Historical Research Part 1

Historical Research Jerome S.

AlvarezTopic Researcher

Standard and Critique

Historical Research

Historical research is a procedure supplementary to

observation in which the researcher seeks to test the authenticity of the reports or observation made by others.

Definition of Research ...An unusually stubborn and persisting effort to think straight which involves the gathering and intelligent use of data.

Hamblin, H. (1966). What is research? American Vocational Journal, 41(6), 14-16.

Definition of Data Information especially information organized for analysis or used as a basis for a decision.

PurposesPlace events in logical sequence.Determine activities surrounding an event.

Preserve information that would otherwise be lost.

Answer why.Make public information that has not been shared.

Have implications for the present and future.

IdiosyncrasiesRe-search.The only thing certain is the past.

All researchers who follow the scientific method are historians

The older the information, the more precious and valuable it is.

Characteristics of Historical Researchers

PersistentPatientNon-allergicKeeper

Historical Research Steps

Define the problem. Collect source materials.

• Primary• Secondary

Evaluate source materials. Formulate hypothesis. Report and interpret

findings.

Primary sources

• Eye or ear witness

• Original objects

Secondary sources

• Copies of objects

• Second hand information

Sources of Information

Primary Sources

One prepared by an individual who was a participant in or a direct witness to the event being described.

Primary Sources of Information

Original documentsRelicsRemainsArtifacts

Secondary Sources

A document prepared by an individual who was not a direct witness to an event, but who obtained a description of the event from someone else.

Secondary Sources of Information

TextbooksEncyclopediasNewspapersPeriodicalsReviews of research and

other references

External Criticism

Genuine? Authentic?

External CriticismDoes the language and writing style conform to the period in question and is it typical of other work done by the author?Is there evidence that the author

exhibits ignorance of things or events that she/he should have known?

Did the author report things, events or places that could not have been known during that period?

External Criticism

If manuscript is undated or the author unknown, are there any clues internally as its origin?

Has the original manuscript been altered either intentionally or unintentionally by copying?

Is the document an original or draft copy? If it is a copy, was it reproduced in the exact words of the original?

Internal Criticism

Accurate? Meaning?

Internal CriticismWhat was meant by the author by each word and statement?

How much credibility can the author’s be given?

What was the author trying to say?How could the author’s words be interpreted?

Advantages and

Disadvantages of

Historical Research

Advantages- Permits investigation of topics and questions that can be studied in no other fashion.

Disadvantages

- Cannot control for threats to internal validity- Limitations are imposed due to the content analysis- Researchers cannot ensure representation of the

sample

To be continued………..Thank

you for

listening

Standards in Critiquing

Historical Data

Jerome S. Alvarez……………First reporterMarly Acebido………………..Second reporter