Historical-Comparative

Research
Neuman and Robson Ch. 14

Famous Examples
Karl

Marx and Capital (1867)

Emile Durkheim and Suicide (1897)
Max Weber and The Protestant Ethic and the
Spirit of Capitalism (1905)
C.

Wright Mills on history in the Sociological

Imagination (1959)

Let us not forget what it is we are studying and

how little we know of man, of history, of biography,
and of the societies of which we are at once
creatures and creators

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

second-hand observation, i.e. the author collected

the data from eyewitnesses.

Running

Sources:

Records

Statistics, govt data

Recollections

What is Oral History?

Video
The

clip:

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 Ann Nixon Cooper (104 years old)

and her recollections of the American south
and the Jim Crow days

Evaluating Sources

External

Appraises the authenticity and authorship of the

data source

Internal

Criticism:

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
(Galtons 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 researchersubject interaction.

Interesting Internet Sites on

Historical Research

Library and Archives Canada

http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Pages/home.aspx

Where To Do Historical Research (Links)

http://www.wheretodoresearch.com/History.htm

Oral History Digital Collection Youngstown State

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