This document outlines the historical method of research which involves collecting and analyzing primary and secondary sources to study past events and understand how they influence the present. The method has 7 stages: identifying a problem, formulating a hypothesis, collecting data, evaluating data, interpreting findings, reaching a conclusion, and decision making. It discusses tips for effective data collection, source criticism to validate sources, and limitations such as availability of information and potential for bias.

1. Harsha E.C.
CUANLIS008
Calicut University

2. HISTORICAL METHOD
OF RESEARCH

3. Contents
 Introduction
 Purpose
 Stages
 Collection of data
 Tips for collecting data
 Source criticism
 Example
 Limitation
 Conclusion

4. Introduction
Historical method is for to study the past
in order to understand the present and
may be plan the future
 It is a system or right procedure for attainment
of historical truth
 Also known as documentary method

5. purpose
 Uncover the unknown
 Answer question
 It throws light on present and future trends
 To learn how things were done in the past to see if they
might be applicable to present day problems
 To make people aware of what has happened in the past
so, they may learn from past failure and success.
 To assist interpretation

6. Stages
 Identification of problem
 Formulating hypothesis
 Collection of data/fact
 Evaluation of data( organizing data)
 Interpretation of data
 Conclusion
 Decision making

7. Collection of data
 Primary sources:-testimony of any eye witness ,
or of a senses by any other of the senses or of a
mechanical device like Dictaphone- Gottschalk
 Documents-Annual reports
o Newspaper reports
o Personal diaries
o Autobiographies
 Numerical records:-Attendance figures
o Census reports
o School budgets

8.  Oral statement:-Stories, myths, tales, songs
 Relics :- buildings, monuments,
equipments, skelton,fossils
photographs, coins
Continues…..

9.  Secondary sources:- second hand information
 Chance of errors due to passing of information
from one sources to another
 E.g.:- Text books, biographies,encyclopadies,
reference book
Continues…..

10. An instance
If a man decided to do research related to 1st war
of Indian independence , he can collect primary
data from the participant of 1st war of Indian
independence.(he has direct physical relation to
that event, he is eyewitness)and he can collect
secondary data from the biography of that eye
witness or participant.

11. Tips for collecting data
 At least by more than one source should normally be
used for to avoid false information
 Indication of the originality of the sources increases it’s
reliability
 Among many primary source or original sources,
preference should be given to the one which is
contemporary to the event or nearer in time to the period
of the event under investigation
(if a researcher decided to do research relating
to Malabar rebellion- 1921, he should accept data
source, which is adjacent or nearest to the period 1921)

12. Source criticism
Garraghan divides source criticism in to 6 inquiries
 When was the source , written or unwritten,
produced(date)
 Where was it produced(localization)
 By whom was it produced(authorship)
 From what pre-existing material was it
produced(analysis)
 In what original form was it produced(integrity)
 What is the evidential value of its (content credibility)

13.  External criticism
Determining the authenticity, validity, or trust
worthiness of the sources
 Internal criticism
Determination of the reliability or accuracy of
the information contained in the source.

14. Example
 Present education system in Kerala
 Dropping out of school children in Kerala

15. Limitation
 Historical method of research is limited to what ever data
are available
 Collection of facts relating to very old event is a problem
, as sufficient data may not be available in such cases
 Historical events are those taken place in the past, these
occur only once and can’t be reproduced or recreated for
experimentation
 Invaders and rulers of different dynasties may
sometimes change the shape and originality of a
monument which may result in a faulty conclusion

16.  Interpreting source is very time consuming
 Source of historical materials may be
problematic
 Any single evidence (document)can make the
entire research report vague
 Historical writing may be biased
Continue……

17. Conclusion
 Everything we always start from what history tell us
 This is the only method that can study evidence from the past
 Well suited for trend analysis
 Unobtrusive in nature
 Seven steps are there
 Collection of data is the soul of it
 Number of limitation are there, but is the only method study
from past