Internet Genealogy Research Project

[katefriday]

Hello everyone

Researching e-Genealogy

I am conducting a PhD study at the Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen,
examining Internet family history resources and their users. This will
investigate the users themselves, how users view both e-genealogical
resources and libraries, and how these resources are used within the
research process. An eventual aim of the project is to highlight
methods of promoting the "added value" of UK Local Studies Library
Collections, increasing their visibility to users online. The research
also aims to identify, categorise and examine the available resources:
developing specific evaluative criteria and promoting increased
awareness and understanding within the library community in order to
maintain a quality level of service for genealogical researchers in
libraries.

I am looking for anyone accessing UK information online for their
family history research to complete a 5-minute online survey, available
on the project website:

http://www.researchingegenealogy.co.uk (if not linked, please cut and
paste into your browser)

This is the initial stage of the project, running until mid-April, and
hopes to gather more information about online researchers. The second
stage will involve an in-depth examination of individual search
approaches. ***You are under no obligation to take any further part in
the research.***

I would also be grateful if you could pass this information on to any
potentially interested parties.

Many thanks,

Kate Friday

[DavidWW]

Hi Kate

Welcome to TalkingScot

I'm sure that a good number of the more than 1,000 registered members of TalkingScot will be interested in completing your questionnaire, - as I did a couple of hours ago

And we look forward to seeing the results of your thesis !!

We like to think that we are and have the aim for the TalkingScot discussion group to be the premier Scottish discussion group on the www, - taking over from the sadly defunct "official" DG in conjunction with www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk, - suffice to say that the unmoderated posts of a small number of "numpties", - neither GROS nor their ScotlandsPeople sub-contractor ScotlandonLine had the interest in or resources to allow moderation of the site, - leading to to the "plug being pulled" on the DG.

There are also the non-registered members of TalkingScot who may pick up on your post, - we don't know just many there are, but it's most often the situation that there are more "guests" than registered members viewing the posts, so that your post on TalkingScot may well be read by 2,000 or 3,000 folk !!

In a similar vein I'm sure that many TS folk who complete your questionnaire will be more that interested in continuing on to the next phase of your project.

But I'm afraid that I do have to comment that it's sad to note that you felt that it was appropriate to use an Englishman as an external advisor for your Ph.D. project, when there are a number of Scottish experts, including me, who would have been more than happy to act as such an advisor.

While the gentleman in question, Dr Nick Barratt, is indeed an expert in relation to the English records, in particular in relation to the BBC WDYTYA series, I'm sure that he will readily admit that he has no personal expertise whatsoever in relation to Scottish genealogical research, and, therefore, uses the services of Scottish experts !!

While he may well be able to advise you in terms of the general principles of genealogical research, I'd trust that he would readily admit that he has no real expertise in relation to the many very important differences in relation to genealogical and family history research in Scotland compared to the rest of the British Isles.

David

David W Webster B.Sc, Ph.D., C.Eng., F.I.Chem.E., M.C.I.W.E.M., FSA Scot

[wini]

Well said David.

wini

[AnnieMack]

Wow David, I for one am impressed by your qualifications, even if I only recognise some of them.

Unfortunately Katie is probably like many University students in that the need for mentoring/support can be thwarted by the accessibility of such 'experts' - a bit like the doctor's receptionist syndrome.

The fact that she has asked us as a group to be involved in her survey is very heartening and I am sure you will assist further if requested to do so.

I know many of the users here are very grateful to you for your help both past and present.

Annie (not sure how to write my BA thingy and have never bothered anyway!)

[sporran]

Hello Kate,


good luck with your thesis, and it is good to see that genealogy has attracted interest as a subject worthy of academic research. Congratulations on capturing the services of Nick Barratt as an advisor, which must have been a major achievement with the demands on his time. I have no problem with a UK study choosing an advisor from the most populous country, but the very different facilities available for Scotland and Northern Ireland may mean that additional advisors are recommended.


Regards,

John

[rdem]

Well that was painless, I'm looking forward to participating more.
As far as David's credentials, the only letters after my name (and a key one for a genealogist) is NSF <smile>

[Kathy]

Survey taken, I am interested in the results.

David, I am also impressed by your credentials, all I have before my name is Mrs, although I can add JP at the end, but not nearly as impressive as your.

Mrs Kathy JP

[katefriday]

Hi David (and everyone!!!)

Hi Kate

Welcome to TalkingScot

I'm sure that a good number of the more than 1,000 registered members of TalkingScot will be interested in completing your questionnaire, - as I did a couple of hours ago

And we look forward to seeing the results of your thesis !!

Thank you all very much for your warm welcome, and your enthusiasm for my research. I am conducting some preliminary analysis on an early group of responses, and it certainly seems like I will end up with some very rich and interesting data for this part of the project, with which I am very excited about!

But I'm afraid that I do have to comment that it's sad to note that you felt that it was appropriate to use an Englishman as an external advisor for your Ph.D. project, when there are a number of Scottish experts, including me, who would have been more than happy to act as such an advisor.

While the gentleman in question, Dr Nick Barratt, is indeed an expert in relation to the English records, in particular in relation to the BBC WDYTYA series, I'm sure that he will readily admit that he has no personal expertise whatsoever in relation to Scottish genealogical research, and, therefore, uses the services of Scottish experts !!

While he may well be able to advise you in terms of the general principles of genealogical research, I'd trust that he would readily admit that he has no real expertise in relation to the many very important differences in relation to genealogical and family history research in Scotland compared to the rest of the British Isles.

David

David W Webster B.Sc, Ph.D., C.Eng., F.I.Chem.E., M.C.I.W.E.M., FSA Scot

You are certainly correct about the many differences in genealogical research between all the countries of the British Isles, and I suppose most significantly in this case, Scotland and England. My principal supervisor, Dr Peter Reid (for those interested please see http://www.rgu.ac.uk/abs/staff/page.cfm?pge=5621 ), is a well-known family and local historian around the North-east of Scotland, and so there is experienced input from a Scottish genealogy perspective. Also, although Dr Nick Barratt is currently the only named advisor, I will certainly consult other experts (as would indeed be advisible!) where necessary and appropriate.

Thank you all again for your interest and constructive comments,

Best wishes,

Kate

[Bob C]

For those interested, the results of this study are now posted at
http://www.researchingegenealogy.co.uk/ ... esults.htm

I personally found the results of the demographics of users of this type of internet research as it pertains to genealogy quite interesting.

Bob

Edited to correct url - Sorry!!!
B

[paddyscar]

A slip of the old 'cut and paste' there, Bob. That's the address of the questions page. Done that more than once myself!

The results are at http://www.researchingegenealogy.co.uk/ ... esults.htm