This presentation prepared by myself with different sources at the time of my MPhil Course Work. If any discrepancy, please comment or inform me so that the discrepancy short out.

1. (HR)

2. Prepared By
Divyanshu Gupta
M. Phil. Scholar
Department of Library and Information Science
University of Delhi, Delhi - 110007

3. Contents
3
Sr
.
N
o.
Titles Slid
e
No.
1 Introduction 3
2 Definition 5
3 Types of HR 6
4 Sources of
HR
7
5 Components
of HR
8
6 Significance
of HR
9
7 Problems of 11

4. INTRODUCTION
✓HR not merely description of events occurred in the past, no mere
chronological presentation of facts. But it concerned with a critical
description and analysis of past events, mainly for better
understanding of past.
✓HR is used to know the background of information i.e. provide a base.
✓HR is find out how, when, who were behind it and what happened in
the initial stage.
✓HR is a flowing, dynamic account of past events i.e. an interpretation
of events in an attempt to recapture the nuance, personalities and ideas
that influenced events.
4

5. ✓As commonly understood, may refer to events themselves or the
record of events.
- Partner, 1987, vol. 12, p. 147
✓History has two dimension
▪Historical Time/Chronology
▪The spacing of events &/patterns or time.
▪Historical Space or Geographical Location
▪Event’s place.
-Powell, 1991, p.137-38
✓The past experience of mankind or the memory of past experience.
5

6. ❖Historical Research/Approach or Historiography is usually meant the
battery of devices by which one is aided to reach a conclusion as to the
probable truth of an event in the past, as reflected in objects available for
study in the present.
- Goldhor, 1972, p.100
❖HR is concerned with a critical description and analysis of past events
mainly for the purpose of gaining a better understanding of present.
- Verma and Beard, 1981, pp. 183-4
❖HR involves a procedure supplementary to observation, a process by which
the historian seeks to test the truthfulness of the reports of observation
made by others.
- Travers, 1978
Definition of HR
6

7. Types of HR
1. Biographical research
2. History of institution or organization.
3. The investigation of sources and influences.
4. Editing and translating historical documents.
5. Studying the history of ideas.
6. Compiling bibliographies.
7

8. Sources of information in HR
✓ Photographs
✓ Monuments
✓ Historical studies
✓ Literary writings
✓ Remains
✓ Language
✓Diaries
✓Official records
✓Letters
✓Archives
✓Oral history
✓Eye witness
8

9. Components of HR
➢Corroboration
✓The fact matching.
✓Coordination among facts.
➢Sourcing
✓It involves identification of sources.
✓Check the authenticity of sources.
➢Contextualisation
✓To identify where and when the event took place.
✓Emphasis on time and place.
9

10. Significance of Historical Research
According to Berg, 1998
•To uncover the unknown (i.e., some historical events are not recorded).
•To answer questions (i.e., there are many questions about our past that we
not only want to know but can profit from knowing).
•To identify the relationship that the past has to the present (i.e., knowing
about the past can frequently give a better perspective of current events).
•To record and evaluate the accomplishments of individuals, agencies, or
institutions.
•To assist in understanding the culture in which we live (e.g., education is a
part of our history and our culture).
10

11. Significance of HR to librarianship
• Advancement to LIS.
• Historical understanding of definition of function of librarians.
• Fulfil social responsibilities. (J. H. Shera)
• Understanding long-term development of library collection, budgetary
decision and changing information culture.
• Understanding the principles & practices of libraries. (ALA)
• Lis professionals must know the history of profession in a historical
content of society & culture in order to became leader instead merely
practitioner.
11

12. Problems in HR
✓Quantity of data: Deciding how much data are enough.
✓Improper data selection: increase bias.
✓Studying on broad & complex issues.
✓Failing to evaluate enough to sources.
✓Data interpretation is difficult.
✓Historical data may not support in present problem.
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13. STEPS IN HISTORICAL RESEARCH
✓Problem identification and Formulation
• Ideas for historical research topics can came from many different sources.
✓Data collection
• Literature review
• Background Information
• It involves identifying and collecting information pertaining to the research.
• Oral Histories
• Information Sources: Primary and Secondary
13

14. ✓Formulation of hypothesis
✓Gathering evidence (evaluation/criticism)
• Must be evaluated for its authenticity and accuracy.
✓Organization & analysis of data
• The collected materials presented into topical themes & central ideas or concepts.
✓Interpretation of findings or drawing conclusions.
• The finding presented in tabular and graphical form and derives conclusions.
14

15. Examples
➢Williamson, William landram, William Frederick Poole and the
modern library movement, New York, Columbia University Press,
1963.
– Focuses on libraries and library practices prevalent during 19th
century, describing the impact of contribution of William
Frederick Poole.
➢Brough, Kenneth J. Scholar’s workshop: Evolving conceptions of
Library Science, Urbana, University of Illinois, 1953.
✓The study of development in the university libraries of Chicago,
Columbia, Harvard and Yale.
15

16. Conclusions
Historical research which is applied in social service is one of the
methods to describe how and where social service started, how it
developed during time and where it stands today. Results of historical
studies can form blueprints for contemporary social services programs
or models for community developments. Historical awareness of social
work of both professional and layman public is formed by mediating the
results of historical research through publishing them.
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17. References
• Bhattacherjee, (2012) Anol. Social Science Research: Principles,
Methods, and Practices. USA: Creative Commons Attribution-
NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
• Kumar, P. S. G. (2004), Research Methods and Statistical Techniques:
Paper XII of the UGC Model Curriculum. Delhi: B.R. Corporation.
• Kumar, Krishan (1992) Research Methods in Library and Information
Science. New Delhi: Har-Anand Publications in Association with Vikas
Pub. House