When reading the academic definition of “history” in our textbook I was enlightened by a new take on a term I never associate with it, interpretive. In this instance the operational definition of history is, an interpretive account of some past event or series of events (Lune and Berg 2017). My own definition replaces interpretive with recorded and this switch questions the credibility of the source providing the interpretation of history. Today hottest controversy surrounds classrooms on the subject of history and the validity of the interpretations that are taught in our school systems. By utilizing the word interpretive to describe the definitive qualities of history a warning is offered to be mindful of the accounts as only one point of view not representative of concrete empirical facts. Social scientists can uncover additional interpretations representing the formerly oppressed by investigating the past using historical research. This is a method of investigation to conduct research by using records and accounts of those experiencing history being made (Lune and Berg 2017). Theoretical explanations drawn from the data found with historical research is the primary goal from the academic research. Culturally historical research provides the foundational understanding and instructional framework showing where we began and where we are now as a society. Social scientists have a responsibility to recapture the past and present it in a way that is not distorted by idealistic cliches of the past that are not based on fact (Lune and Berg 2017).
Social Action Theory in Sociology argues the social order is created from the bottom up constructed by society's members and everyday life using common sense knowledge. In this process actions do not have fixed meanings. It depends on how the individual interprets the action. This theory is suited for historical research on many levels. For one, the actual individual’s interpretation of history will be different based on the social roles and experiences of members in a society. Also, as actions do not have fixed meanings words and concepts similarly are fluid carrying chronological relevance in meaning dependent upon the cultural context and relative time periods they are associated with. Lune and Berg (2017) present the purposeful applications of historical research conducted for the following reasons: To uncover the unknown, to answer questions, to seek implications on relationships and other accomplishments of individuals, agencies, or institutions. With the knowledge I now have about historical research I can understand method benefits ability to generate new data useful today. The issue of race for example is timeless and by comparing events and experiences surrounding the Civil rights Movement with Black Lives Matter patterns of strategy and necessary actions could be identified ensuring future success like that of the 1960s only reconfigured, recaptured, and refined replicating what made that paradigm shift possible.
Three different sources of data are available for historical research primary, secondary and tertiary (Lune and Berg 2017). Primary sources are directly oriented with an event or experience in a written testimony by an eyewitness (Lune and Berg 2017). Secondary sources include documents, photos, recordings, diaries, journals, life histories just mentioning a few. Secondary accounts by people not present at the event are oral or written items by those relating to research questions or areas of interest. Included by Lune and Berg (2017) in the text, these secondary sources can be textbooks, encyclopedias, oral histories of individuals or a group put together by others, and even obituaries. Records that include information about a specific group, such as lab results and test scores also comprise secondary sources. The authors note that tertiary. Tertiary sources are sometimes considered secondary for some researchers. Examples of these would be almanacs, dictionaries, indexes in any collection or anthology (Lune and Berg 2017). This category is appropriate for background data and to locate primary and secondary sources of information.
Once conducting historiographies, we encounter similar steps of procedure with different methods of research than explained in previous chapters. Beginning with an idea for a topic and developing a research question or hypothesis, secondary sources of information are compiled to conduct a literature review (Lune and Berg 2017). When the process is underway, the research question will reorganize and refine itself while ideas for historical data sources and methodology should be forming during development stages. The authors refer to this as reconstructing history advising researchers to use secondary sources with references to locate primary sources of data (Lune and Berg 2017). This process of primary source data collection can include locating eyewitnesses from a secondary source who to offer primary data triangulation in an interview.
Sourcing primary data is the critical challenge of a historical researcher requiring materials be authentic and able to stand against different evaluations like external criticism or validity threats. Accuracy is the second criticism questions of material artifact is a reliable source of data known as internal criticism. The process of an external criticism as Lune and Berg (p.155, 2017) explain, “establishes why, where, when, and by whom the document or artifact was created” (Brickman 2007). Additional measures of an artifact’s authenticity can include determining if the item is an original or reproduction, if it has been paraphrased, interpreted, or translated. In some cases, external criticism can even include a forensic assessment to discover the artifacts age, medium, test handwriting, and more. Once external criticisms establish a document or artifact is authentic, it must then be tested and determined valid. The purpose of an internal criticism is analyzing the contents for error and grasping the overall intention portrayed. To identify and assess intent and deeper meanings one must understand and decipher why the authors words were chosen. For instance, what was the author trying to say, are the author's statements accurate, what is the author's motive (Lune and Berg 2017). The external and internal criticisms are the main reasons historical research is considered separate from other unobtrusive tactics which are not evaluated though treated as primary sources of data.
Keep in mind, historical research has the responsibility to reconstruct history through interpreting data, to reveal reasons for actions made in the past. Using valid data to interpret human thinking the primary sources of data can conceal points of view or info that has not been represented rightfully. New discoveries can be made by researching these materials for specifics related to a research question. Oral histories can also be used as a source for historical research, cultural preservation has relied on this method in place of written texts and artifacts. Oral history interviews refer to the participants as narrators and is it is from their perspective that a subject is reflecting on providing a narrated form of data (Lune and Berg, 2017). It is up to the researcher to detect fraudulent remarks as a narrator delivers their point of view. Regarding the subject matter, the specific information required about each oral interview includes the narrators name, age, ethnicity. place of origin, occupation, and other characteristics pertinent to the research topic. When I consider the options presented in this chapter on historical research an oral history would be the one method I could use in my own research project. Instead of conducting interviews guided bey a schedule of questions that could possibly leave out important information, I could ask participants to give me an oral history of their meditation practice from start to end including prompts I would have used in the semi structured interview.
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