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Historical Research

Historical Research. COMM 142: Communication Criticism John A. Cagle. Asking the Right Questions. Questions about basic facts : What was going on? Questions about definition : What is it? Questions about evaluation : How do you evaluate the facts and the definition?

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Historical Research

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  1. Historical Research COMM 142: Communication Criticism John A. Cagle

  2. Asking the Right Questions • Questions about basic facts: What was going on? • Questions about definition: What is it? • Questions about evaluation: How do you evaluate the facts and the definition? • Questions about policy: What should be done?

  3. Purpose of research • To organize facts to understand the historical context • To define body of facts to understand the nature of a problem • To evaluate the historical event in terms of certain criteria • To propose a solution to a problem

  4. Problem question • Research begins with stating the focal question you are trying to answer • Initially, the problem question may be more general • The problem question may be modified in light of information discovered and made more specific

  5. Things to consider • Is problem adaptable to critical and historical methodologies? • Is the problem significant? • To what extent is information available on this question?

  6. What information is needed? • What information is needed? • Generate questions which arise from the problem question • What kinds of information could provide answers to these questions? • How can you get access to this information?

  7. Historical methodology • Historical “facts” as they might be known at the time • Historical documents: any original written, auditory, or visual record • E.g.: government reports, newspaper article, transcript of a speech, diary, letter • Historical research: blends facts from various sources into lucid and flowing narrative.

  8. Sources • Primary material comes from original sources • Secondary sources are compilations and interpretations of material from various sources

  9. Tests of evidence • Was source in position to perceive the event? Freedom from bias? • Was source intellectually capable to perceive it? Interpret it? • Was evidence clear, concise, intelligible? • Is evidence supported by evidence from other sources?

  10. Evaluating each source • Relevant facts and content to research interest • Authority and credibility of the source: reliability • Timeliness of the evidence • Quality of the source: writing, accuracy, and thoroughness

  11. Print sources • Books • Periodicals • Academic and professional journals • Magazines • Newspapers • Bibliographies and Indexes • Encyclopedias

  12. Non-print sources • Internet • Search engines • Computer databases • CD-ROMS • Electronic databases • Interviewing

  13. Example • Speech by Adlai Stevenson, United States Ambassador to the United Nations • Speech to the U. N. Security Council on the Cuban Missile Crisis

  14. Finding scholarly materials online • http://zimmer.csufresno.edu/~johnca/spch142/07s-net-research-tools.htm

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