Historical Research Methods

The study of the methods historians use to research and write history, including critical examination of sources and interpretations.

Materials created during the period being studied; firsthand accounts or direct evidence (e.g., documents, artifacts, letters).

Interpretations and analyses of primary sources, offering commentary or restatements (e.g., books, articles, documentaries).

Assigning meaning and significance to past events, constructing arguments and drawing conclusions from historical sources.

Focuses on economic and social structures, class relations, and material conditions of the past.

Emphasizes the experiences and perspectives of ordinary people, including marginalized groups, in historical study.

The relationship between cause and effect in historical events; identifying factors that contributed to specific outcomes.

Dividing history into distinct periods or eras, often defined by major events, trends, or turning points.

Collecting and preserving spoken memories and personal narratives to study the past.

Examines similarities and differences between societies and cultures to provide broader historical understanding.