Historical Research

1. A researcher was interested in studying why the “new math” of the 1960s failed. She interviews several teachers who used the new math during the 1960s. These teachers are considered:

a.  Primary sources

b.  Secondary Sources

c.  External critics

d.  Internal critics

2. The process of dealing with concerns over the authenticity of a source is referred to as:

a.  Sourcing

b.  Internal criticism

c.  Secondary criticism

d. External criticism

3. A researcher studying the history of medical education finds a manuscript that purports to be from the 14^th century. Before he uses the source, he goes to three other experts who help him identify whether the manuscript is authentic or not. His authentification of the object is referred to as:

a.  Positive criticism

b.  Internal criticism

c.  Secondary criticism

d.  External criticism

4. A historical researcher studying the implementation of the “new math” during the 1960s uses as a source a text written on the subject by a critic who was a mathematics teacher during that time period. As she examines the document, she discovers that the data that the individual based his or her conclusions on was falsified. Hence, the conclusions drawn were erroneous. Her analysis of the document to check its accuracy is referred to as: 

a.  Positive criticism

b.  Internal criticism

c.  External criticism

d.  Secondary criticism

5. A researcher is interested in studying approaches to teaching writing in schools during the 1800s. She discovers a grammar book, but there is no author or copyright date in the book. She examines the typeface in the book as well as the writing style. After investigating further, she finds a reference to the book from a teacher’s diary from the 1800s. The diary also mentions an author’s name. After further searching around she is able to identify the author of the book. The investigator was engaged in what process?

a.  Sourcing

b.  Positive criticism

c.  Presentism

d.  Axial coding

6. Historical research is conducted for which of the following reasons?

a.  To identify the relationship that the past has to the present 

b.  To evaluate and record accomplishments of individuals or entities 

c.  To enhance understanding of the culture in which we live 

d.  To uncover the unknown

e.  All of the above

7.  Historical research is interpretative.

a. True

b. False

8.  The following is a step in the process of historical research?

a.  Preparing a report or narrative exposition  

b.  Identifying a research topic and formulation of the research problem or question

c.  Data synthesis

d.  Data collection and/or literature review

e.  All of the above

9.  Oral histories can be based on ______.

a.  Interviews with people 

b.  Stories and tales

c.  Songs 

d.  All of the above

10.  In historical research, a primary source _________.

a.  Consists of first hand accounts by witnesses to events 

b.  Can consist of sources that include original maps, diaries, transcripts of the minutes of a

 meeting, and photographs 

c.  Both a and b

11.  In historical research secondary sources are _________.

a.  Generally considered more useful that primary sources 

b.  Generally considered less useful than primary sources 

12.  In evaluating historical research sources, external criticism ________.

a.  Can involve the use of carbon dating and handwriting experts 

b.  Helps determine the validity, trustworthiness or authenticity of a source

c.  Can involve use of historical linguists’ knowledgeable with the writing style of the period 

d.  All of the above

13.  Contextualization refers to the process of identifying when and where an event took place. 

a.  True

b.  False

14.  The process of determining the reliability or accuracy of the information contained in the sources collected is known as ______.

a.  External criticism

b.  Internal criticism

c.  Vagueness

d.  Presentism

15.  Presentism in historical sources ________.

a.  Is the presence of the author in a historical source

b.  Is a first-hand accounts of events

c.  Is the assumption that the present-day connotations of terms also existed in the past

d.  Is the assumption that the past influences the present

16. “Comparing document to each other to determine whether they provide the same information or reach the same conclusion” is known as ________.

a.  Contextualization 

b.  Sourcing

c.  Corroboration

d.  Negative criticism

17. The “identification of when and where an event took place” is known as _____.

a.  Contextualization 

b.  Sourcing

c.  Corroboration

d.  Negative criticism

18.  Three heuristics suggested by Wineburg (1991) for evaluating documents are:

a.  Corroboration, sourcing, and contextualization

b.  Sourcing, internal criticism, and external criticism 

c.  Corroboration, internal criticism and external criticism 

d.  Contextualization, corroboration and presentism

19.  In historical research, data synthesis usually does not include ______.

a.  Defining and interpreting key words, phrases and terms 

b.  Chronologically ordering events 

c.  Differentiating between how people should behave and how they did behave 

d.  Inferring causation based on simple correlation

e.  Maintaining a distinction between intent and consequences 

20.  When writing their narratives, many historical researchers prefer to use _____.

a. The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (1994)

b. The Chicago Manual of Style

c. The Historical Manual of Style

d. The Historian’s Manual of Style

Answers:

1. a

2. d

3. d

4. b

5. a

6. e

7. a

8. e

9. d

10. c

11. b

12. d

13. a

14. b

15. c

16. c

17. a

18. a

19. d

20. b