Historical Comparative Research

							Historical-Comparative
             Research
   Neuman and Robson Ch. 14
    Value of Historical Research

   It throws light on present and future trends.

   It enables understanding of and solutions to
    contemporary problems to be sought in the past.

   It can illuminate the effects of key interactions within a
    culture or sub-culture.

   It allows for the revaluation of data in relation to
    selected hypotheses, theories and generalizations that
    are presently held about the past and the present.
Steps in a Historical-Comparative
Research Project

   1. Conceptualization of an idea, topic, or
    research question
   2. Locate evidence and do background
    literature review
   3. Evaluate evidence
   4. Organize evidence
   5. Synthesize evidence and develop general
    explanatory model
   6. Develop a narrative exposition of the
    findings
Data Sources


   Primary Sources:
       first-hand or eyewitness observations of
        phenomenon
   Secondary Sources:
       second-hand observation, i.e. the author collected
        the data from eyewitnesses.
   Running Records
       Statistics, gov’t data
   Recollections
What is Oral History?

 Video   clip:
    The Oral History Research Method
Oral History
   Oral history interviewing is valuable for history,
    anthropology, and folklore.
   Collects information about the past from observers
    and participants in that past.
   Gathers data not available in written records about
    events, people, decisions, and processes.
   Can show how individual values and actions shaped
    the past, and how the past shapes present-day
    values and actions.
   Methodological problem:
       Oral history interviews are grounded in memory, and
        memory is a subjective instrument for recording the past,
        always shaped by the present moment and the individual
        psyche.
Why Collect Oral Histories?
   Listen to Alice Nixon Cooper (104 years old)
    and her recollections of the American south
    and “the Jim Crow days”
Evaluating Sources


   External Criticism:
       Appraises the authenticity and authorship of the
        data source


   Internal Criticism:
       Appraises the meaning and intent of the data
        source
Types Of Historical Research


   A. Historical Events Research
       examines particular events or processes that
        occurred over short spans of time
       Methodological problems
           Meanings may have changed
           Information may not be complete
Types (cont.)

   B. Historical Process Research
       focus on how and why a series of events unfolded
        over some period of time
       Methodological problems:
           May place too much emphasis on the actions and
            decisions of particular actors
           Not always clear which example represents general
            pattern
           definitions may change over time
           relies on long-term records and archives
Types (cont.)

   C. Cross-Sectional Comparative Research
       comparing two or more social settings or groups
        (usually countries) at one particular point in time
       Methodological problems:
           comparability of measures across countries
    Types (cont.)
   D. Comparative Historical Research
     combines historical process research
    and cross-sectional comparative research
     To understand causal processes at work within
      particular groups and to identify general historical
      patterns across groups
     Methodological problems:
           history has not been recorded accurately or reliably
           difficult to know how to deal with exceptions
           difficult to conclude that one factor (and not others) is
            what causes some outcome
           groups being compared may not be independent
            (Galton’s Problem)
Equivalence in Historical
Research

   How can we make comparisons across
    diverse contexts (both in time and
    geography)?
   Lexicon equivalence
   Contextual equivalence
   Conceptual equivalence
   Measurement equivalence
Weaknesses of Historical Method

   1. Bias in interpreting historical sources.
   2. Interpreting sources is very time
    consuming.
   3. Sources of historical materials may be
    problematic
   4. Lack of control over external variables
Strengths of Historical Method

   1. The historical method is unobtrusive
   2. The historical method is well suited for
    trend analysis.
   3. There is no possibility of researcher-
    subject interaction.
    Interesting Internet Sites on
    Historical Research
   Multimedia History Tutorials at U. of Calgary
    http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/
   Where To Do Historical Research (Links)
    http://www.wheretodoresearch.com/History.htm
   History On-Line
    http://www.ihrinfo.ac.uk/search/welcome.html
   University of Washington History Site
    http://www.lib.washington.edu/subject/History/
   Oral History Digital Collection Youngstown State U.
    http://www.maag.ysu.edu/oralhistory/oral_hist.html
   Oral History Project List Columbia University
    http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/indiv/oral/projects.html