Historical Research

Historical Research is the systematic and objective evaluation and synthesis of evidence in order to establish facts and draw conclusions about past events.

1. Historical Research Miss Hemangi Narvekar Clinical Psychologist

2. CONTENTS Introduction Purpose Hypothesis Characteristics Steps Sources Of Data Problems and Weaknesses Writing Historical Report Strengths & Criticisms Conclusion References

3. Introduction History - It usually refers simply to an account of the past of human societies. It is the study of what “can be known…(to the historian)… through the surviving record.” It is a meaningful record of human achievement. It is used to understand the past and to try to understand the present in light of past events and developments. Research-The systematic, rigorous investigation of a situation  or  problem  in  order to generate new knowledge or validate existing knowledge.

4. Historical Research Historical research - Defined as the systematic and objective evaluation and synthesis of evidence in order to establish facts and draw conclusions about past events. Wiersma (1986) defines historical research as a process of critical inquiry into past events, in order to produce an accurate description and interpretation of those events. Historical research problems are identified in the same way as problems of other types of researches. It is much better to study in-depth a well-defined problem with one or more specific well stated questions or hypotheses, than to investigate either too broadly stated problems or a problem for which insufficient data are available (Gay,1997).

5. Purpose Historical research involves studying, understanding and interpreting past events. The purpose of historical research is to reach insights or conclusions about past persons or occurrences. Historical research entails more than simply compiling and presenting factual information; it also requires interpretation of the information.

6. Typically, histories focuses on particular individuals, social issues and links between the old and the new. Some historical research is aimed at reinterpreting prior historical works by revising existing understandings and replacing them with new, often politically charged ones.  The main emphasis in historical research is on interpretation of documents, diaries and the like. Historical data are categorized into primary or secondary sources.

7. To make people aware of what has happened in the past in order to:- Learn from past failures & successes Apply them to present-day problems Make predictions Test hypothesis concerning relationship Understand present educational practices & policies more fully.

8. Hypothesis Hypotheses are relational propositions. (Kerlinger, 1956) Hypothesis is a tentative explanation that accounts for a set of facts and can be tested by further investigation. Although hypothesis are not always explicitly stated in historical investigation, they are usually implied. The historian gathers evidence and carefully evaluates its trustworthiness. If the evidence is compatible with the consequences of hypothesis , it is confirmed and vice-versa.

9. Characteristics 1. It is not a mere accumulation of facts and data or even a portrayal of past events. 2. 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. 3. Conducting historical research involves the process of collecting and reading the research material collected and writing the manuscript from the data collected. The researcher often goes back-and-forth between collecting, reading, and writing. i.e. the process of data collection and analysis are done simultaneously are not two distinct phases of research .

10. 4. It deals with discovery of data that already exists and does not involve creation of data using structured tools. 5. It is analytical in that it uses logical induction. 6. It has a variety of foci such as issues, events, movements and concepts. 7. It records and evaluates the accomplishments of individuals, agencies or institutions.

11. Steps in Historical Research 1. Identifying a topic/subject and defining the problems/questions to be investigated. 2. Searching for sources of data. 3. Evaluating the historical sources. 4. Analyze, synthesize and summarize interpreting the data / information. 5. Writing the research report.

12. Sources of Data One of the principle differences between historical research and other forms of research is that historical research must deal with data that already exist. Sources of data in historical research may be classified into two main categories: 1. Primary Sources - which are the life-blood of historical research 2. Secondary Sources - which may be used in the absence of or to supplement, primary data

13. Primary Sources Primary sources are eyewitness accounts. They are reported by an actual observer or participant in an event. In other words, primary sources are tangible materials that provide a description of an historical event and were produced shortly after the event happened. They have a direct physical relationship to the event being studied.

14. The remains or relics The remains or relics are objects associated with a person, group or period. These could include photographs, coins, skeletons, fossils, tools, weapons, utensils, furniture, buildings and pieces of art and culture . Though these were not originally meant for transmitting information to future generations they could prove very useful sources in providing reliable and sound evidence about the past. Most of these relics provide non-verbal information.

15. (ii) Documents Documents are the records kept and written by actual participants in, and witnesses of, an event. Constitutions Charters Laws Court decisions Official minutes or records Autobiographies Letters Diaries

16. Genealogies Census information Contracts Deeds Wills Permits Licenses Affidavits Depositions Declarations Proclamations Catalogs Films Pictures Certificates Handbills Bills Receipts Advertisements Maps Diagrams Books Pamphlets Inscriptions Recordings Paintings Transcriptions Research reports

17. (iii) Oral Testimony Oral testimony is the spoken account of a witness of, or participant in, an event. This evident is obtained in a personal interview and may be recorded or transcribed as the witness relates his or her experiences.

18. Secondary Sources Secondary sources are accounts of an event not actually witnessed by the reporter. The reporter may have talked with an actual observer or read an account by an observer. In short, it is the second hand information. These sources are those that do not bear a direct physical relationship to the event being studied. They include the data which are not original.

19. Examples of secondary sources are- Textbooks Encyclopedias Reference books Newspapers Periodicals Replicas of art objects or paintings Best (1970) points out that secondary sources of data are usually of limited worth because of the errors that result when information is passed on from one person to another.

20. Problems & Weaknesses to be avoided in Historical Research The problem of research should not be too broad. It should be selected after ensuring that sources of data are existent, accessible and in a language known to the researcher. Excessive use of easy-to-find secondary sources of data should be avoided. Though locating primary sources of data time-consuming and requires efforts, they are usually more trustworthy. Adequate internal and external criticism of sources of historical data is very essential for establishing the authenticity and validity of the data. The researcher needs to be aware of his/her own personal values, interests and biases.

21. She/he should avoid unwarranted causal inferences arising on account of (i) oversimplification (causes of historical event may be multiple, complex and interactive), (ii) Faulty interpretation of meanings of words, (iii) inability to distinguish between facts, opinions and situations, (iv) inability to identify and discard irrelevant or unimportant facts and (v) Faulty generalization based on inadequate evidence, faulty logic and reasoning in the analysis of data, use of wrong analogy and faulty comparison of events in un similar cultures. The researcher needs to synthesize facts into meaningful chronological patterns. The report should be written in a logical and scientific manner. The researcher should avoid projecting current problems onto historical events as this is likely to create distortions.

22. Writing Historical Report It is an extremely difficult task to take pieces of information and synthesize them into meaningful whole. In a historical research, data collection is flexible. Research reports should be written in dignified and objective style. The historian is permitted a little more freedom in reporting. There are several board ways of reporting historical investigation as follows : i ) The researcher can report the historical facts as answers to different research questions. Answer to each question could be reported in a separate chapter.

23. ii) He / she can present the facts in a chronological order with each chapter pertaining to a specific historical period chronologically. iii) Report can also written in a thematic manner where each chapter deals with a specific theme / topic. iv) Chapter could also pertain to specific historical persons separately v) The researcher can also combine different approaches while writing the research report. In addition, the report should contain a chapter each on introduction, methodology, review of related literature, findings, the researcher’s interpretations and reflections on the interpretative process. Historical research is difficult and demanding.

24. Strengths The historical method is unobtrusive. It enables solutions to contemporary problems to be sought in the past. It throws light on present and future trends. It stresses the relative importance and the effects of the various interactions that are to be found within all cultures. It allows for the revaluation of data in relation to selected hypotheses, theories and generalizations that are presently held about the past. Many current educational practices, theories and issues can be better understood in the light of past experiences.

25. Limitations Bias in interpreting historical sources Interpreting sources is very time consuming. Sources of historical materials may be problematic. Lack of control over external variables. Since historical research relies on data from the past, there is no way to manipulate it.  Studying the grades of older students, for example, and younger students may provide some insight into the differences between these two groups, but manipulating the work experience is impossible.  Historical research cannot collect data by administering instruments. It is limited to whatever data are available.

26. Conclusion Historical research involves analyses of events that occurred in the remote or recent past. Historical research is necessary to define the situations of the past and its meaning in the light of the present problem. It can provide a perspective for decision making about educational problems, and it assists in understanding why things are as they are. Issues are often better understood and probably better dealt with-if the historical perspective is known.

27. References Book References Best, J.W.,& Kahn, J.V. (2006). Research in Education (10 th ed.). New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc. Elmes, D., Kantowitz, B. H., & Roediger, H. L. III.(2006). Research Methods in Psychology . Australia: Thomson/Wadsworth Learning. Web References Historical research, retrieved from http://allpsych.com/researchmethods/historicalresearch/ On December 29, 2014 at 12.09 pm Historical research, retrieved from http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/historical-research-design-definition-advantages-limitations.html On December 29, 2014 at 11.44 am Historical research, retrieved from http://www.angelfire.com/theforce/shu_cohort_viii/images/Historical-research-2005_1_.pdf On December 31,2014 at 4.21 pm

28. Acknowledgments Author acknowledges Ribea , Vibha , Akshaya , Avina for her valuable inputs.