My New Research Plan

 

To this point, I've done my research using the hop, skip and jump method. I surfed from person to person attaching mostly the "easier" hints. Sure, I did plenty of census records and obits (both take me a long time to mine all the details). Generally speaking, working this way allowed me to keep all 4 branches of my tree growing. But now, I'm at a point where I need to buckle down and tackle one person at a time. I'm spending too much time clicking next page...next page...looking for the easiest hints. Most of the records I'm skimming through are going to take longer, as they contain more details and typically more people. I have to be in a different mindset to buckle down and tackle the hints I know will take longer. So, I'm changing up how I work entirely.

Recently, I read an article on the value of going back to review existing people in my tree instead of just focusing on adding more new ones. I decided I want to go back and look at any hints I've previously ignored and all my suggested records for each person (since they don't necessarily always show up in the new hints). I know I had marked many photos ignored because there were multiple copies in my new hints, and in some cases, the one remaining photo in new hints has now disappeared altogether (and I now need to reconsider those ignored hints). Not to mention, a hint that seemed irrelevant/incorrect in the past may actually be relevant as new data emerges. I definitely think taking time to review is worth the effort, and will help me make better progress in the long run.

To be fair, my haphazard technique has taken me a long way in the 3 years since I restarted my tree. I have 1557 people, the vast majority of whom have at least a few records attached (most have far more, but unknown children may not have any). I know it's not a huge tree by any standard, but I'm very comfortable with the accuracy. A family member (a DNA match who initially reached out to me, and now we've become great friends) recently gave me the ultimate compliment! She said "You are soooo thorough. Actually, one of the best trees I have ever seen!!" I'm not sure I'd go that far. I don't do everything to the highest genealogical standards, but I am consistent about how I record all my details and my system of citing and transcribing work well for me. The compliment sure did make me feel good though, and it makes all the hours of work worth every second!

But now, I'm switching to a more detailed research method. I've decided to work by the person ID my desktop software assigns. I easily exported the data to a spreadsheet and it's super simple to track my progress. I'm starting with person 1 and working my way through. I considered working alphabetically, but this way I can more easily quantify my progress. I'm going to try and put my OCD aside and pay no attention to how many little green leaf hints I have. (7800+ last time I checked, which feels absolutely overwhelming!) Instead, I'm methodically reviewing existing ignored and undecided hints and checking all the suggested hints to be sure I haven't missed any. I'm also integrating any links I've accumulated in my notes as I check each person. I'm processing every suggested hint and completing each person before moving on to the next. Just an observation, the latest census record for any given person generally seems to yield the most suggested hints in the sidebar. Not sure why, but there are typically more than say looking at the suggested hints when reviewing a public record. 

As I stand at this fork in the road, I'm embracing this new plan, I've completed 39 people in the last couple weeks and I'm settling into my new rhythm. The progress will be measurable, and it's helping me stay focused. I'm keenly aware the number of people and new hints will grow exponentially for the foreseeable future. My main focus is on suggested hints from Ancestry (and I know they're by no means complete). But for the most part, I'm not digging beyond those just yet. I'll save deeper research for when I'm finished with my review and I'm ready to bust some brick walls. I'll definitely look further and refer to other sites when I feel like I'm missing critical facts to fill out a person's profile. I'm not going to limit myself just to Ancestry (remember, no one site has all the information!)...but it's my main research site, and for the most part, it gives me a very good start on each person. I'm sure I'll come to another fork in the road, and will change up my methods again in the future. But for now, each person I complete feels like an accomplishment and I'm no longer click, click, clicking through pages of hints without actually doing anything. It feels good to be back on track and making progress!

Image by Micha from Pixabay