Historical Research- Definition, Meaning, Characteristics, Steps in conducting historical research, advantages and disadvantages

1. HISTORICAL RESEARCH

2. INTRODUCTION
• History usually refers simply to an account
of the past of human societies.
• It is the study of what “can be know (to the
historian) through the surviving record.”
• The process of critically examining and
analyzing the records and survivals of the
past is called historical method.
Gottschalk

3. DEFINITION
• Historical Research is a process of critical
inquiry into past events, in order to produce
an accurate description and interpretation of
those events.
Wiersma (1986)

4. MEANING OF HISTORICAL
RESEARCH
The systematic collection of
data to describe, explain and
thereby understand actions or
events that occurred
sometimes in the past.
No manipulation or control
of variables - differ with
experimental research.
Focuses primarily on the
PAST.

5. FEATURES OF HISTORICAL RESEARCH
• Not a mere accumulation of facts and data or even a portrayal of past events.
• Flowing, vibrant report of past events.
• Involves the process of collecting and reading the research material collected and
writing the manuscript from the data collected
• Deals with discovery of data that already exists and does not involve creation of
data using structured tools.
• Analytical - Logical induction.
• Has a variety of foci such as issues, events, movements and concepts.
• Records and evaluates the accomplishments of individuals, agencies or institutions.

6. CHARACTERISTICS OF HISTORICAL METHODS
Controlled
Rigorous
Systematic
Valid &
Verifiable
Empirical
Critical

7. STAGES OF CONDUCTING HISTORICAL RESEARCH
Identify an idea, topic or research
question
Search for Sources of Data
Evaluation of the Historical Sources
Analysis, Synthesis, Summarizing and
Interpretation of Data
Writing the Research Report

8. STEPS INVOLED IN HISTORICAL RESEARCH
Identify an idea, topic
or research question
Researcher claim to describe, clarify,
explain or correct what has been
conducted before.
Problems should be clearly and concisely
stated, be manageable, have a defensible
rationale, and investigate a hypothesized
relationship among variables.
• Where do the events take place?
•Who are the persons involved?
•When do the events occur?
•What kinds of human activity are
involved?

9. Search for
Sources of Data
a) Documents
Written or printed materials that
have been produced in one form or
another sometime in the past.
Examples: Annual Reports,
Artwork, Books, Diaries, Newspaper,
Notebook.
b) Numerical records
Include any type of numerical data in
printed or handwritten form.
 Examples: Test Scores, Attendance
Figures, Census, Reports, School
Budgets.
c) Oral statements
Include any form of statement
spoken by someone.
Examples: Stories, Myths, Tales,
Legends, Songs.
d) Relics
Any object whose physical or
visual characteristics can provide
some information about the past.
Examples: Furniture, Artwork,
Buildings, Monuments,
Equipment.

10. PRIMARY SOURCE SECONDARY SOURCE
Direct outcomes of events or the records of
eyewitnesses.
Produced by a contemporary of the events it
narrates.
Tangible materials that provide a description
of an historical event and were produced
shortly after the event happened.
A direct physical relationship to the event
being studied.
 Examples: Newspaper report, letters, public
documents, court decisions, personal diaries,
autobiographies, artifacts and eyewitness’s
Information provided by a person who did
not directly observe the event, object, or
condition. secondary source is one in which the
eyewitness or the participant .
 Another person may or may not be a primary
source.
They do not have a direct physical
relationship with the event being studies.
They include data which are not original.
 Examples : Textbooks, biographies,
encyclopedias, reference books, replicas of art
objects and paintings.

11. Evaluation of the
Historical Sources
External evaluation or criticism:
Refers to the genuiness of the
documents a researcher uses in a
historical study.
Has to do with the authenticity of a
document .
 Who wrote this document?
For what purpose was the
document written?
When was the document
written?
Is the date on the document
accurate?
Where was the document
written?
Do different forms or versions
of the document exist?
Internal Criticism
Refer to the accuracy of the contents of a
document.
Internal criticism has to do with what the
document says.
Was the author present at the event he
or she is describing?
Was the author a participant in or an
observer of the event?
Was the author competent to describe
the event?
Does the language of the document
suggest a bias of any sort?
Do other version of the event exist?

12. Analysis, Synthesis,
Summarizing and
Interpretation of Data
Note cards and Bibliography Cards
Summary of Quantitative Data
Interpretation of Historical Data
Making Inferences and Generalizations

13. Writing the
Research Report
No standard formats
The researcher can report the historical facts as answers
to different research questions..
Present the facts in a chronological order with each
chapter pertaining to a specific historical period
chronologically.
Report can also written in a thematic manner where each
chapter deals with a specific theme / topic.
Chapter could also pertain to specific historical persons
separately.
Combine two or more of these approaches while writing
the research report.

14. METHODS OF USING IN HISTORICAL METHODS OF RESEARCH
Archival
data
Secondary
Sources
Running
Records
Recollection

15. VALUES OF HISTORICAL METHODS OF RESEARCH
• It enables solutions to cotemporary problems to be sought in the
past.
• It throws light on present and future trends
• It stresses the relative importance and the effects of the various
interactions that are to be found within all cultures
• It allows for the revaluation of data in relation to selected
hypotheses, theories and generalizations that are presently held
about the past.

16. ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
Throws light on present and future trends Cannot control for threats to internal validity
It enables understanding of and solutions to
contemporary problems to be sought in the
past.
Limitations are imposed due to the content
analysis
It can illuminate the effects of key
interactions within a culture or sub-culture
Researchers cannot ensure representation of
the sample
It allows for the revaluation of data in
relation to selected hypotheses, theories and
generalizations that are presently held about the
past and the present.
Bias in interpreting historical sources..
Permits investigation of topics and questions
that can be studied in no other fashion
Interpreting sources is very time consuming
Can make use of more categories of evidence
than most other methods (with the exception of
case studies and ethnographic studies)
Sources of historical materials may be
problematic
Lack of control over external variables