1

Lecture 08: Conducting Historical Research

Aims of Lecture:

• To conduct a historical research

Lecture Objectives: Students will be able to

• to be aware of the purpose of historical research

• to know the stages of dissertation writing

• to identify characteristics of historical research

• to recognize the steps of historical research

Assumed prior knowledge:

Students may have some knowledge about the subject

Material:

PowerPoint presentation; computer & projector

Assessment

Class discussion

Targeted questioning

LECTURE 08: Conducting Historical Research

. Definition of Historical Research

a. The study of the past, particularly how it relates to humans. It is an umbrella

term that relates to past events as well as the memory, discovery, collection,

organization, presentation, and interpretation of information about these

events.1

b. Systematic collection and evaluation of data to describe, explain, and thereby

understand actions or events that occurred sometime in the past.

1
Dadu Vaibhav. Textbook of Padartha Vijnana and History of Ayurveda. Scientific Publishers, 2017.
 2

2. The Purpose of Historical Research

- To make people aware of what has happened in the past so they may learn from past

failures and successes.

- To test hypothesis concerning relationships or trends and to assist in prediction.

3. Characteristics of Historical Research

 Aims for critical search for truth.

 The aim of contemporary history is to conceptualise, contextualise and historicise – to

explain –

 It is not a mere accumulation of facts and data or even a portrayal of past events

 It is a flowing, vibrant report of past events which involves an analysis and

explanation of these occurrences with the objective of recapturing the nuances,

personalities and ideas that influenced these events.

 Conducting historical research involves the process of collecting and reading the

research material collected and writing the manuscript from the data collected.

4. Historical Source Material

A. Documents :

o are written or printed materials that have been produced in some form or

another
 3

o may be published or unpublished

o may be intended for private or public consumption

o artwork, bills, books, cartoons, circulars, court records, diaries, diplomas, legal

records, newspapers, magazines, notebooks, school yearbooks, memos, tests,

and so on.

B. Numerical Records :Any type of numerical data in printed form

 test scores, attendance figures, census reports, school budgets, and the like.

C. Oral Statements : Forms of oral expression have been used by people through the

ages to leave a record for future generation.

 stories, myths, tales, legends, chants, songs

D. Records and Relics :bAny object whose physical or visual characteristics can provide

some information.

 furniture, artwork, clothing, buildings, monuments, or equipment.

5. Classification of Historical Sources

- Primary source is regarded as the source of the “best evidence”. Eg. One prepared by a

direct witness to the event being described.

- Secondary source are information supplied by a person who was not a direct observer

or participant of the event, object, or condition.

Eg. A document prepared by an individual who was not a direct witness to an event but who

obtained his or her description of the event from someone else.

6. Steps Involved in Historical Research

1. Defining the Problem: You may limit your investigation in one era or epoch and one

sequence of events in a local, provincial, regional, or national setting. Comparison of

events in different periods, different societies, or different civilizations.

Examples:
 4

“The Schooling Process in First Grade: Two Samples a Decade Apart”

“Origins of the Modern Social Studies”

2. Locating relevant sources/ Summarizing information obtained from historical sources

a. Documents

b. Numerical records

c. Oral statements

d. Relics

3. Evaluation of historical sources

a. Internal criticism

b. External criticism

7. Difference between Internal criticism and External criticism

7.1. External Criticism involves finding out if the source material is genuine and if it

possesses textual integrity (Gay, et al., 1972) ie. External criticism is concerned with

establishing the authenticity or genuineness of data. A number of questions need to be asked

in External Criticism:

 Was the author present at the event he or she is describing? In other words is

the document a primary or a secondary source?

 Was the author a participant in or an observer of the event?

 Was the author competent to describe the event?

 Was the author emotionally involved in the event?

 Did the author have any vested interest in the outcomes of the

 event?

 With regard to the contents of the document:-

 Do the contents make sense?

 Could the event described have occurred at that time?

 5

 Would people have behaved as described?

 Does the language of the document suggest a bias of any sort?

 Do other versions of the event exist? Do they present a different description or

interpretation of what happened?

7.2. Internal criticism is concerned with the accuracy and meaning of the data contained in

the document. ( validity, credibility, or worth of the content of the document). It involves such

factors as competence, good faith, bias and general reputation of the author. It is positive in

nature when the researcher seeks to discover the literal and the real meaning of the text. It is

negative when the researcher tries to seek every possible reason for disbelieving the statement

made, questioning critically the competence, truthfulness or accuracy and honesty of the

author. Both positive and negative criticisms are essential in historical research but the

researcher should not go so far as to be cynical and hypercritical.

The researcher should answer the following questions in internal criticism

 “What was the author attempting to say?” :Literal meaning and real meaning of

statements. Words do not have the same meaning to all people

 “What thought was the author trying to convey?”: Competence of the Observer

 “What inferences or interpretation could be extracted from the words?”: Tests of

Truthfulness and Honesty. “What is the personal or vested interest of the author, if

any?” To what race, nation, party, region, social level, economic group, or profession,

which might introduce elements of bias does the observer belong?”

Assignment:

In a group of 4 students, prepare a research proposal about either a literary or historical topic,

and get ready to present it in April.

6