search screen in FamilySearch.
Exercises