Historical research is a type of qualitative research in which information is obtained from past records of events and is interpreted in a way that it provides institutions with valuable insights to plan the future cultural, political, and social dynamics. The historical information is rigorously criticised by different methods before analysis and assessment. In this type of research, the researcher does not collect the data but relies on primary and secondary sources for those sources.
What is Historical Research
The historical records that are accessed for this research mainly refer to historical events, people, and documents. However, it is not merely a collection of these records but an extensive analysis of the subject matter. This analysis is performed with a very keen and impartial mind because the past can not be rewritten in order to fit the researcher’s ideas, it has to be observed with a very objective approach.
One of the famous historical researches was conducted by Max Weber regarding the social and religious system comparison of China and Western Europe. Besides this, wars and revolutions are also analysed to provide lessons and knowledge to guide future strategies and give an understanding of those global events. For example, it could be a research that answers the question, ‘What caused an outbreak of polio in the past that may contribute to the outbreaks of today?’
How is historical research implemented: tools and techniques
After coming up with a research question or hypothesis, there are three steps involved in the research
Step 1- Data collection:
During the first step, a comprehensive collection of raw data is gathered from primary and secondary sources.
Primary sources of information are first hand information- objects, people or groups that were present during the event, textual or oral accounts of the event recorded by a direct witness (letters, songs, photographs), laws, wills, official records, newspapers, etc. These can be found in public libraries, universities and historical societies.
Secondary sources of data are second hand accounts of past events like biographies, textbooks, encyclopaedias, that help the research create a comprehensive picture of the event in the absence of a direct witness.
Step 2- Criticism of data:
After curating the data, the job of the researcher is to check the validity of the information. This includes applying external and internal criticism on the information to verify its accuracy.
External criticism means checking the origin of the information- whether it is from a reliable source or not. Historical text can be easily manipulated digitally so if the papers are obtained in a digital form, they must be double checked. There is also AI technology available to check the validity of the sources by looking at the papers.
Internal criticism is done by going through the content of the information obtained. By keeping an unbiased approach and using their own historical knowledge, the meaning of the data is speculated. The researcher must have a sound knowledge about the author’s authenticity, ethics and the biases of that time period to confirm whether the information is true or not. It can also be compared with other accounts of the same event.
Step 3- Presentation of findings:
In order to make sure the hypothesis is right or wrong, the researcher must rely on their logic because there is no statistical data to prove it. The data must be presented in a manner that it does not highlight some facts while hiding others (there should be lesser emphasis on secondary data). Personal bias and overgeneralization has to be avoided so that a clear picture is obtained, while interpreting the words of that time period correctly in that context.
Advantages of historical research
- Historical research is extremely useful because the deductions can be used to implement policies that affect geopolitics, society, economic development, community building, etc. Global politics is still influenced by events in the past so a deep understanding can help propel a nation’s policy making in the right direction.
- The research is not involved in the event that is being studied so the retrospective view provides a clearer perspective.
- As the researcher does not directly interact with the subjects of the study, they have no influence on the results and can exercise their logic on pure facts (after confirming their validity).
Limitations of historical research
- The data records can be destroyed by time and it is hard to access them in their original condition.
- It is very difficult to source valid information because it can not be traced back to a person without a significant effort.
- Triangulating the hypothesis is also an arduous task because finding a second source to back up the research data is very difficult.
- Information can be biassed and there is no way of proving that it is not
Conclusion
Even though there are a lot of gaps in the research regarding the authenticity of information, historical research is an important component of a nation’s progress. Learning from history and making the present generation informed about the past is a crucial task for the correct policy making. Learn about other qualitative studies here. It can be difficult to source data during this process so getting extra help can accelerate your research process and help you meet the deadline.
