Research Like a Pro® Study Group
with Diana Elder, AG® and Nicole Dyer
RLP 9 will be in the Fall of 2023, beginning August 30 and meeting weekly for 11 weeks. Two of the weeks are break weeks with no lesson to allow for extra research and writing time. Registration begins May 22 at 10am MT and ends August 10. The early bird price is $325 until June 30.
This session meets at 6pm Mountain Time for 90 minutes.
Schedule
8/30/23 Lesson 1: Objectives, pedigree analysis, and file organization: Learn how to analyze your family tree for possible research opportunities, then how to focus your research with an objective. Get started with a file organization and protocol system.
9/6/23 Lesson 2: Timelines, review previous research, and create source citations: Gather previous research and extract all clues from the records you already have. Study the elements of a good source citation and learn to create your own.
9/13/23 Lesson 3: Analysis of sources, information, and evidence: Learn how to analyze the sources you have gathered and understand information and evidence labels.
9/20/23 Lesson 4: Locality research: Study jurisdictions, boundary changes, record availability, and discover the importance of understanding context.
9/27/23 Lesson 5: Research planning: Learn to make a focused plan that will guide you to the best sources to answer your research question.
10/4/23 Lesson 6: Research logging: Discover how to organize your findings using a research log.
10/11/23 – No lesson to allow for extra research time
10/18/23 Lesson 7: Research reports: Learn how to track your research progress and write up preliminary conclusions in a research report.
10/25/23 – No lesson to allow for extra writing time
11/1/23 Lesson 8: Copyright, proof arguments, and publication: Explore how to create proof summaries and arguments for completed research and publish your work. Learn about copyright and fair use.
11/8/23 Lesson 9: Final steps, productivity, and education: Learn about adding conclusions to your family tree software, becoming more productive, and creating a genealogical education plan.
Weekly Lesson Format
Regular 90 minute sessions are led by Diana and Nicole and held virtually via Zoom. Each session will include:
-10 minute discussion of the previous assignment
-70 minute lesson taught by Diana or Nicole (including a 5 minute break)
-10 minutes Q&A about the next assignment
Lessons and question/answer sessions will be recorded for review after the session.
Peer Group Sessions and Peer Group Leaders
Peer group sessions are an opportunity for participants to meet with 4-6 other participants to discuss their projects. The peer group session will be facilitated by a peer group leader. Peer group leaders are genealogists who have experience with the RLP process. Each participant will be assigned to a peer group leader who will give feedback on all of their assignments throughout the study group.
The peer group sessions meet on Mondays for 30-60 minutes. The purpose of the peer group session is to discuss your personal project and experience completing the assignment. Peer group leaders will also be completing a project during the study group. You will have the opportunity to follow along with their project and give feedback on it each week. The role of the peer group leader is to facilitate the discussion during the peer group session. They will share their experience with the assignment as well. Peer sessions are not recorded.
If you are interested in becoming a peer group leader and receiving complimentary registration for the study group, please go to our peer group leader application page here: RLP Study Group Peer Group Leaders.
Time Commitment
This is a fast-moving, time-intensive study group. You will have five days to work on each assignment, except the research logging assignment (12 days) and report writing, which you will work on in both assignment 7 and 8. The time you will spend on assignments will depend on the difficulty of your objective and how much time you need to spend learning to use technology. For simpler objectives, expect to spend about 10-15 hours per week, or about 1-2 hours per day. For more difficult objectives, you may spend 15-20 or more hours per week. When you choose your objective, please take into account how much time you have to spend on the assignments and the difficulty level of your chosen objective.
Peer Review and Feedback
Plan to spend 1-2 hours each week on peer review. After you turn in your assignment, you will have one day to review your assigned peers’ work and give them constructive comments. You will be assigned to give feedback to four people each week: three participants (that rotate each week), and your peer group leader. The purpose for peer review is twofold: (1) to learn from the work of others and (2) to provide helpful comments to others. We will create a feedback schedule that shows your assigned peers each week. It is critical that you complete your assignment on time and that you give feedback to your assigned peers. Past participants in the study group say that the peer review is one of their favorite parts of the experience.
After you register, you will be asked to sign a participation agreement stating that you agree to complete your assignments and participate in peer review for three people each week. We will also ask you to sign a non-disclosure agreement stating that you will not share private information about living people mentioned in your peers’ work.
You will receive feedback from three participants and your peer group leader on each weekly assignment. Diana and Nicole will give feedback on assignments 3, 5, and 8: timeline and analysis, research plan, and the final report.
Technology
We will be using the following tools during the study group and suggest that you become familiar with them. Any time you can spend learning how to use these tools prior to the study group will aid your use of them for assignments. Check your welcome email for videos to watch to help you learn more about these tools.
–Google Drive, Google Docs, Google Sheets: Research project document, reflection journal, final report, citation template
–Airtable: Timeline, research log, FAN club list
We will also be using the above listed tools’ collaboration/commenting features for peer review. Some guidance will be given for getting started with these tools after you register as well as during the course.
Note about Google Drive: We will not be giving support about how to convert Microsoft Word into Google Docs or sharing Microsoft Word documents on Google Drive. If you are comfortable doing this on your own, that’s fine. However we encourage everyone to create their documents in Google Docs for ease of sharing and peer review.
Instructors
Diana Elder, AG
Diana Elder AGⓇ is a professional genealogist accredited in the Gulf South region of the United States. She serves as a Commissioner for The International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen). Diana is the author of the bestselling book, Research Like a Pro: A Genealogist’s Guide and the creator of the Research Like a Pro study group and e-Course. Diana and her daughter, Nicole Dyer are the hosts of the Research Like a Pro Genealogy Podcast and share research tips on their website, FamilyLocket.com.
Nicole Dyer
Nicole Dyer is a professional genealogist, lecturer, and creator of FamilyLocket.com and The Research Like a Pro Genealogy Podcast. She is the co-author of Research Like a Pro: A Genealogist’s Guide. Nicole speaks at genealogy conferences and institutes including the National Genealogical Society Conference and the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR). She specializes in Southern United States research and enjoys incorporating DNA evidence into her research.
Email List
Two Research Like a Pro Study Groups are held per year, one in the spring and one in the fall. The fall study group focuses on DNA. To receive advance notice of registration opening and early bird sales, click the link and subscribe to the special study group email list.
Nancy Brown –
Even though I’d considered myself a novice at the research component of family history, I jumped in! ( My experience was mostly with Family Search & Ancestry). The information is presented in a clear & understandable format, with plenty of examples & opportunities to ask questions as I worked on assignments. I loved learning from other members of our group. My knowledge and desire to continue have grown far beyond expectations. I’m excited to review and put into practice all the best practices that were shared during this study group.
Nancy Malvin –
This was one of the best investments I’ve ever made. I came to the class with two goals: to learn more about online resources and to become more efficient at family history research. The information and guidance presented exceeded my expectations. Each class was structured in a logical order and presented in easy to digest pieces. The assignments gave us practical experience in applying the theories and strategies presented. Diana was generous in sharing her knowledge and constructive and positive with her feedback on our assignments. My only regret is that I didn’t take this class sooner!
Barbara Schenck –
Research Like A Pro was an excellent value for money. It provided the opportunity to focus on a particular research objective, then approach that objective in a logical useful manner, leaving no stone unturned. The oourse is an antidote to haphazard searching and, if practiced, will certainly help researchers either break down difficult genealogical problems or let them know that they have done all they can by having conducted an exhaustive search and examined many resources. The hangouts were an interesting part of the process because they allowed the group to establish connections face-to-face. The whole study group was well organized and thought out and it provided a process that I will continue to use. Thank you, Diana.
Susan Modzelewski –
I have been researching for years and knew something was missing but I was not sure what. I had attended many classes and seminars although the information was good it never quite fit. Then I took the Research Like A Pro class and it all came together. I now have a workable plan for any research that I plan to do. I feel more productive and can document why I came to the conclusion I did. I have always known the importance of planning your work and working your plan but now I know how to make it all come together.
Judi Thomas –
I cannot say enough about this class. As a beginner to Genealogy it gave me a process to do my research. Diane is an amazing teacher. Her explanation of the steps was easy to follow and understand. I had never used Google Drive or Hangout. They are great products for an interactive online class. I enjoyed the interaction with my class mates. Following their research projects and seeing their comments about gave me a better understanding of the process and of good research. If you are struggling with your research I highly recommend this class. It is well worth the time and money.
Delores Martin –
I have been doing genealogy research since the mid 1990’s. I have taken a few genealogy classes. I follow Diana’s post on this website. I bought and read the book Research like a Pro. I took the class. I am really glad that I took the class. I learned a lot taking this class. I learned about writing an objective so that I can stay focused on my research. I learned about locality guides and will do a locality guide for any new places that I research. I learned about research logs and why they are necessary. Everybody in the family trees that I research will get a research logs. I learned about all of the resources available to me. I will be more productive and won’t be repeating research. Diana is very informative. It was a very organized class. The time between the lecture and the assignment due date was appropriate. I would recommend this class for anyone wanting to become a better genealogist.
Judi Dalton –
What a great class. It helped me see where I was spinning my wheels and what I needed to do to create forward momentum instead. This process takes more discipline than I would like to use but I can see that I need it and will have better results when I use the process.
Ruth Arlene Campbell –
Research Like A Pro Study Group was an amazing experience. It helps you better organize yourself and expands your knowledge of how to research. Diana’s approach is well organized and easy to understand. Her examples are easy to follow. She walks you through the steps in the RLP book. I am no longer fearful of source citations, research logs and analyzing information. Anyone who wants to move forward from searching for ancestors to RESEARCHING ancestors, this is the course for you!
Vivian Holland –
If you would like to improve your genealogy research skills, then the Research Like a Pro Study Group is a must. Diana’s book, “Research Like a Pro” breaks down all the necessary steps for research into very manageable chapters. Each session of the study group requires some preparation in advance: reading a chapter of the book, watching a video/podcast, reading a few articles, and completing an assignment for that section of the book. Members of the study group meet via Google hangout every two weeks. Diana is available to answer questions during the hangout, and you can email your questions to her between the sessions, to be answered during scheduled office hours. Topics covered include: creating an objective for your project, creating a timeline and analysis of your evidence; research planning, source citations, research logs, and report writing. Diana is very helpful and shows you that you CAN be successful in improving your research skills using the Research Like a Pro method.
Vickie Harmon –
This study group is chock full of information. One thing I liked about it is that there was a deadline for the assignments which helped keep me on task. Also, giving and getting feedback from other members from the group is helpful in that in might give you ideas for your own research or help someone else with ideas for theirs. All in all, I believe it is worth the time and money for this study group.
Jan Wilson –
Even though I’ve been researching for 20+ years, this class greatly improved my skill and knowledge of the research process. Diana has created a process that is well organized and designed to support learning. I am hoping by using the process I can slow down and improve the quality of my research and make it more enjoyable. All of her tools/templates are easy to use. Each session is full of useful information. Every researcher should take this class!
Kathy Walker –
After going in the same circles, looking at the same resources and repeating the same research over and over, and then becoming frustrated because I was expecting to see something different, I realized that I had to do something to help myself. Signing up for Diana’s Research Like a Pro Study Group was the best decision that I made in 2018! Diana has a sound research process that has group members learning techniques and actively researching their ancestors in a safe and supportive environment. The course utilizes Diana’s book, Research Like a Pro, slide presentations, interactive sessions, podcasts and numerous additional resources all designed to guide and assist participants. I am so happy that I enrolled. This course has made me a better genealogist! Thank you Diana and Nicole!
Debbie Wahlstrom –
I enjoyed the interactive learning that took place within the study group. It was great to be able to ask questions, interact with other study group members, and learn what they were working on. The feedback process was very beneficial; it made me think about what I was learning a little differently when I was giving feedback to others, and all of the feedback I received was positive and helpful. Also the deadlines were good for me. They helped me to set a better pace for my work. I think I will continue to use deadlines as I work on projects in the future, because they kept me focused and moving at a steady pace towards my goal.
Warren Duffie –
Research Like a Pro study group is well worth the cost and time investment. I am planning to use timeline analysis, location guide and research planning in all my future research to keep me focused.
Heather Robb –
This study group is well worth it! If you follow the steps each week, you will get results in your research process. I was looking for a method that would enable me to be more productive in my genealogy research and encourage me to write my results. I found it with Research Like a Pro Study Group. Diana led us each week through a different step in the research process, and by the end of it I had a written report that I did not feel like I had to scramble to get done. It was because the steps used built on each other week by week. This really works! I plan to utilize what I learned to continue through my genealogy journey.
Kristin Burge –
Loved this class! I am definitely more confident regarding how to “attack” genealogical research. Diana and Nichol have created a well organized class. It is well thought out and the feedback from fellow students and Diana really helps to further one’s research.
Dana Leeds –
I’ve taken quite a few genealogy classes – both online and in person – and this is one of my top two learning experiences in terms of how much I learned that will actually make a difference in my day to day genealogy work. Two eye-opening assignments were the locality guide and the research log. I highly recommend this class for everyone – it is NOT just for those working on accreditation. In fact, I’m more likely to seek certification, and this still was incredibly useful.
Amber Smits –
I’d definitely recommend the RLP study group for those of you who are looking for other educational opportunities and/or to just freshen up your skills. I’ve taken a number of genealogy courses and this one stood out for a number of reasons. The course is well paced and assignments are manageable but challenging, you have mentors in each class that meet with you every other week to answer questions, and the interactive help you receive from Diana and Nicole is second to none. Highly recommend!
Virginia Goodwin-Gray –
Although I have been collecting genealogy records for years, I was struggling with how to pull the information I had collected together in a cohesive manner. This was my first experience with an interactive, peer-review online class. The instructors were open and responsive to my questions and challenges and my mentor provided additional support and guidance. The program guided me through the process of taking a specific project from beginning to end. The method developed by Diana and Nicole presents challenging concepts in an approachable manner and I will continue to use the skills gained in this class in future research endeavours. Highly recommend.
Rebecca Corson –
In 1997, when genealogy computer research was at it’s infancy, I put my research in boxes and pursued my career of a lifetime. After retirement, I took ten boxes of previous research, books, photos and miscellaneous items and wondered how to begin again. I was struggling to find a way to get organized, especially since everything had changed and was more online. I bought a genealogy program, took some classes and went to seminars and still felt lost. Going through the information I became so confused that I didn’t even want to look at the boxes to start the work. I attended Roots Tech 2019 and two influential things happened. I won a scholarship to NIGS and met Nicole and Diana. I had an opportunity to take their first class, because of the scholarship, I won, I thought I would be taking on too much. After a year of the NIGS classes I realized that the RLP class would only complement the NIGS classes I was taking. Now that the RLP session has ended, I feel much more confident in my future classes with NIGS, by seeing how both processes work together to form a cohesive unit. The RLP course gives a definite course of action for doing my research. RLP has made me a more focused and better researcher. It has helped me to understand that research objectives combined with locality research guides along with a plan will produce better results. Adding mentors that guide your investigative study as well as a project you pick, increases productivity. I highly recommend this course no matter what level of research you are at and even if you are taking other courses, it can only complement your future research. I look forward to completing my certification with NIGS and taking future classes with Diana and Nicole.
Ruth Campbell –
I recommend doing the RLP Study Group for a second time – it was beneficial in so many ways! Creating the locality guide, doing citations, writing the research report seemed easier and have now become a habit. The assignments are easy to understand, you meet new people and share ideas, plus Diana and Nicole share their expertise along with other mentors. It’s a win win! Thank you Diana and Nicole.
Judith Blanco –
I thoroughly enjoyed Research Like a Pro with Diana and Nicole. Their classes are very organized and well run. The process that they teach from asking one research question, creating timelines, doing citations, building a locality guide, making a research log, writing a research report, and so much more. This new and very helpful process kept me focused and productive. I accomplished learning so much more about the person I was researching than what I’ve achieved in the past. But one of my favorite parts of the class was the collaborative and all-engaging style that Diana and Nicole had to myself and all the students. They were always encouraging and positive. In addition, they assigned talented mentors to each student to provide additional one-on-one coaching and feedback that was invaluable. I welcome anyone who wants to improve their skills to take this excellent course.
Laurie Martin –
I highly recommend the RLP Study Group. I had listened to the podcasts and purchased the e-book, but still felt the need to see how the whole process worked in practice. Diana and Nicole are friendly, knowledgeable, and know how to share the research process in an organized fashion. They welcome all questions and have helpful suggestions for each person. It was so helpful to be able to work on my own research project and receive input and feedback from other group members, mentors, and the leaders. It was very rewarding to complete a report that documented all I learned about my family. Looking forward to the DNA group in the fall!
Adrienne Smith –
I loved the RLP Study Group. I have been doing genealogy for 40 years off and on and made a lot of progress, but never learned the proper way to do it. The course helped me set a research objective (I picked something that I had on my list to do for years) and actually go about the research in a focused, targeted way. I had never done citations or a research log before, so that was great to actually put that into practice. In the end, I found many documents on my ancestor and am writing them up into a research report. The pace of the course is very good and the feedback and support of other students, the mentors and Diana, Nicole is helpful. The structure of course and the materials were well designed and made it easy to do on your own. I would take it again to maintain good habits! I’d also like to take the DNA course, so I can organize all my DNA materials. I would recommend this course to an advanced beginner and higher.
Sherri Hessick –
I am a big fan of learning through study groups and the RLP Study Group is my favorite. I have been researching for over 20 years and this was my second time going through this study group. Diana’s teaching style is supportive and non-stressful. I enjoy this course because it allows me to work on my own project with a family I am familiar with rather than on somebody else’s case study. I didn’t really learn anything new (except for locality guides, which I had never done before), but I learned the value of all the steps a good genealogist needs to take for each project. Since that first course, those steps have become habit for me. Diana and Nicole have made some changes in the course since the first time and it is even better. I highly recommend it for anyone wishing to improve their research skills and I am looking forward to the RLP with DNA coming in the fall.
Linda Lambert –
This course was fantastic. I was familiar with the concept of the “Research Like a Pro” process from listening to the podcast, but I had never tried to do a project step-by-step. I tend to do what I consider recreational genealogy, just following what interests me most at the moment. It was wonderful to set an objective and prioritized steps to do the research. The support from the peer groups, zoom presentations, email, facebook group etc. was great. I learned a great deal just from reading other participants’ work. Diana and Nicole are friendly but focused and professional.
The class is time-intensive, so be prepared for that.
Carol Voiles –
This was a great class – a real help to me in learning how to elevate the quality of my research. As a self-taught genealogist, I don’t have the research methods, but this class really gave me some great templates to use and the experience of using those templates with a research project. I definitely understand why people take this course more than once. It’s a great experience!
Aisha Jenkins –
A wonderful class and it was very great to get feedback, although that is a double edged sword, as one needs to give feedback, too. Fortunately, reviewing the work of others helps to reinforce concepts, and seeing your positive impact on their projects is rewarding . Working through the steps really brought the process home. Based on this positive experience, I foresee a fall DNA course in my future.
Judith Blanco –
I enjoyed this course so much the first time, I took it again. Diana and Nicole teach a wonderful and effective process to research your own question. I was dabbling on my own to find an Irish ancestor. But with the class, I was strict to their methodology and I found that relative. It was very thrilling to discover that relative and now have a professional report that shares my findings. I’m always learning and though I took this class before, I learned even more. I’d recommend anyone to take this course from beginner to advanced. Beginners will learn new techniques and advanced genealogists will get to focus on their own research in a positive team setting. I’m planning to take this course again to focus on yet another brick wall. Thank you Diana, Nicole, my team lead, and all those in my sub-group. It has been a pleasure.
David Bennett –
This is a great class for beginners as well as seasoned researchers. The structure and methodology presented is top notch and lays out a great template on how to successfully conduct genealogical research. Add to that the “awesomeness” of Diana and Nicole and you have a can’t miss experience. I will be attending future RLP study groups. Highly recommended!!!!
Norah Erb –
This is a wonderful class. I took it the first time as the e-course and this time with the study group. The peer interaction and feedback really adds to the experience. Diana and Nicole and great instructors. The RLP process is excellent and really contributed so much to my research abilities. I would recommend it for any researcher, experienced or novice, it provides a frame work, and increased professionalism to your work. A++++ Highly recommend.
Deborah Maddox –
I really enjoyed taking this class. The Step-by-step process allowed me to put order to my pretty chaotic way of doing genealogy. It allowed me to have a place to write my thoughts, procedures, and analyses. Along with receiving peer review from fellow genealogists.
Joan Michaelree –
Wow! RLP Study Group 8 has been a great experience. It was a lot of work but I found myself looking forward to each step along the way. I have learned so much and loved the opportunity to receive feedback. Our peer group leader was great and her suggestions were excellent.
This was the first study group I have participated in and it was everything I was looking for. The course is so comprehensive and packed full of resources and easy to understand information. Diana and Nicole are great teachers and have a way of simplifying even the most complex concepts. The RLP process keeps you focused and organized. I highly recommend this course.
Zack Daugherty –
RLP 8 is my first peer-review genealogy study group. I can say it does not disappoint. The course was every bit what I expected it to be and more. I suggest those who are genealogy enthusiasts that wish to move their genealogical research process to the next level consider both the book Research Like a Pro and this course both. I greatly appreciated Diana and Nicole share their experience and process with us and look forward to participating in future courses they offer!
Michelle Reeder –
The RLP Study Group was the best genealogical course I’ve ever taken! I loved being able to use my own research for the homework (instead of some canned case study) and having the support and feedback of a small peer group. Highest recommendation!