nature, and indeed the possibility, of

Historical Research sound historical method is raised in

Historical methods of research the philosophy of history, as a
are the process of systematically question of epistemology. The
following summarizes the history
examining an account of what has
happened in the past. It is not facts guidelines commonly used by
and dates or even a description of historians in their work, under the
past events. The dynamic account of headings of external criticism,
past events that involves an internal criticism, and synthesis.
interpretation attempt to recapture The historical method is
the nuances, personalities, and ideas employed by researchers who are
that events. One of the goals of interested in reporting events and/or
historical research is to conditions that occurred in the past.
communicating of past events. In the An attempt is made to establish facts
field of library and information in order to arrive at conclusions
science, there are vast arrays of topics concerning past events or predict
that may be considered for conducting future events. Harter and Busha
historical research. For example, a define library history as the
researcher may choose to answer systematic recounting of past events
questions about the development of pertaining to the establishment,
school, academic or public libraries, maintenance, and utilization of
the rise of technology and the systematically arranged collections of
benefits/ problems it brings, the recorded information or
development of preservation methods, knowledge.A biography of a person
famous personalities in the field, who has in some way affected the
library statistics, or geographical development of libraries, library
demographics and how they affect science, or librarianship is also
library distribution. considered to be library history.
Historical methods of research Stages of historical methods
is a scientific method in which of research conducting:
comparison is used to reveal the
general and the particular in 1. Identify an idea, topic or research
historical phenomena and to gain an question
understanding of the various
historical stages of development of 2. Conduct a background literature
one and the same phenomenon or of review
two different but contemporaneous 3. Refine the research idea and
phenomena. questions
The historical method 4. Determine that historical methods
comprises the techniques and
will be the method used
guidelines by which historians use
primary sources and other evidence, 5. Identify and locate primary and
such as secondary sources and secondary data sources
tertiary sources, to research and then
to write history. The question of the
6. Evaluate the authenticity and
accuracy of source materials
7. Analyze the date and develop a
narrative exposition of the findings.
In its essence, descriptive studies are
used to describe various aspects of
the phenomenon. In its popular
format, descriptive research is used to
describe characteristics and/or
behaviour of sample population.

Sources of historical methods of An important distinctive trait of

research descriptive research compared to
alternative types of studies relates to
Primary Sources of Information - the fact that while descriptive
Direct outcomes of events or the research can employ a number of
records ofeyewitnesses variables, only one variable is
required to conduct a descriptive
a) Original documents
study. Three main purposes of
b) Relics descriptive studies can be explained
as describing, explaining and
c) Remains validating research findings.

d) Artifacts Descriptive studies are closely

associated with observational studies,
Secondary Sources of Information -
but they are not limited with
Information provided by a person who
observation data collection method,
did not directly observe the event,
and case studies, as well as, surveys
object, or condition
can also be specified as popular data
collection methods used with
descriptive studies.

Descriptive Research
Descriptive research can be explained Correlational Research
as a statement of affairs as they are at
present with the researcher having no
Clarify patterns of relationships
control over variable. Moreover,
beetween two or more variables, i.e
descriptive research may be
factors involved in the circumtances
characterised as simply the attempt to
determine, describe or identify what
is, while analytical research attempts
to establish why it is that way or how GENERAL CHARACTERISTIC
it came to be.
1. A Focus on Naturally
Descriptive research is aimed at Occuring Patterns
casting light on current issues or Researcher simply measure the
problems through a process of data variables of interest and
collection that enables them to analyses the relations among
describe the situation more them without active
completely than was possible without intervention
employing this method
 2. The Measurement of Specific
Variables
Categorical Measurement
Example: One survey question
asked residents what mode of
transportation they used to get
work; the categories provided
for the answer were: walk, car,
metrobu, metrotrain, other,
and not applicable (for those
who worked in the home)
Ordinal Scales
Example: In a study of
architects and nonarchitects
responses to a variety of
building styles, the researcher
asked corespondents to rank
24 building photographs
according to their personal
preferences
Interval and Ratio Scales
3. The Use of Statistics Clarify
Patterns of Relationship
It called descriptive statistics,
because it simply presents or
describes important
relationship between two or
more variables.

STRATEGY: TWO TYPES OF

CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH

1. Relationship Studies
Relationship studies focus
more specifically on the nature
and predictive power of such
relationship
2. CausalComparative Studies
The researches select
comparable groups of people or
comparable physical
environment and then collect
data on a variety of relevant
variables