5 Steps to Research
Step 2  -  Choose a Research Objective

Now that you are organized and have the basic information, your next step is to make a set of goals for yourself to follow.

Beginners need to stick to the first four generations of your family. Your first goal should be yourself. Then your parents, grandparents and finally great-grandparents. This includes both your mother's and father's line.

If the first four generations are not complete at this point, you may find yourself overwhelmed and the foundation to your research neither complete nor stable

Choose one person at a time. Starting with yourself, fill out the Pedigree Chart, Family Group Sheet, and don't forget to document your sources with forms like the Research Log. Then go to the second generation. Choosing one ancestor at a time, complete their records as much as you can and then move to another ancestors.

Experienced & Advanced researchers should have completed the first four generations of the family line. So choose an ancestor beyond the first four generations.

For each ancestor, form a series of questions for the information you want to find. Keep your questions poignant to allow your search to be likewise. Research Tip: Learning about events and information pertaining to later in life (i.e. death) make it easier to pin point events earlier in life.

For an experienced research, questions should include and go beyond the vital records. Look for domicile and immigration records. Start looking at geographic details about this ancestor.

For an advanced researcher, your questions may include items beyond the normal vital and habitat records. Other areas to delve into are: migration paths, occupations, memberships in clubs and organizations, political persuasions and other biographical qualities.

At this stage, vital records are the most important records to be looking at. Consider forming questions to do with any vital data: birth, death, marriage, divorce, etc.

Items from Everton Publishers to help you choose a research objective: