The Critical Method In Historical Research And Writing

Historical method comprises the techniques and guidelines by which historians use primary sources and other evidence, including the evidence of archaeology, to research and then to write histories in the form of accounts of the past. The question of the nature, and even the possibility, of a sound historical method is raised in the philosophy of history as a question of epistemology. The study of historical method and of different ways of writing history is known as historiography. This book undertakes historical research and provides invaluable advice and support with methodological analysis. History Research: Theory and Methods presents a clear practical guide to the study research and writing of history. Each stage of historical research is covered from the selection of a topic and the organization and evaluation of source material through to the completion of a typescript. The book focuses on the study of history provides detailed guidance on research methods and includes comprehensive information on stylistic conventions for presenting historical work.

The Need For Following The Correct And Standard Research Methodology Is Increasingly Felt When More And More Research Works And Learned Monographs Are Coming Out On History Dealing With Social, Economic, Cultural And Other Varied Aspects Of Life, And Thus The Writing Of A Critical, Unbiased And Authentic History Is The Need Of The Hour. It Has Been Well Said In This Book That The Life Breath Of History Is Interpretation, Which Also Gives A Definite Viewpoint To A Work Of History. It Lays That Objectivity, If Carried To An Extreme, Results In Dry And Lifeless Cataloguing Of Events And Subjectivity, If Carried To An Extreme, Results In A Highly Biased Work Often Divorced From Reality, And That An Ideal Work Would Be One That Combines Subjectivity With Objectivity In Due Proportion Without Upholding The One At The Cost Of The Other.The Present Book Deals With The Different Processes Involved In Writing A Good And Authentic Historical Work. Right From The Heuristic Or The Search For Reliable And Credible Historical Sources Such As Archaeological, Epigraphical, Numismatical, Literary, And Archival, It Brings Into Relief The Important Features Of Analytical Operations Aimed At Ascertaining The Credibility Of Sources By Way Of External And Internal Criticism, Synthetic Operations Aimed At Finding Out A Connected, Meaningful And, If Possible, Enlightening Account Of Facts And Forces, Interpreting Them Properly, And Finally The Exposition, In A Powerful And Impressive Style, Of The Fruits Of All This Research And Thinking. The Book Further Shows How Interpretation Itself Is Properly Done By Means Of Various Processes Such As Generalisation, The Argument From Statistics, Analogy, Hypothesis And The Like.A Special Feature Of The Work Is That The Examples Of Books, Authors, References, Etc. Are Mostly Indian. It Gives Minute Rules And Regulations Essential While Writing A Good Research Work. It Is A Constant Companion To The History Scholars In Their Research Journey While For The Teachers Of The Subject It Is An Ideal Reference Book.

Widely acclaimed for its accessibility and engaging approach to the subject, the fourth edition of The Methods and Skills of History combines theory and instruction with hands-on practice, making it a comprehensive guide to historical research and writing. Combines theory with hands-on practice in its introduction to historical methods Includes a series of field-tested exercises designed to make the research and writing of history more meaningful and accessible to readers Features expanded coverage of writing history and up-to-date coverage of online research Designed to strengthen students’ critical thinking and communication skills