Steps of Historical Research Method
Steps of Historical Research Method
Steps of Historical Research Methods - As a science, history has its own method in analyzing and explaining an event. Below will be explained about the steps of historical research methods.
Definition of Historical Research
As a science, in history there is research. Historical research aims to find the truth. The truth in question is the truth according to the measure of science. The general characteristic of the truth of science is that it is rational and empirical. In history the truth is also temporary which means that the truth is not absolute. This temporary period makes the science of history always develop.
In science there are objects of each, as well as history where humans are the objects. History writing uses a method in its writing which consists of five stages; (1) topic selection; (2) heuristics; (3) verification; (4) interpretation; (5) Historiography. Below will be given an explanation of each stage of historical research.
Topic Selection
The object of historical study is very broad. Therefore, a history writer and a historian must determine the topic or theme that will be the focus of his research. The topic under study must be a topic worthy of research and not a repetition or duplication of the results of previous research. The feasibility of historical research topics can be seen from the availability of sources that can be used as research material. Of course not until a chronicler has set an interesting topic to study, but the source turns out to be non-existent.
The choice of this topic is very important so that historical research is more focused on the problem to be studied. The choice of topics is usually chosen by a historian or historian based on emotional closeness and intellectual closeness. To direct the problem to be studied in the topic, it would be nice to first make the questions that will become the research problem. The questions include what, who, where, when, how and why questions. The following are some things to consider in choosing a topic.
1. Scientific benefits
Naturally, every science is tasked with always finding new things from the object of its study, including history which must always find new things from the object it studies. History writers and historians are required to choose research topics that are completely new and have never been discussed by others.
2. Social benefits
Every science has aspects of social benefits as well as history. History is expected to have benefits as a guide for today's society in living life towards the future.
In choosing a historical research topic, there are several things that a historian or historian should avoid, including:
1. Baconian Error
Baconian error occurs when assuming that without other concepts, theories, ideas, paradigms, presuppositions, hypotheses or generalizations, historical research can be carried out.
2. Too many questions error
The error of too many questions can occur when asking more than two questions at once, asking one problem but the answer to that question raises questions and questions that are too complex.
3. Error questions that are dichotomous
Dichotomous question errors occur because of the black and white view that it seems as if an event or character only has two possibilities. An example is related to the arrival of the Dutch army to Indonesia in 1947 and 1948 which was a form of police action and military aggression. This is only rooted in two possibilities, if the historian or historian sided with the Kingdom of the Netherlands, it would be called a police action.
On the other hand, if it sided with Indonesia, it would be referred to as military aggression. Another example is the profile of Teuku Umar and Cut Nyak Dhien as rebels and fighters. If a history writer sided with Indonesia, then Teuku Umar and Cut Nyak Dhien were fighters. However, if a chronicler sided with the Dutch Empire, then Teuku Umar and Cut Nyak Dhien were rebels.
4. Metaphysical Error
Metaphysical errors include topics of philosophy, morals and theology. History is an empirical science that does not discuss metaphysical issues.
5. Fictional Topic Error
Fictional topics are not historical topics. It should be understood that in history there is no word "if words".
Those are some things that must be understood from the selection of historical research topics. After determining the research topic, the next step is to find the main reference sources, namely sources that are considered to contain data or information relevant to the research topic. By studying the main reference sources effectively, researchers will be able to understand the scope of the research, both the scope of the problem and the temporal (time) and spatial (place/region) scope of the research object.
After determining the topic, it is necessary to make a research plan. The research plan contains the problems, historiography, historical sources and outlines. In the problem, it is necessary to state about the subject matter to be studied, why it needs to be researched, the purpose of the research objectives, the extent and limitations of the research in space and time as well as the concepts and theories used. In historiography, it is necessary to state the history of writing in the field to be studied. Regarding historical sources, before going into the field, a historian must know what historical sources to look for, how to look for them and where to find them, and the outline must immediately appear if it is indeed historical research and not other research.
Search for Historical Sources (Heuristics)
The second stage in the historical research step is tracing or searching for historical sources or what is also known as the heuristic stage. In searching for historical sources, the existence of primary sources must be prioritized rather than secondary sources. A chronicler as well as a historian must really know which sources are primary and secondary sources. Because there are so many historical sources available, a historian or historian must really be able to identify these historical sources.
In tracing historical sources, a historian or historian can find historical sources at the location of an event. Here can be found sources in the form of objects (artifacts). In addition, you can also find sources in the form of writing by visiting libraries, archive offices, government offices and other places. Besides being in the form of objects and writings, historical sources can also be traced from historical actors or witnesses in the form of their statements about historical events that are in accordance with the research topic being worked on.
In the search for historical sources, there are several mistakes that must be avoided, the following are mistakes that must be avoided in the search for historical sources;
1. Holism error
The mistake of holism is to choose one important part and assume that one part can represent the whole. An example is the event that occurred during the physical revolution of 1945-1950. A chronicler chose a setting in Surabaya about the battle between the Indonesians and the Allies. The things that happened in Surabaya related to the events of the battle between the Indonesian people against the Allies were considered to have similarities with the battles between the Indonesian people and the Allies in other areas where fighting was also taking place at that time.
2. Pragmatic Error
A pragmatic error occurs when for a particular purpose a chronicler only chooses sources that support that goal.
3. Ad hominem error
Ad hominem error occurs when someone chooses a person, authority, profession, rank or position in the collection of historical sources.
4. Quantitative error
Quantitative errors often occur because people trust documents with numbers more than regular testimonials.
5. Aesthetic Error
Aesthetic errors occur when someone only chooses historical sources that have an aesthetic effect.
Those were some things related to the search for historical sources or heuristic stages.
Historical Source Criticism (Verification)
Historical sources that have been collected cannot be directly used. This is because not all historical sources obtained are authentic sources and the information contained in them is not necessarily reliable. Things like this can happen because there are several historical sources that were deliberately falsified for certain purposes, therefore, it is necessary to carry out a form of verification or source criticism.
The main purpose of source criticism is to select data, so that accurate facts and credible information are obtained about a historical event. Each data should be recorded on a loose sheet, to make it easier to classify it based on the writing framework that has been made in the selection of research topics.
Source criticism includes internal criticism and external criticism which will be explained below:
(1) External Critic
External criticism is carried out by investigating external aspects of historical sources, criticism is carried out to determine the authenticity of sources. Things that are done in external criticism, among others, by examining the paper used, the ink, the letters, the age of the source and so on. For example, if someone wants to research a manuscript written by a British colonial official in Indonesia, then the form of letters and the style of language used must be in accordance with the era. Likewise, the paper used must be contemporary so it can be said if the manuscript is original. Investigations into the authenticity of the source are also carried out on artifacts because there are artifacts that have been forged, such as ancient human skulls, statues, and so on.
(2) Internal Critic
Internal criticism aims to assess the credibility of the source. Internal criticism is done by examining its contents. That is, things related to the content of statements, facts, and stories that can be trusted. One way that can be used to test the credibility of historical sources is by comparing them with other sources that also provide the same information.
An example is the policy regarding changes to the agrarian law in rural areas in 1950-1955.
A written report from a sub-district was found containing a report made by the Village Community Resilience Institute (LKMD). The report must also include the names of the LKMD management and also the things that characterize that the report was issued by the LKMD agency. In addition, it is also necessary to know since when the LKMD existed. It is known that at that time there was no agency called LKMD, so this source could not be trusted and could be used as a historical source to explain the changes in the agrarian law in rural areas in 1950-1955.
So, internal criticism must be done critically. In general, historians are not too much of a criticism of sources that change structure. Criticism of building sources is mostly done by archaeologists. Archaeologists with their technology can test the materials used in the construction of historic buildings. Thus, it will be known which buildings are original and which are not.
Criticisms made by historical researchers are made on oral sources. This method is mainly done to see whether what the informant conveys contains the truth, or the testimony or information given is a lie. Historical researchers criticize in a way such as looking at the age of the informant, the older the informant, the more vulnerable he is about the information he remembers. Second, look at the role played by informants in the events studied. Whether the informant witnessed the incident directly or not. The third is to check between one informant and another.
In conducting source criticism there are several things that must be avoided including:
(1) Pars Pro Toto Error
The pars pro toto error occurs when the chronicler or historian assumes that evidence that applies only to a part is considered valid for the whole. An example is the complaint that Kartini gave in her letters about the lives of Javanese women who were always kept in seclusion. The complaint raised by Kartini was then used as a statement that the lives of Javanese women were always kept in seclusion. In fact, the seclusion was only applied to girls of noble descent. Meanwhile, the village girls did not carry out the seclusion tradition as Kartini felt or experienced.
(2) Toto Pro Pars Error
The toto pro pars error occurs when a chronicler or historian presents the whole when the evidence in question is evidence in part. For example, all the Bumiputera people who attended public schools during the time when ethical political policies were enacted had become Western-minded people. In fact, there are also indigenous people who, despite having received Western education during the time of ethical political policies, still have mystical thoughts.
(3) Mistakes Assuming public opinion as fact
One example that considers public opinion as fact is the assumption that the Javanese are people who live in an agrarian way. In fact, there are also people from the Javanese tribe who live as traders and as fishermen.
Interpretation of Historical Sources (Interpretation)
The next stage of historical research after a history writer or historian has verified historical sources is to interpret or interpret. In interpreting, a historian or historian performs an analysis according to the focus of his research.
Scientific historical studies, in interpretation usually use theories from the social sciences. In this way, it is hoped that the writing of history will be more objective within its scientific limits. However, interpretation in history cannot be separated from the subjectivity of the author. Subjectivity can occur because the chronicler has his own view of the historical sources he has found.
Interpretation of historical sources is carried out after the historical sources pass the verification test. At this stage, the information contained in historical sources is studied and the historical facts contained in the information are brought to the surface. A historical fact is a historian's statement about something. This statement is the conclusion of a critical study of the information contained in historical sources.
In the interpretation or interpretation of historical sources, there are several forms, including:
1. Racial Determinism
The interpretation of history is based on the physical characteristics of humans (ethnology, heredity and/or race). A historian or history writer assumes that the factor of human physical nature is a controlling factor in human history, so that in interpreting history, they prioritize the physical nature factor.
2. Geographical Interpretation
Geographical interpretation looks for historical keys in the physical environment outside of humans, such as geographical factors: climate, soil, distribution of flora and fauna, natural resources, and so on. A historian or history writer assumes that geographical factors will affect the humans who live in that environment. So historians or historical writers in interpreting history cannot be separated from geographical factors.
3. Economic Interpretation
Economic interpretation is inspired by how the mode of production in the economic life of a society can determine the general character of the history of society itself. Economic interpretation affects political, social, religious, and cultural patterns. Therefore, a historian or historian in interpreting history will look at economic factors.
4. Interpretation of the Great Man Theory
Historians or historical writers from romantic groups argue that the main causal factors in historical development are the great man theory. History for them is a collective biography. What is meant here by great figures, for example, are statesmen, emperors or state leaders, warlords, philosophers and prophets. One example of such a great figure is the Prophet Muhammad, Soekarno, Confucius, Julius Caesar, Hammurabi and so on.
5. Spiritual or Idealistic Interpretation
Spiritual or idealistic interpretation relates to the role of the soul (spirit, soul), human ideas or ideals in historical development. Historians or historians assume that ideas are the driving force of history.
6. Interpretation of Science and Technology
The interpretation of science and technology tries to see that human progress has a direct relationship with the progress of science and technology. Science with the interpretation of this technology in turn can determine human life and economic activities. In this interpretation, humans are considered as "creators" rather than science and technology users as the main actors.
7. Sociological interpretation
Sociological interpretation tries to see the origin, structure and activities of society in its interaction with its physical environment. Society and the physical environment are always progressing together in an evolutionary process. Sociology and cultural anthropology try to explain the repetition and uniformity in historical causality.
8. Synthetic interpretation
Synthetic interpretation tries to combine all the factors or forces that drive history, according to this interpretation, there is no single category of "causation" which is sufficient to explain all phases and periods of historical development. This means that the development and course of history is driven by various factors and forces together and humans remain as the main actor in the historical movement.
Thus the explanation of the interpretation or interpretation of history, the next stage of historical research is about writing history or historiography.
Historical Writing (Historiography)
Writing history or historuiography is the final stage in historical research. Historiography is the process of compiling in writing from the findings obtained in a historical research into a story that is ready to be read or enjoyed by the reader. Writing a story or historical story, of course, should not forget the chronological aspect. Below is a presentation of historical research which generally consists of three main parts, namely as follows:
1. The first part consists of a title and an introduction which contains the background of the research, problems, literature review, the method used and also an outline of the research content.
2. The second part contains the discussion or description of the arguments arranged into a story or reconstruction of the events being studied. This section can be further divided into several sections so that the historical story is easier to read and understand by the reader. In addition, this division is also intended to lead the reader to the conclusions of the research.
3. The third or final part contains the conclusions of research conducted by historical writers or historians. In addition, at the end of this chapter, a bibliography and other sources used as material for the preparation of historical stories or stories are also included.
In the writing of history there are several things that should be avoided by a historian or historian, including;
1. Narrative Error
Narrative errors are errors in presentation. There are three things that must be avoided in academic writing, namely periodization errors, didactic errors, and discussion errors. Periodization errors occur when a chronicler or historian views a period as a definite time. For example, ancient times in Indonesia did not end exactly in the 15th century. But the end of a periodization in each place has a difference. The didactic error occurs when a historian or historian uses historiography to teach values. The discussion error consists of two things, namely the use of emotional language and the use of sentences that are not a consequence of the previous sentence.
2. Argument Error
Argument error occurs when a historian or historian makes a mistake in describing his ideas during presentation. This error can be a conceptual error and can also be a substantial error. Conceptual errors can occur if historians use terms that have two or more (ambiguous) meanings. As a result, readers can be misled. Meanwhile, substantive errors occur when historians and historians present irrelevant or irrational arguments.
3. Generalization error
In this case, there are two possible errors from a historian or historian, namely generalizations that are not representative and generalizations as certainty who see that historical generalizations are universal laws that apply in all places and times. In writing history, historical facts must be selected and arranged properly.
In selecting historical facts, the issue of relevance must get attention. This means that in the selection, the historical facts that will be used are historical facts related to the research topic.
There are four aspects to measure relevance, namely chronological, biographical, geographical and functional aspects. For example, for the topic of the proclamation of Indonesian independence there must be these four aspects; its biographical aspects relate to figures or groups such as Soekarno, Moh. Hatta, Ahmad Subardjo, PPKI. For the geographical aspect, among others, regarding the name of the island or city where an event occurred, in this event the island and city where the incident occurred was Java Island and the city was Jakarta, and Rengasdengklok, Karawang. Meanwhile, in terms of the chronological aspect, it is related to the time periods of the proclamation. And the last is related to the functional aspects, among others, regarding the positions of the people involved in the incident.
After the historical facts are selected, they are then compiled. The most plausible arrangement of historical facts is a chronological arrangement in time periods. In addition, the compilation of historical facts can be done based on the geographical point of view where history occurs and based on historical actors. Both people and groups. In order to avoid repeating the story of the same events, the last arrangement method must still be followed by chronological arrangement.
The results of historical research can be written in a written form consisting of three major parts;
1. The first part, introduction. In the introduction, the problems, background, historiography and author's opinion about other people's writings are presented, questions to be answered through research, theories and concepts to be used and historical sources to be used.
2. The second part, research. In this section the results of the research are presented, the author's responsibility is shown by displaying notes and attachments because every data written must be accompanied by supporting data.
3. The third part, conclusion. In this section, generalizations from the descriptions presented in the previous section are presented. In this generalization, it will be seen whether the author continues, accepts, makes notes or rejects the existing generalizations.
Thus an explanation of the steps of historical research methods which are divided into selecting research topics, collecting or searching historical sources, verifying or criticizing historical sources, interpreting or interpreting historical sources and writing history.