Historical Research Asking the Right Questions about basic

Historical Research

Asking the Right Questions about basic facts: What was going on? Questions about definition: What is it? Questions about evaluation: How do you evaluate the facts and the definition? Questions about policy: What should be done?

Purpose of research To organize facts to understand the historical context To define body of facts to understand the nature of a problem To evaluate the historical event in terms of certain criteria To propose a solution to a problem

Problem question Research begins with stating the focal question you are trying to answer Initially, the problem question may be more general The problem question may be modified in light of information discovered and made more specific

Things to consider Is problem adaptable to critical and historical methodologies? Is the problem significant? To what extent is information available on this question?

What information is needed? Generate questions which arise from the problem question What kinds of information could provide answers to these questions? How can you get access to this information?

Historical methodology Historical “facts” as they might be known at the time Historical documents: any original written, auditory, or visual record E. g. : government reports, newspaper article, transcript of a speech, diary, letter Historical research: blends facts from various sources into lucid and flowing narrative.

Sources Primary material comes from original sources Secondary sources are compilations and interpretations of material from various sources

Tests of evidence Was source in position to perceive the event? Freedom from bias? Was source intellectually capable to perceive it? Interpret it? Was evidence clear, concise, intelligible? Is evidence supported by evidence from other sources?

Evaluating each source Relevant facts and content to research interest Authority and credibility of the source: reliability Timeliness of the evidence Quality of the source: writing, accuracy, and thoroughness

Print sources Books Periodicals Academic and professional journals Magazines Newspapers Bibliographies and Indexes Encyclopedias

Non-print sources Internet Search engines Computer databases CD-ROMS Electronic databases Interviewing

Example Speech by Adlai Stevenson, United States Ambassador to the United Nations Speech to the U. N. Security Council on the Cuban Missile Crisis

Finding scholarly materials online http: //zimmer. csufresno. edu/~johnca/spch 142/07 s-netresearch-tools. htm