What is History?•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
What is Historical Research?
•Systematic collection and evaluation of data to describe, explain, and thereby understand actions or events that occurred sometime in the past.
•No manipulation or control of variables and primarily focuses in the past.
Views on the Values of Historical Research
Nietzsche's View of the Value of Historical Studies and Methods
Nietzsche is generally regarded as a severe and hostile critic of historical studies, and it is possible that the expression "historical sickness" (historische Krankheit) was made current through him.
Views on the Values of Historical Research?
•Other people believe that we can never truly understand the events in the past in the sense that evidences from the past are questionable
The Purpose of Historical Research
•To test hypothesis concerning relationships or trends and to assist in prediction.
•To make people aware of what has happened in the past so they may learn from past failures and successes.
Some Examples:
How were students educated in the South during the Civil War?
What was instruction like in a typical fourth-grade classroom 100 years ago?
How have working condi-tions for teachers changed
since 1900?
Characteristics of Historical Research
•aim for critical search for truth.• The aim of contemporary history is to conceptualise, contextualise and historicise – to explain –
• There is no agreed definition of what time period constituted contemporary history has existed – or can exist.
Characteristics of Historical Research
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.
Steps/ Methods of Historical Research
Marikit, Shynne Marie P.Ramirez, Christian JirehVuelban, Vanessa Marie
Historical ResearchElusive Subject-matter
• the past, and the peculiarly difficult task of interpretation which this is elusive nature of then subject matter
Defining the Problem•To describe clearly and accurately some aspect of the past as it related to education and/or schooling.
• Take a look one by one at the important motives or reasons which caused you to doubt or to get interested about certain gaps in knowledge in relation to a past event or experience.
Focus
individuals
institutions curricula
facilities
textbooks
projects or programs
procedureseventsconceptsstructures
and processes
phenomenaideas
Defining the Problem
Time in a given setting and culture
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.
Defining the ProblemExamples:•“The Schooling Process in First Grade: Two Samples a Decade Apart”
•“Origins of the Modern Social Studies”
Gathering of Source Materials
•varied evidences of the activities engaged in by people who lived in the past.
•Are written or printed materials that have been produced in some form or another
•may be published or unpublished•may be intended for private or public consumption
•may be original works or copies.
Documents
•artwork, bills, books, cartoons, circulars, court records, diaries, diplomas, legal records, newspapers, magazines, notebooks, school yearbooks, memos, tests, and so on.
Documents
•Either as separate type of source in and of themselves or as subcategory of documents.
•Any type of numerical data in printed form
Numerical Records
•Forms of oral expression have been used by people through the ages to leave a record for future generation.
Oral Statements
•Any object whose physical or visual characteristics can provide some information.
Records and Relics
Classification of Historical Sources
•Primary source is regarded as the source of the “best evidence”.
Ex. One prepared by an individual who a participant was in or a direct witness to the event being described.
Classification of Historical Sources•Secondary source are information
supplied by a person who was not a direct observer or participant of the event, object, or condition. Ex. 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.
Classification of Historical Sources
•Deliberate sources (preserve information)
•Inadvertent sources(making accurate inferences to
interpret the material)
Criticisms of Data
EXTERNAL CRITICISM
INTERNAL CRITICISM
Involves finding out if the source material is genuine and if it possesses textual integrity (Gay, et al., 1972)
- Concerned with the accuracy and meaning of the data contained in the document.
- Textual criticism
EXTERNAL CRITICISM
“Is it genuine?”
a. Who was the author?
b. What were his general qualifications as a reporter?
c. What were his special qualifications and disqualifications as a reporter of theMatters treated here?
Good and Scates (1972)
EXTERNAL CRITICISM
“Is it genuine?”
d. How soon after the events was the document written?
e. How was the document written?
f. How is the document related to other documents?
Good and Scates (1972)
INTERNAL CRITICISM
“What does it mean?”
“What was the author attempting to say?”
“What thought was the author trying to convey?”
“What inferences or interpretation could be extracted from the words?”
1 Literal meaning and real meaning of statements
2 Competence of the Observer
Tests of Truthfulness and Honesty3
- Words do not have the same meaning to all people
“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?”
1 Literal meaning and real meaning of statements
2 Competence of the Observer
Tests of Truthfulness and Honesty3
- Words do not have the same meaning to all people
“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?”
Writing of Historical Research1. Effective historical writing
2. Working Outline
-guide the selection and arrangement of notes
3. Progression- should employ a thesis as a theory of causation
to explain cause and effect relationships (Good and Scates, 1972)
Writing of Historical Research4. Emphasis on Major Elements
5. Art of Narration and Science of History- science of research and literary art are essential
6. Dramatization, Rhetoric and Style- Should possess the characteristics of a good story
Strengths of Historical ResearchIt is the only research method that can be study evidence from
the past
It can make use of a wider range of evidence than most other methods
provides an alternative and perhaps richer source of information on topics that can also be studied with other
methodologies.
Limitations of Historical Research
the measures used in other methods of control for threats of internal validity are simple not possible in historical study.
The possibility of bias
Requires much more than digging up good material
Historical research can only give a fractional view of the past
Limitations of Historical ResearchSome scholars contend that history requires a different
method and interpretation because of its elusive subject matter
the absence of technical terminology
Historians cannot agree, too, on the extent to which they can make generalizations
History is life
A Historical Study on the Growth and Development of the
Elementary Department of Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Manila, 1971
– 2001: An Initial AttemptAngelita M. Delos Reyes
Philippine Normal University
The thesis aims to know the historical background of
Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Intramuros, Manila from
the time it was established up to 2001(the time that the
paper was made). It also attempted to trace and document
the Growth and Development of the elementary
department of the said school. The findings is said to be the
basis to develop implications to management.
The study led to a conclusion that setting clear goals can
help the success of the school. Providing quality services,
maintenance and motivational needs to students, to ensure
the best delivery of educational services. And making every
entity in the school feels that they are the stakeholder in the
institution through participative planning, organization,
implementation and evaluation of all school programs.
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