Research methods for history

by Simon Gunn (Editor), Lucy Faire (Editor)

The first guide to the sources, techniques and concepts needed for effective historical research. While historians have become increasingly sensitive to social and cultural theory since the 1980s, the actual methods by which research is carried out in History have been largely taken for granted. Research Methods for History encourages those researching the past to think creatively about the wide range of methods currently in use, to understand how these methods are used and what historical insights they can provide.The book covers sources and methods that are well-established in History, such as archival research, together with those that are less widely known. The themes of the different chapters have been selected to reflect recent trends in the subject. Even with more established methods, however, the aim is to present new insights and perspectives and to open researchers' minds to new methodological possibilities.

Genres: History, Academic, Reference

278 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2011

Reviews

[Judyta Szacillo]

It’s a well-structured discussion of various research methods for modern history. Not of much use to me, unfortunately, because it largely ignores the whole field of ancient and medieval history research. There’s plenty about archival research, new methods in landscape investigation, narrative enquiries, and cliometrics. There’s nothing about tools that historians of older periods must often rely on: discourse analysis, comparative analysis, hermeneutics, and very little about text linguistics.

[Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlike some other reviewers I found this a very useful reference guide for those doing postgraduate research in history. This textbook is well laid out and begins with an eloquent introductory chapter explaining the position of its editors. From there we move into practically-focussed sections delving into archival research, ethics, temporality and the changing face of historiography in a digital age. What's particularly useful - at least for me - are the sections on slightly less familiar sources, such as landscapes, GIS, life stories, biographies, material culture and visual materials. There are useful examples and methods dotted throughout and a wealth of information making this a book one to return to. Inevitably it's already dated since release, but nonetheless it still offers plenty of real-world usefulness.

[Mark Singer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dry collection of essays from a historians workshop. The first essay "Introduction:Why Bother WIth Method" by Simon Gunn and Lucy Faire is both a lament and a justification for the disappearence of method in historical research. The remaining essays are all fairly dry and dull. The intended audience for this book is probably beginning graduate students in historiography.