Online Research http://ancestry.com/library/view/ancmag/4786.asp

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Online Researchhttp//ancestry.com/library/view/a
ncmag/4786.asp

• Nothing has revolutionized genealogy like the
  internet. It has its pitfalls.
• Often lacks the proof needed to make sound
  conclusions.
• Internet is not a shortcut for sound research.
• Use the same guidelines that apply to paper and
  pencil research when using the internet.
• 6 steps to online research.

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Step 1 Develop an Objective

• Clearly define your research objective. It is
  easy to get side tracked with one site after
  another.
• Keep your objective in front of you at all times.
• Name of the individual you are researching, with
  all name variations you can think of
• List all known information you have on the
  individual. (vital statistics)

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Step 2 Develop a Search Strategy

• Problem where do I begin
• There are two Internets Civilized and
  Wilderness
• Civilized sites that have placed genealogical
  data online for users to search for specific
  names. Some of these sites charge a fee. Some
  have a free trial period.
• Wilderness consists of data that has been
  placed on the Internet by individuals who have
  made their research available.
• Start with the Civilized sites

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Observations about name searching

• Use full name including the middle name
• If no space for a middle name use a space and
  then the middle name in the first name field
• If given the opportunity to use Soundex, take
  advantage of it
• Enter as much information as possible
• Specify state, date range, even parents
• Return to the sites frequently as more data is
  added constantly
• Keep a research log, noting the exact name
  spelling and what you found

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Civilized Research

• Use of Ancestry.com, Genealgoy.com, and
  FamilySearch.org
• Ancestry.com search for Charles and Willard
• 1,954 hits w/census, vital and church records,
  compiled genealogy
• Added the middle name of Morse and yielded 2
  hits, in the Biography and History.
• Checked the sites and found them to be related,
  had reference to Daughter of American Revolution
  Books. They learned the parents and dates they
  lived and other clues

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• Genealogy.com entered Charles Morse Willard
• This search ignored the middle name
• Found 941 hits
• Familysearch.org entered Charles Willard
• Left parent field empty and place empty
• Results showed 137 hits
• None were related

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Wilderness Search

• There is no shortage of search engines, use your
  favorite ones
• Examples MSN, AOL, Lycos, Hotbot, Altavista,
  Webcrawler, Excite, Nothernlight, Google
• Conduct different searches using different name
  variations
• Enclose names in Quote Marks. This instructs the
  search engines to locate the words together on
  the same web page
• Conduct the search with the key words in reverse
  order
• Try the same search on different search engines

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Example of 3 search engins
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Step 3 Investigate Every Lead

• All it takes is one success and the time spent is
  well worthwhile.
• Web searches can lead you to a person who has
  already done a lot of research
• Someone else could already have a GEDCOM out
  there. Remember to check for accuracy before
  merging into your data!
• Follow the Spirit and the promptings you get!

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Step 4 Record your Information

• Keep Pedigree and Family Group sheets handy to
  record what you find.
• If you find web sites and dont want to hand
  copy, use the PrtSc key to copy and paste into
  your word processor

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Step 5 Document your Sources

• Document the same way you do when doing research
  by hand
• Write down the web address, or better yet copy
  and paste it to your word processor
• Keep an accurate research log with all sources

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Step 6 Verify Your Information

• Take the time to verify what you find.
• Look for their sources
• When we do not verify the source and information
  we are adding to the errors that other can be
  making.
• The Internet has changed how Genealogy is done,
  but it is one more tool for us to use.