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Does anyone know what “research methods” or “models” are, and where would I find out what they are? ?
I ran into this sometime ago, but Iam don’t have a clue about them.
Tom,
I think all “research methods” means is how one goes about doing his or her research. The same holds true for “methods” or methodology.
Thirty five years ago, when I was in college, I had to take a course in “research methods” and I remember the text book we had was called “Research Methods in the Social Sciences.”
Roy
Tom,
Go to
http://www.mitsawokett.com/ThoughtsOfHistoriansEtc.htm
for an intersting discussion on research methods that would apply to what we are trying to do here.
Ned Heite made some very thoughtful comments.
Ned Heite (Ned@heite.org) wrote on the Virginia history discussion list, 24 Feb1998:
Research Strategies
“There is a fundamental difference between the research strategies employed by genealogists and those commonly employed by historians. Both groups could learn from the others. In my own research, I try to satisfy the requirements of genealogists, historians, and anthropologists, all at once. The results of merging all these research agendas can be envigorating, to say the least.
Genealogists traditionally draw their conclusions from a disciplined approach that must follow a certain course. When I was at the state archives I was often frustrated by people who came in, believing they could find their ancestors without step-by-step, item-by-item proofs and verifications, starting at the present and working tediously backwards. Of all the historical sciences, genealogy is sometimes the most rigorous when it comes to proof.
Among historians, there is the top-down approach, in which one looks at the aggregated record, draws conclusions, and moves on. This approach produces quick and generalized results, but too frequently inspires inaccurate conclusions.
A prudent research strategy recognizes the pitfalls of top-down research. In the current atmosphere of cultural resource contracting, it is difficult to adopt the detailed, bottom-up, approach, which is not commonly taught in universities. The bottom-up method helps one avoid falling into some pretty terrible traps.
(Paul) Heinegg (http://www.freeafricanamericans.com/ ) chooses to view data through a filter of very old labels that were attached haphazardly. These labels are meaningless, unless you have done enough research into each case, to determine exactly what those terms meant at the time and in the context of their original application. …..”
You can go to the site to continue reading his comment. Mr. Heite did some really good work for the surviving Nanticoke communities.
Brenda
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