Evaluation of Primary Sources I.B. History

Research can be defined as scholarly investigation in all available primary and secondary sources in order to extend human knowledge. The degree of scholarliness increases as the use of primary sources increases. There is a very wide range of primary sources, written and unwritten, traditional and non-traditional, but they are of differing value. There are also some new techniques, such as aerial photography which are not, strictly speaking, sources. They are techniques for learning more from a given primary source.

Primary sources are a major form of evidence used in developing an argument. Although the scope of what can be considered a primary source will vary in time, place, and circumstance, the following guidelines provide a useful operating definition.

Primary Sources: a.)

b.)

c.)

d.)

Types of Primary Sources:

information about an event that is provided by eyewitness or participant information about a person provided by someone who knew the individual a statement of information or ideas given by someone living during the time period under discussion government or legal proclamations and publications

-letters and diaries -photos and film -the arts

oral tradition -public speeches -oral histories -verbal interviews

archaeological remains papyri public written sources private written sources

-minutes of meetings -parish registers -private diplomatic papers

Hierarchy of Primary Sources:

Manuscript before printed Original before copy Traditional before non-traditional Written before oral Official before unofficial Pure primary before partially secondary

eg. contemporary histories autobiography

Unwritten record before intentional record Original language before translation

Evaluation of Primary Sources:

Primary sources are valuable because they bring the reader as close as possible to the event or time period under discussion. Yet the reader can never be sure if even an honest eyewitness really presents an accurate picture. Four people watching the same traffic accident might well see the event in four different ways. Therefore, it is essential that each primary source be evaluated to determine the reliability and the bias of the information provided.

Authenticity must be established, using internal and external evidence. The following questions will guide you in determining the authenticity/ validity of a source:

Authenticity: Internal Evidence of Authenticity:

a.) Is the source consistent with the known methods and materials of the period?

External Evidence of Authenticity:

What is the probability of such a document being produced? Is its production consistent with other events? Is it in accord with known facts? If not, is its credibility such that one should revise what one knows in the light of the new document or source?

Once authenticity has been established, reliability must be assessed.

Reliability:

To determine reliability the scholar must consider some of the following questions:

a.) How and why did the document come into existence in the first place? -Free will or duress? -Genuine expression or deceit?

b.) Who created the document, and what role did she or he play? -Important or obscure? Was he or she in a position to know?

c.) What sort of bias is evident? d.) Does the document demonstrate internal consistency? e.) To what extent is the information in the document consistent with other

documents from this period?

a.) b.) c.)