Planning the Historical Research Paper: An Overview by Dr. Brian Ebie

Dr. Brian D. Ebie

An Overview

© 2015 Dr. Brian Ebie. All rights reserved

"Da Da Dah Dahhh; Dah Dah Da; Da Da Dah Dahhh ...„*

*The Raiders of the Lost Ark Theme. Now it’s in your head.

The Historical MethodA great definition!

“Historical research is the systematic collection and objective evaluation of data related to past occurrences in order to test hypotheses concerning causes, effects, or trends of those events to explain present events and anticipate future events.” (Gay, 1996)


The Historical Method

Historical research is not:

“The Life and Times of Genghis Kahn.”

A simple retelling of historical facts/figures.

Unscientific

Easy

Always “fact”Interpretation based on observable/researchable evidence. It’s hard to ask



Definition of a Problem

The best historical research problems are formulated to explain or predict, not to rehash.

The purpose should be to discover new knowledge and/or expand existing knowledge.

Should be of narrow focus.

Especially when looking into the past, the temptation to “cast a wide net” is alluring.

It becomes too easy to get distracted by other information which may, on the periphery, touch your subject, but is not necessarily relevant.

Data Collection

The term “review of literature” takes on a different meaning in historical research.

Do you need to see original sources?

Identification, acquisition, and review of such literature can be more difficult in historical research.

Original documents may be in the form of: legal documents, records, minutes, letters, photos, works etc.


Data Collection—conditions

Travel to get to collections/locations. = $$$

An examination of relics/remains.

May also involve interviews with people involved. (conditions?)

Holocaust survivors (More than a thousand Holocaust survivors pass away

every month)

War Veterans (According to statistics released by the Veteran's Administration,

our World War II vets are dying at a rate of approximately 492 a day)

Again… given this new info… why have a narrow focus?


http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4481508,00.html

Data Collection

As much as possible, look to direct sources for information.

Verify that your source is the item, or the closest thing to it…

Remember the oft-repeated mantra (at least in this powerpoint… to narrow your focus?

Know (or have a good idea of) what you’re looking for before you get to the location, and be prepared…



Data Analysis: External and Internal Criticism

Are your data authentic? Did so and so really write this or that? (external)

Are your data accurate? Has something been taken out of context and differently applied? (internal)

Without this solid theoretical framework and evaluation of data, your project can become a disaster in a hurry…



Internal Criticism: 4 factors Knowledge and Competence of the author of a document, painting, score.

Time Delay. How much time passed between the event’s occurrence and the recording of the facts?

Bias and Motives of the Author. People are often unreliable. They will distort, amplify, and remember what they want to remember.

Consistency of Data. Compare each piece of evidence with other pieces of evidence. Do they agree?


Historical Data Arrangement

Dimension of Historical TimeChronology of events, actions, timelines

Dimension of Historical SpaceWhat about the location made the event unique? (examples?)


Data Synthesis

As with a review of related literature, historical data should be organized and synthesized.

Conclusions and generalizations should be formulated.

Summarization of historical research data involves logical analysis. The researcher should remain as objective as possible.


Data Synthesis

It is always a good idea to use the “Researcher’s Baloney Detection Kit.”

Remember this one?Independent confirmation of the “facts.”

Don’t be afraid to ask someone else to review your interpretations…



Data Synthesis

During data interpretation, the narrow focus of your thesis statement/research problem will help you—you’ve delimited the points of exposure to unsupported conclusions.

You can say “this is what I studied, this is what I found.”

Still, there will be detractors and supporters...



Discussion Questions

Any limitations to historical research?

Describe some examples of documents, relics, and oral testimony concerning contemporary primary or secondary education.

Brown v. Board of Education

Tinker v. Des Moines Independent School District (1969)

