Social Historical Research

9.1 Describe the techniques of historical research and analysis

The passage discusses the techniques of historical research and analysis, emphasizing the distinction between historical research and mere recollection or nostalgia. It defines historical research as an interpretive account of past events, aiming to provide theoretical explanations for historical phenomena. Social historical research, a perspective within historical research, focuses on understanding and explaining social life in historical settings. The text highlights the importance of considering the historical context when studying past events and cautions against imposing modern interpretations on historical information. It also mentions that historical research aims to uncover the unknown, answer specific questions, and assess past activities to aid in understanding human culture. The passage stresses the need for careful interpretation of historical sources within their historical time frames, considering changes in language, connotations, and cultural meanings over time. Additionally, it discusses the significance of historical research in revealing the evolution of symbols, practices, and names, including those reflecting past values and assumptions such as racism and sexism.

9.2 Explain how life history is similar to social history

The passage discusses the similarities between life history and social history, noting that researchers conducting life histories encounter challenges akin to those faced by social historians. Life histories, viewed as variations of traditional depth interviewing, may involve constructing a life history through in-depth interviews and seeking external evidence for corroboration. This process mirrors the approach of social historians who assess the motives of document authors. The analysis of documents, including diaries or manifestos, involves evaluating the author's identity and motives, resembling the work of historiographers. The passage emphasizes that concerns related to document analysis are integral to various forms of historical research and highlights the parallel between life histories and archival unobtrusive strategies. The perspective presented suggests that depth interview-based or documentary-based life histories are valuable data elements within a broader historiographic analysis. The passage concludes by inviting further exploration of the types and sources of data used in historical research.

9.3 Recall the primary, secondary, or tertiary sources of data as used by social historians

The passage outlines the sources of data for historical researchers, categorizing them into primary, secondary, or tertiary sources. Primary sources involve firsthand oral or written testimony from eyewitnesses and include documents, photographs, recordings, diaries, and other artifacts produced at the time of the event. Secondary sources consist of testimony from individuals not present at the event and include textbooks, encyclopedias, oral histories compiled by others, journal articles, and aggregated information about groups. Tertiary sources involve distilled primary or secondary information presented in collections or anthologies, such as almanacs, dictionaries, and bibliographies, but are typically used for background rather than considered valid as data. The passage emphasizes the importance of these sources in social historical research and their role in providing insights into specific time periods.

9.4 Outline the procedure of choosing the sources of historical data

The passage discusses the procedure for selecting historical data sources in the context of historiography. It begins by emphasizing the initial steps of identifying a research idea, conducting a literature review, and refining research questions. The focus then shifts to historical methods as the data collection process, involving the identification and evaluation of primary and secondary data sources. The researcher is advised to assess the authenticity and accuracy of source materials through external and internal criticism. External criticism involves verifying the genuineness of documents or artifacts, considering factors like authorship, production details, and potential forgeries. Internal criticism delves into the meaning of statements or artifacts, exploring the author's intent, inferences, and accuracy. The importance of separating historical research from archival unobtrusive measures is highlighted, emphasizing the need for rigorous evaluations to ensure valid and reliable information. The passage concludes by underlining the role of analysis and synthesis in interpreting data and developing a narrative exposition based on patterns and insights uncovered during the research process.

9.5 Explain how oral history serves as a source of research data

Oral history, a crucial aspect of social research, involves recording and preserving the life experiences and narratives of individuals, often with a focus on those whose stories might be overlooked. This method goes beyond traditional academic studies, as interviewers, termed "narrators," delve into the personal accounts of living people, preserving cultural nuances and individual perspectives. Unlike conventional research where participants are considered "subjects," oral history acknowledges narrators.

The oral historian must possess background knowledge related to the interview subject, entering the process with an understanding of the context. The collected data is narrative in nature, emphasizing the importance of storytelling over a mere collection of facts. Narratives are identified based on the narrator's details, such as name, age, ethnicity, and relevant characteristics. Oral history serves not only as a historical record but also as a means of cultural preservation and empowerment.

In the context of research, oral history offers a dynamic and unobtrusive approach. It becomes a reality check, especially in documenting oppression where official records might be unreliable. Examples include the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in post-apartheid South Africa and projects like The New York Public Library’s Oral History Project, which captures the history of Harlem from the ground up.

Oral history data, whether collected through original interviews or accessed from archives, provides a unique perspective, escaping the limitations of official documents. The advent of the Internet has significantly increased accessibility to oral history archives, allowing researchers to explore a wide range of topics. These narratives serve as valuable primary sources, offering insights into everyday life, unreported experiences, and historical events.

Oral history narratives contribute to data triangulation, complementing written documents and providing a lifeline between the past and present. Researchers can analyze these narratives to understand social dynamics, cultural adaptations, and historical contexts. Archives, both online and physical, house transcribed and published oral histories, offering a wealth of information on various subjects, from personal life stories to accounts of historical events. The use of oral histories and biographical data has been instrumental in bringing marginalized voices, such as those of women, into focus, repairing historical records, and providing a more comprehensive understanding of social groups. Overall, oral history serves as a powerful tool in historical research, offering a nuanced and diverse perspective on the past.

9.6 Why it Works: Historical research and oral histories, akin to other unobtrusive methods, boast high validity. The data stands independently of the researcher's specific inquiries, presenting an authentic narrative of the subject. Oral history interviews, in particular, excel in validity as interviewers grant narrators the time and space to delve deeply into their experiences, capturing what was personally significant to them, rather than imposing external priorities.

Moreover, historical research permits triangulation by integrating multiple records and artifacts, enabling the reconstruction of events and ideas under study.

9.7 Why It Fails: Social historical and oral tradition research may encounter limitations and failures. The information accessible could be restricted, subject to censorship by official and unofficial sources, and predominantly cover irrelevant topics. Historical records may suffer loss or destruction, leaving researchers to work with what remains. Even oral histories, in such circumstances, may reflect narrators' attempts to reshape the past through their own perspectives.

Autoethnography: I remember Professor Casso talking about doing one of these with your grandparents if they are still living and I do feel like I need to do that especially with my grandpa who worked in the US for years and now lives happily in Mexico. I appreciate how feminist this method is because you are fully hearing from the things that people are sharing with you, and they have the power to do that.

Works Cited

Lune, Howard. 2021. Qualitative Research Methods for the Social Sciences, 9th edition. Sage Publications.