Steps Involved in

Historical Research

Four Essential Steps

Defining the problem
Locating relevant sources
Summarizing information
obtained from historical sources
Evaluation of historical sources

Step 1: Defining The

Problem
The purpose of a historical study is to
describe clearly and accurately some
aspect of the past as it related to
education and/or schooling. Historical
research aim more than to just describe;
they want to go beyond description to
clarify and explain, and sometimes to
correct.

Step 1: Defining The

Problem
1. They should be clearly and concisely
stated, manageable, have a
defensible rationale, and (if possible)
investigate a hypothesized
relationship among variables
2. A problem may be selected for study
which insufficient data are available
a. Often important data of interest
(certain kinds of documents, such as
diaries or maps, from a particular period)

Step 1: Defining The

Problem
3. It is better to study a well-defined
problem in depth that is perhaps more
narrow
4. Rather than a more broadly stated
problem that cannot be sharply defined,
or fully resolved
5. The nature of the problem or
hypothesis guides the study
6. If it is well defined, the investigator is

Step 2: Locating
Relevant Sources
Once a researcher has decided on the problem
or the question he or she wishes to investigate,
the search for sources begins. In general,
however, historical source material can be
grouped into four basic categories:
1. Documents
2. Numerical Records
3. Oral Statements
4. Relics

Documents
Are written or printed materials that
have been produced in some form or
another.

Examples
Annual Reports
Books
Court records
Diaries

Examples
Diplomas
Newspapers
Magazines
Yearbooks
Memos
Tests
ETC.

Numerical Records
Numerical or quantitative records can be
considered either as a separate type of
source in and of themselves or as a
subcategory of documents

Examples
Test scores
Attendance figures
Census reports
School budgets
ETC.

Oral Statements
- Stories, myths, tales, legends, chants,
songs, and other form of oral expression
have been used by people down through
the ages to leave a record for future
generations
- Historians also conduct oral interviews
with people who were a part of or
witnessed past events

Relics
Any object whose physical or visual
characteristics can provide some
information about the past.

Examples
furniture
artwork
clothing
buildings
monuments
equipment
ETC.

Primary vs. Secondary

Sources
Primary source - Is one prepared by an
individual who was a participant in or a direct
witness to the event being described
Secondary source - A document prepared by
an individual who was not a direct witness to
an event, but obtained his or her description
of the event from someone else

Primary vs. Secondary

Sources
Whenever possible, historians (like other
researchers) want to use primary rather than
secondary sources
Unfortunately, primary sources are
admittedly more difficult to acquire,
especially the further back in time the
researcher searches
Secondary sources are of necessity,
therefore, used quite extensively in historical
research