Research Methods for History

by Simon Gunn, Lucy Faire (Editor)

This is the first guide to the sources, techniques and concepts needed for effective historical research studies. Each chapter introduces a different research method. These range from the well established, such as archival research, to the less widely known, such as Geographical Information Systems, and recent trends, such as textual analysis and material culture studies. The contributors explain how each method can be applied to different historical subjects and periods. Case studies range from life stories written and spoken by migrants and soldiers to the "second wave" of women's history, including examples from Eastern Europe. The book covers 13 different methods spanning all periods, from the medieval to the modern.

Genres: History, Academic, Reference

256 pages, Paperback

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]

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]

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.