Foundations: The Research Process
- Description
- Curriculum
The goal of this course is to help students understand the genealogical research process in order to be able to research efficiently and effectively to produce reliable answers to research questions. Students choose a research project of their own to work on throughout the course, and weekly homework assignments allow students to immediately practice skills they are learning.
Every step of the research process is covered: formulating a useful research question, assembling and analyzing starting point information, researching the locality of the target ancestor, constructing a research plan, understanding source citations, logging and organizing research, analysis and correlation, and writing up results. The course also includes mind mapping to visualize information, how to know when the question has been answered reliably, and what to do if the research plan doesn’t provide an answer. A session on AI tools for genealogy provides a glimpse into the future. Two workshops and the opportunity for one-on-one consultations with instructors provide students with the chance to engage with the faculty and each other about the research process.
This is a companion course to Foundations: Methods and Records.
Week 1, 8 September
Course overview, 1:00-1:30
Instructor: Annette Lyttle
Choose a Project and Craft a Research Question, 1:30-2:45
Instructor: Annette Lyttle
Assemble, Organize, and Identify Sources for Starting Point Information, 3:15-4:30
Instructor: Annette Lyttle
Introducing the Project, 4:30-5:00
Instructor: Annette Lyttle
Week 2, 15 September
Homework Review, 1:00-1:30
Analysis and Correlation of Starting Point Information – Part I, 1:30-2:45
Instructor: Shannon Green
Analysis and Correlation of Starting Point Information – Part 2, 3:15-4:30
Instructor: Shannon Green
Week 3, 22 September
Homework Review, 1:00-1:30
Mind Mapping to Visualize Information, 1:30-2:45
Instructor: Amy Giroux
Identify Gaps in Starting Point Information, 3:15-4:30
Instructor: Ari Wilkins
Week 4, 29 September
Homework Review, 1:00-1:30
Instructor: Amy Giroux and Ari Wilkins
Locality and Destination Research, 1:30-2:45
Instructor: Ari Wilkins
The Importance of Background Information, 3:15-4:30
Instructor: Nancy Peters
Week 5, 6 October
Homework Review, 1:00-1:30
Instructor: Ari Wilkins and Nancy Peters
Planning and Prioritizing Research, 1:30-2:45
Instructor: Annette Lyttle
Understanding Citations, 3:15-4:30
Instructor: Shannon Green
Week 6, 13 October
Homework Review, 1:00-1:30
Instructor: Annette Lyttle and Shannon Green
Ways to Log and Organize Research, 1:30-2:45
Instructor: Fiona Brooker
Using AI Tools in Genealogy Research, 3:15-4:30
Instructor: Fiona Brooker
Week 7, 20 October
Homework Review, 1:00-1:30
Instructor: Fiona Brooker
Writing Proofs, 1:30-2:45
Instructor: Nancy Peters
Writing Reports of our Results, 3:15-4:30
Instructor: Nancy Peters
Week 8, 27 October
Homework Review, 1:00-1:30
Instructor: Nancy Peters
What to Do if We Get Stuck, 1:30-2:45
Instructor: Amy Giroux
How Much Research is Enough? 3:15-4:30
Instructor: Annette Lyttle
Week 9, 3 November
Homework Review, 1:00-1:30
Instructor: Amy Giroux and Annette Lyttle
Research Process Workshop, 1:30-2:45
Instructor: Annette Lyttle
Resources and Further Education, 3:15-4:30
Instructor: Annette Lyttle
Week 10, 10 November
Homework Review, 1:00-1:30
Instructor: Annette Lyttle
Sharing Our Research Projects, Part 1, 1:00-1:30
Instructor: Annette Lyttle
Sharing Our Research Projects, Part 2, 1:30-2:45
Instructor: Annette Lyttle
Course Wrap-up, 3:15-4:30
Instructor: Annette Lyttle
$545. UGA Members receive a 10% discount.
This course meets on Tuesdays, usually from 1:00-4:30pm, Mountain Time.
Coordinator:
Additional Instructors:
Amy Larner Giroux, PhD, CG, CGL