Historical method: what it is and how it is applied in the study of history

Like any science, the study of history must follow specific phases, which will guarantee a correct development of our thesis.

Each and every phase of the historical research method is important.. In this article we present you what these development phases are, as well as some useful tips to make your work as professional as possible.

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How to apply the historical research method?

Next, you will find 7 essential points that correspond to the different phases that the historical research process must follow.

1. Specification of a hypothesis

The first phase of any scientific investigation is the establishment of a hypothesis. What idea do we want to investigate? For example, a hypothesis in the field of history could be: the survival of classical culture in medieval art.

Based on this hypothesis, we are posed a series of related questions: did the modes of realization of classical art survive in the medieval world? If so, where and how does this influence appear? And, what is more important: was there really a break between the classical and medieval worlds? Is it just a simple replica of models, or is there a knowledge base of classical culture when making these works?

We already have the hypothesis established (did the modes of realization of classical art survive in the medieval world?). Secondary ideas hang from this hypothesis., which are the ones we have been listing and which are related to this main hypothesis. These secondary ideas will support us when developing our research, since they will be established as coordinates to delimit the process.

An important point in this first step is to delimit the research topic as much as possible. The more specific the subject is, the easier it will be for us to handle the information, and we will also be able to achieve a greater degree of depth on the issue. Therefore, much better if the initial hypothesis is: survival of the classical modes in the medieval portal of the Ripoll monastery.

The second important point to take into account is the degree of involvement that we can offer. That is to say; if the object of our investigation is in the United States, and we do not have financial possibilities or we have time to travel there, it will be frankly difficult for us to finish the job in a satisfactory. Therefore, in the process of establishing the hypothesis, we must take into account not only our personal or professional interests, but also the real possibilities of carrying out the investigation.

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2. State of the question: what is the existing bibliography on the subject?

Once we have defined the topic we want to develop, it is time to investigate the existing bibliography. For this we will have to do a bibliographical emptying of all the authors who have dealt with the subject. What do we understand by bibliographic emptying? It is the realization of a list of existing works and, later, the reading and analysis of them. This will give us an idea of ​​what the state of the matter is, that is, at what point the investigations are. In this way, we have a starting point to develop our own thesis.

3. Consultation of sources: primary sources and secondary sources

The third step is to go to the sources. These can be primary or secondary. Let's briefly dwell on what each one of them is.

3.1. primary sources

They are the direct testimonies that will give us information about the fact we are investigating. That is to say, contemporary sources from the time under investigation. An example of a primary source related to the thesis that we have commented on in point 1 would be the reliefs of the cover of the monastery, as well as, in the case of existing, the contracts of the different artists who worked in the same.

It is important to emphasize that not all sources are written; As we have pointed out before, an image or an archaeological remains can also provide us with information.

3.2. secondary sources

Are the sources that are not contemporary to the time that we study; for example, books on the subject, documentaries, archaeological studies, etc. It is essential for the research work that, whenever we are dealing with a secondary source where the a document contemporary to the object of the investigation, we must go to the original document, that is, the source primary. This step is very important because, sometimes, whether consciously or unconsciously, the text in question has been modified.

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4. Work structuring

A good development implies a previous structuring. Once we have all the information collected and verified, the next step is to script it. To do this, we must be clear about which are the important ideas and which are secondary. It is also important to avoid reiteration of information, as well as getting lost in details that distract us from the central objective of the thesis.

5. Thesis writing

Once the state of the question and the sources have been analyzed, and after having scripted the work, it is time to write. In this point it is necessary to take into account the language that is going to be used, which will depend on the type of work that is being carried out. A doctoral thesis is not the same as a popular science article, or another aimed at the general public. Of course, in the latter case, the language used must be clear and concise and we must avoid overly technical concepts, although they always have to correctly express the idea we want convey. In the same way, the length of our work will also depend on the public to which it is directed.

In writing we have to argue which aspects of our hypothesis have been confirmed by the sources consulted; and, in the event that there are aspects that do not coincide with the initial approach, we will have to add the new idea and also cite the source from which we have extracted it.

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6. Elaboration of the conclusions

Once our thesis has been written, we will have to draw up some conclusions that will summarize the entire research process, as well as the results obtained. In these conclusions we must include, first of all, What is the main contribution of our research?, in addition to our recommendations for future work on the subject.

7. Bibliography

It is essential in any scientific research work to include the consulted bibliography, as well as to cite the sources to which we have resorted. If our work contains citations, we will have to review their source.