Historical Research

Da Lee CarylAED615

Investigations & Studies in Applied ResearchFall 2006

What is Historical Research?

• It is the procedure in which a researcher collects and evaluates data to understand reports or observation made by others.

• It test hypotheses concerning causes, effects or trends that may help to explain present events and anticipate future events.

Purpose of Historical Research• To learn from past successes

and failures.• Learn how things were done in

the past and apply them to current or future events.

• To assist in prediction.• Lead to the confirmation or

rejection of relational hypotheses.

• Understand the present practices and policies by understanding the history surrounding them.

Steps Involved in Historical Research

• Definition of the problem• Formulation of questions to be

answered or hypotheses to be tested.

• Systematic collection of data.– Primary Research– Secondary Research

• Evaluation of data.• Presenting and interpreting

the information as it relates to the hypotheses.

Sources of Information

• Primary– Eye or ear witnesses– Original documents such as

• Secondary– Copies of objects– Second hand information

» Textbooks» Periodicals» Newspapers» Encyclopedias» Review of research and other

references

Evaluating Historical Sources

• External Criticism– Authentic?– Genuine?

• Internal Criticism– Accurate?– Meaning?

External Criticism

• Who wrote the document?• For what purpose was the

document written?• When was the document

written?• Where was the document

written?• Under what conditions was the

document written?• Do different forms or versions

of the document exist?

Internal Criticism

• What was meant by the author?

• How much credibility can be given to the author?

• What was the author trying to say?

• How could the authors word be interpreted?

• Does the document contain bias of any sort?

Data Analysis in Historical Research

• Methodology to synthesize a very large amount of data into a meaningful narrative

• Organize information into categories

• Locate patterns or themes• Develop a coding system

Advantages of Historical Research

• Allows investigation of topics and questions that can be studied in no other way.

• Study evidence from the past.

• Make use of different kinds of evidence.

• Provide a rich source of information.

Disadvantages of Historical Research

• Threats to internal validity• Limitations of the sample

and instrumentation• Can not ensure

representativeness of the sample

• Unable to check the reliability and validity

• Bias of the researcher

An Example of Historical Research

This study compared the similarities between inquiry-based and problem-solving methods and their potential for improving student performance. The data was collected by collating research reported by both science and agricultural educators who had investigated and applied both the inquiry-based and problem-solving methods to increase student success. The literature reviewed included dissertations, national reports, articles from professional journals and magazines, books, on-line Internet and other related resources.

Parr, Brian & Edwards, Craig M. (2004). Inquiry-Based Instruction in Secondary Agricultural Education: Problem-Solving – An Old Friend Revisited. Journal of Agricultural Education, 45,106-116. Retrieved November 10, 2006 from the World Wide Web: http://pubs.aged.tamu.edu.

BibliographyFraenkel, J.R. & Wallen, N.E. (2006).

Internal Validity. How to design and evaluate research in education (6th ed.,pp.168-186). New York: McGraw Hill.

Parr, Brian & Edwards, Craig M. (2004). Inquiry-Based Instruction in Secondary Agricultural Education: Problem-Solving – An Old Friend Revisited. Journal of Agricultural Education, 45,106-116. Retrieved November 10, 2006 from the World Wide Web: http://pubs.aged.tamu.edu.