Sociology 2206A/B Chapter 14: Chapter-14-Reading-Notes
19 Oct 2017
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Document Summary
Historical research is a collection of techniques and approaches. Suited for examining the combinations of social factors that produce a specific outcome. A source of confusion around historical methods come from positivist, quantitatively oriented researchers and interpretive qualitatively oriented researchers. Similarities to field research: involve interpretation, do not produce a single set of objective facts. Both recognize that the researcher"s pov is an unavoidable part of research. )n both, the researcher"s meaning system frequently differs from that of the people. Both examine a great diversity of data. Both use grounded theory: usually emerges during the process of data collection. Both researchers focus on process and sequence. Generalization and theory are limited in field and historical research they study. Historical research usually relies on limited and indirect evidence: direct observation/involvement by a researcher is often impossible, depends on the survival of data from the past, usually in the form of documents. Reconstruction of the past/another culture is easily distorted.
