Historical
Research
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.
  The American Heritage Dictionary. Second
College Edition. (1985). Boston: Houghton-Mifflin
Company.
Purposes
 Place
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.
Idiosyncrasies
 Re-search.
 The
only thing certain is the past.
 All researchers who follow the scientific
method are historians (chapter ii of a
dissertation or thesis is past tense.)
 The older the information, the more
precious and valuable it is.
Characteristics of
Historical Researchers
 Persistent
 Patient
 Non-allergic
 Keeper
Historical Research Steps
 Isolate
the problem.
 Collect source materials.
– Primary
– Secondary
 Evaluate
source materials.
 Formulate hypothesis.
 Report and interpret findings.
Sources of Information
 Primary
sources
–  Eye or ear witness
–  Original objects
 Secondary
sources
–  Copies of objects
–  Second hand information
Primary Sources of Information
 Original
documents
 Relics
 Remains
 Artifacts
Secondary Sources of Information
 Textbooks
 Encyclopedias
 Newspapers
 Periodicals
 Reviews
of research and other
references
External Criticism
External Criticism
 Does
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
 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?
 If
manuscript is undated or the author
unknown, are there any clues internally as its
origin?
Internal Criticism
Internal Criticism
 What
was meant by the author by
each word and statement?
 How
much credibility can the
author’s be given?
 What
 How
was the author trying to say?
could the author’s words be
interpreted?