Scope of Historical Research

History embraces the entire field of human past and is as broad as life itself. Our human past
includes many areas of social experiences and activities that frequently have proved more
significant than political history or military campaigns; for example culture, ideals, institutions,
law, religion, literature, art, travel, engineering, industry, technology, medicine, science,
philosophy, economics, education, psychology, anthropology and sociology. There is general
agreement among modern historians concerning the richness of the content of history, including
social, cultural, economic, and intellectual developments and on a broad view of past events
extending far beyond the study of politics, diplomatic, constitution and war materials.
When undertaking a historical study, a scholar engages in some activities that are common to all
investigation but the nature of his subject matter presents him with some peculiar problem and
requires him to apply some special standards and techniques.

Formulation of problem for Historical Research

The selection and development of the problem for the study is the first step in the historical
research. The beginner in this respect chooses too broad a topic.
The experienced historian realizes that the historical research must be confined to a penetrating
analysis of a limited problem, rather than involve only a superficial examination of a broad area.
The weapon of research is the rifle not the shotgun.
Historical inquiry begins when some event, development or experience of the past is questioned.
Sometimes the historians discovers new source material, the meaning of which when interpreted
will provide answers about past events; sometimes he questions an old interpretation of existing
data and devises a new hypothesis that will provide a more satisfactory explanation of past
events. Beginning with a rather general, diffused or even confused notion of the problem, he
isolates one by one the crucial points that give rise to his initial doubts or concern about gaps in
knowledge and then formulates a simple, clear and complete description of the problems. Before
proceeding further, he checks whether his problem is answerable by available methods or inquiry
and by the available sources of the data.
A historian can investigate individual, institution, organization, circular, administrative structure
and processes textbook, teacher preparation, equipment, facilities and importance concepts and
ideas that have influenced education or other educational phenomena due to the specific period
of time. In a given culture ancient or modern in sub-culture determined by nationality, color,
religion, sex, age, work, or social class. He may confine his study to one era and one sequence of
event in local, national or religion setting or he may compare events in different areas, different
societies or different civilization.
In brief, the historical research like any scientific inquiry stems from a problematic situation
which starts investigators on his quest for a solution.

Historical research and historiography involves three major steps, processes, or aspects:
i.
ii.

iii.

Collection of data, with consideration or sources a documents and remains or relies as

primary and secondary.
Criticism of data including the process of external criticism (questions to authorship,
time, place, genuineness and actual languages or text of the original documents) and the
process of internal criticism (questions of accuracy and value of statements made).
Presentation of facts in readable narrative form, including problems of organization,
composition, exposition and interpretation.