Historical Research

 Definition

Historical research is a qualitative technique. Historical research studies the meaning of past events in an attempt to interpret the facts and explain the cause of events, and their effect on the present events. In doing so, researchers rely heavily on primary historical data (direct accounts of events, archival data - official documents, personal records, and records of eyewitnesses) and less frequently on secondary historical data. Historical research enables you to explore and explain the meanings, phases, and characteristics of a phenomenon or process at a particular point of time in the past. We differentiate historical research as a research strategy from the research of history, which refers to research in the discipline of history.

Characteristics of the method

• The purpose is to gain a clearer understanding of the impact of the past on the present and future events related to the life process.
•  It is a critical investigation of events, their development, and experiences of the past.
•  Involves the review of written materials but may include oral documentation as well.
• It covers categories such as historical, legal documentary, bibliographical, biographical, institutional, and organizational.
• Typically relies on available data which are in the form of diaries, letters, newspapers, reports, and so on.
• Historical research involves the careful study and analysis of data about past events.

Main uses of the method

• A precondition for implementing historical research is verifying the ascertained facts, ensuring the credibility of the statement in the text, and ensuring the source reliability.
• Recognizing and determining divergences in different sources of information
• Recognizing and determining divergences among different researchers
• Identifying implicit conjectures
• Finding unclear or ambiguous statements or arguments
• Recognizing logical inconsistencies or ambiguities in argumentation
• Distinguishing between verified and unverified statements
• Determining the argument strength

Advantages of historical research

·         Permits investigation of topics and questions that can be studied in no other fashion.

·    Can make use of more categories of evidence than most other methods (with the exception of case studies and ethnographic studies).

·         The researchers do not interact with the subjects of the study.

  Disadvantages of historical research

·        Cannot control for threats to internal validity.

·        Limitations are imposed due to the content analysis.

·        Researchers cannot ensure the representation of the sample.