Historical Research

Da Lee Caryl
AED615
Investigations & Studies in Applied Research
Fall 2006
 What is Historical Research?
• It is the procedure in which a
researcher collects and evaluates
data to understand reports or
observation made by others.
• It test hypotheses concerning
causes, effects or trends that may
help to explain present events
and anticipate future events.
Purpose of Historical Research
• To learn from past successes and
failures.
• Learn how things were done in the
past and apply them to current or
future events.
• To assist in prediction.
• Lead to the confirmation or rejection
of relational hypotheses.
• Understand the present practices and
policies by understanding the history
surrounding them.
 Steps Involved in Historical Research
• Definition of the problem
• Formulation of questions to be
answered or hypotheses to be tested.
• Systematic collection of data.
– Primary Research
– Secondary Research

• Evaluation of data.
• Presenting and interpreting the
information as it relates to the
hypotheses.
Sources of Information
• Primary
– Eye or ear witnesses
– Original documents such as

• Secondary
– Copies of objects
– Second hand information
» Textbooks
» Periodicals
» Newspapers
» Encyclopedias
» Review of research and other
references
Evaluating Historical Sources
• External Criticism
– Authentic?
– Genuine?

• Internal Criticism
– Accurate?
– Meaning?
External Criticism
• Who wrote the document?
• For what purpose was the document
written?
• When was the document written?
• Where was the document written?
• Under what conditions was the
document written?
• Do different forms or versions of the
document exist?
Internal Criticism
• What was meant by the author?
• How much credibility can be
given to the author?
• What was the author trying to
say?
• How could the authors word be
interpreted?
• Does the document contain bias
of any sort?
 Data Analysis in Historical Research
• Methodology to synthesize a
very large amount of data into a
meaningful narrative
• Organize information into categories
• Locate patterns or themes
• Develop a coding system
 Advantages of Historical Research
• Allows investigation of topics
and questions that can be studied
in no other way.
• Study evidence from the past.
• Make use of different kinds of
evidence.
• Provide a rich source of
information.
 Disadvantages of Historical Research
• Threats to internal validity
• Limitations of the sample and
instrumentation
• Can not ensure
representativeness of the sample
• Unable to check the reliability
and validity
• Bias of the researcher
 An Example of Historical Research
This study compared the similarities between inquiry-
based and problem-solving methods and their potential
for improving student performance. The data was
collected by collating research reported by both science
and agricultural educators who had investigated and
applied both the inquiry-based and problem-solving
methods to increase student success. The literature
reviewed included dissertations, national reports, articles
from professional journals and magazines, books, on-line
Internet and other related resources.

Parr, Brian & Edwards, Craig M. (2004). Inquiry-

Based Instruction in Secondary Agricultural
Education: Problem-Solving – An Old Friend Revisited.
Journal of Agricultural Education, 45,106-116.
Retrieved November 10, 2006 from the World Wide
Web: http://pubs.aged.tamu.edu.
Bibliography
Fraenkel, J.R. & Wallen, N.E. (2006). Internal
Validity. How to design and evaluate
research in education (6th ed.,pp.168-186).
New York: McGraw Hill.
Parr, Brian & Edwards, Craig M. (2004).
Inquiry-Based Instruction in Secondary
Agricultural Education: Problem-Solving –
An Old Friend Revisited. Journal of
Agricultural Education, 45,106-116.
Retrieved November 10, 2006 from the
World Wide Web: http://pubs.aged.tamu.edu.