This document discusses historical-comparative research methods. It provides examples of famous historical works and outlines the value of historical research in illuminating present and future trends. The document also details the steps in a historical-comparative research project and types of data sources. Finally, it discusses strengths, weaknesses, and evaluation of historical research methods.

1. Historical-Comparative
Research

2. Famous Examples
 Karl Marx and Capital (1867)
 Emile Durkheim and Suicide (1897)
 Max Weber and The Protestant Ethic and the
Spirit of Capitalism (1905)
 C. Wright Mills on history in the Sociological
Imagination (1959)
 “Let us not forget what it is we are studying and
how little we know of man, of history, of
biography, and of the societies of which we are at
once creatures and creators”

3. Value of Historical Research
 It throws light on present and future trends.
 It enables understanding of and solutions to
contemporary problems to be sought in the past.
 It can illuminate the effects of key interactions within a
culture or sub-culture.
 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.

4. Steps in a Historical-Comparative
Research Project
 1. Conceptualization of an idea, topic, or
research question
 2. Locate evidence and do background
literature review
 3. Evaluate evidence
 4. Organize evidence
 5. Synthesize evidence and develop general
explanatory model
 6. Develop a narrative exposition of the
findings

5. Data Sources
 Primary Sources:
 first-hand or eyewitness observations of
phenomenon
 Secondary Sources:
 second-hand observation, i.e. the author collected
the data from eyewitnesses.
 Running Records
 Statistics, gov’t data
 Recollections

6. What is Oral History?
Video clip:
The Oral History Research Method

7. Oral History
 Oral history interviewing is valuable for history,
anthropology, and folklore.
 Collects information about the past from observers
and participants in that past.
 Gathers data not available in written records about
events, people, decisions, and processes.
 Can show how individual values and actions shaped
the past, and how the past shapes present-day
values and actions.
 Methodological problem:
 Oral history interviews are grounded in memory, and
memory is a subjective instrument for recording the past,
always shaped by the present moment and the individual
psyche.

8. Why Collect Oral Histories?
 Listen to Ann Nixon Cooper (104 years old)
and her recollections of the American south
and “the Jim Crow days”

9. Evaluating Sources
 External Criticism:
 Appraises the authenticity and authorship of the
data source
 Internal Criticism:
 Appraises the meaning and intent of the data
source

10. Types Of Historical Research
 A. Historical Events Research
 examines particular events or processes that
occurred over short spans of time
 Methodological problems
 Meanings may have changed
 Information may not be complete

11. Types (cont.)
 B. Historical Process Research
 focus on how and why a series of events unfolded
over some period of time
 Methodological problems:
 May place too much emphasis on the actions and
decisions of particular actors
 Not always clear which example represents general
pattern
 definitions may change over time
 relies on long-term records and archives

12. Types (cont.)
 C. Cross-Sectional Comparative Research
 comparing two or more social settings or groups
(usually countries) at one particular point in time
 Methodological problems:
 comparability of measures across countries

13. Types (cont.)
 D. Comparative Historical Research
 combines historical process research
and cross-sectional comparative research
 To understand causal processes at work within
particular groups and to identify general historical
patterns across groups
 Methodological problems:
 history has not been recorded accurately or reliably
 difficult to know how to deal with exceptions
 difficult to conclude that one factor (and not others) is
what causes some outcome
 groups being compared may not be independent
(Galton’s Problem)

14. Equivalence in Historical
Research
 How can we make comparisons across
diverse contexts (both in time and
geography)?
 Lexicon equivalence
 Contextual equivalence
 Conceptual equivalence
 Measurement equivalence

15. Weaknesses of Historical Method
 1. Bias in interpreting historical sources.
 2. Interpreting sources is very time
consuming.
 3. Sources of historical materials may be
problematic
 4. Lack of control over external variables

16. Strengths of Historical Method
 1. The historical method is unobtrusive
 2. The historical method is well suited for
trend analysis.
 3. There is no possibility of researcher-
subject interaction.

17. Interesting Internet Sites on
Historical Research
 Library and Archives Canada
http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Pages/home.aspx
 Where To Do Historical Research (Links)
http://www.wheretodoresearch.com/History.htm
 Oral History Digital Collection Youngstown State
http://www.maag.ysu.edu/oralhistory/oral_hist.html
 Oral History Project List Columbia University
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/indiv/oral/projects.html