Module Code and Title            : HSM303 Methodology of Historical Research

Programme                               : BA in History and Dzongkha

Credit Value                              : 12

Module Tutor                             : To be recruited

General Objectives

This module will focus on the philosophical and the methodological issues pertaining to historical research and writing history by providing selected historical themes.  This will develop research and writing skills appropriate to graduate students of history. This module will also explore issues about historical discovery, assessment and treatment of primary and secondary sources in historical research.  Further this module will make students familiar with the basic methods of modern historical research.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

1.    identify the historical background of historical research during ancient and medieval period

2.    analyse the development of scientific approaches to writing history

3.     examine the importance of philosophy of history

4.    critically assess steps and activities required to reconstruct the past

5.    describe the historians’ task

6.    evaluate historical sources used in history writing

7.    critically analyze the historiographic approach of writing history

8.    analyse at least two approaches on how interpretation of historical evidences are carried out

9.    analyse contextual use of quantitative and qualitative methods of writing history

Learning and teaching approach

Assessment approach:

As the module will not have any end semester examination the students will be assessed on a continuous basis as given below:

A. Assignment 1: 20% of internal assessment

The first assignment will be an annotated bibliography on a selected historical theme                   

B. Assignment 2 : 30% of internal assessment

The second assignment will be a historiographical essay on a selected historical theme

C. Assignment 3 : 40 % of internal assessment

The third assignment will be an essay on a selected historical theme                        

D. Presentation: 10% of internal assessment

For this module, students will have to make a presentation of the Assignment 3

E. Semester-end Examination: 50%

Semester end Examination will be of 50% for this module

Overview of the assessment approaches and weighting

Prerequisite: None  

Subject matter

UNIT I: Usefulness and value of Historical research (philosophy of history in brief)

• Understanding of the past
• Importance of historical record – challenges accuracy of assumptions
• Provision of context for understanding why things are as they are
• The great tradition (old history) and the new history

Unit II: A historical background of historical writing approaches (on selected ancient historical theme)

• Ancient historians’ approaches of writing histories (in general)
• Criticism of ancient approaches of writing
• Medieval historians’ approaches writing of histories and its criticism
• Age of enlightenment – beginning of scientific approaches to historical writing

Unit III: Procedural approaches to Reconstruction of Past

• Meaning and its philosophy
• Historians’ task (in general)
• Historical evidences – primary and secondary sources (eg. Books, object, newspapers, media periodicals, recordings, diaries/journals, photographs, letters, videotapes, living witness etc.)

UNIT IV:  Historical Research Methodology

• Scientific Approaches to Historical Research
  • Identification of Research Problem – with or without hypotheses
  • How to collect historical evidences – identification of sources
  • External criticism
  • Internal Criticism
  • Cross referencing
  • Synthesizing the information

(Writing process – a case study - tutor will select a historical theme)

• Interpretation and Formulating Conclusions

Unit V: Qualitative and Quantitative methods

• When and how qualitative method is used for historical writing is used to describe and analyse the sources - primary and secondary sources and oral tradition.
• When and how quantitative method is used for historical writing
• used to evaluate the documentation of data
• longitudinal historical studies
• events showing in the graphic form

Reading List

Essential reading:

Bell, J. (2007). Doing Your Research Project: A Guide for First-Time researchers in Education, Health and Social Science. 4^th edition. New York: Open University Press.

Bajaj, S.K. (2000). Research methodology in history. New Delhi: Anmol Publications Pvt. Ltd.

Danto, E.A. (2008). Historical Research: Packet guide to social work research methods.New York: OxfordbUniversity Press.

Gorman, J. (2004). Historians and their duties. History and Theory. Vol. 43, 4, pp. 103-117.

Jarausch,K.H (1991). Quantitative Methods for Historians: A Guide to Research, Data, and Statistics. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press.

Kuppuram, G. (2002). Methods of historical research. New Delhi: Sandeep Prakashan.

Additional reading:

Mellor,R. (1997).The Historians of Ancient Rome: An Anthology of the Major Writings.London: Rutledge

Sarantakos, S.(2005). Social Research. 3^rd edition.  London: Palgrave MacMillan.

Schutt, R.K., & Matthew, A.(1999). Study Guide and Activities to Accompany:  Investigating the Social World. (2^nd ed.). Pine Forge Press:

Topolski, J. (1990). Narration and explanation: Contributions to the methodology of the historical research. Editions Rodopi. New York:

Date: May, 2015