9 Part27

Purpose of Historical Research:
(i) Historical researches provide important information concerning

the effects of certain past practices and may suggest plans for
future actions.
(ii) It also offers explanation of the how and why of many of the
theories and practices that has developed and now prevails in
the school/college.
(iii) It contributes to an understanding of the significance of the
phenomenon studied.
(iv) It helps to gain an accurate account of the past.
(v) It helps to gain a clear perspective of the present.
Sources of Historical Research:

There are many sources for collection of historical data like;
Autobiographies, Diaries, Confessions, Memories, Personal letters,
Accessible documents, news-papers and literature, books and
Magazines, Cultural and Analytical history material, Artistic materials,
historical paintings, Portraits , charts etc.
These sources can be divided into two categories i.e. Primary
sources and Secondary sources.
Primary sources:
The original documents are termed as Primary sources. These are solid
basis of historical research and are highly prized by a historian.
According to Kerlinger, “A primary source is the only repository
of an historical datum, like an original record kept of an important
occasion, an eye witness description of an event, a photograph, minutes
of organization meeting and so on.”
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(i) Document or records:
These are maintained and written by actual participant or witness of an
event. These sources are produced for the purpose of transmitting
information to be used in the future. Documents classified as primary
sources are constitution, charters, laws, court decisions, diaries, deeds,
genealogies, contracts, wills, autobiographies, letters, official minutes or
records, permits, licenses, affidavits, depositions, declarations,
proclamations certificates, lists, bills, handbills, receipts,
newspapers,magazines,accounts,maps,diagrams,books,pamphlets,catal
ogues,films,pictures,paintings,recordings,transcriptions and research
reports.
(ii) Remains or Relics:

These are associated with a person, group, period, fossils, skeletons,
tools, weapons, food utensils, clothing, buildings, furniture, coins, art
objects, pictures and paintings are examples of relics.
(iii) Oral Testimony:

These are spoken account of witness or participant in an event. It is
obtained in a personal interview. It may be recorded or transcript as the
witness relates his experiences.
Secondary Sources of Data:

In the words of Kerlinger, “A secondary source is an account or record
of an historical event or circumstance one or more steps removed from
an original history.”
Secondary sources are the reports of a person who relates the
testimony of actual witness of, or participant in an event. The writer of
the secondary source who was not on the scene of the event, merely
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reports what the person who was there said or wrote. Most history
books and encyclopedias are the examples of secondary source.
Characteristics of Historical Method:

(i) Historical method is universal.
(ii) Historical method involves very deep and intensive investigation
of material that already exists.
(iii) Historical facts cannot be repeated in an accurate fashion as can
be done in laboratory observation.
(iv) Only such problems which are based on historical records can be
investigated by following this approach.
(v) Historical approach to research is the application of scientific
method to historical problems.
(vi) In Historical Method hypothesis may or may not be formulated
depending upon the nature of the research.
(vii) The interpretation of data entirely depends upon the topic of
research.
Approaches to Historical Research:
1. Perspective Approach:
It means to study the events from the past towards present. It is
ancient approach. Ancient approach was to study the political
personality approach.
2. Retrospective Approach:
It means to study the events of present and proceed to past events. It is
a recent approach to study the phenomena in social milieu.
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9 Part27

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Purpose of Historical Research:

(i) Historical researches provide important information concerning

Sources of Historical Research:

(ii) Remains or Relics:

(iii) Oral Testimony:

Secondary Sources of Data:

Characteristics of Historical Method:

Approaches to Historical Research:

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