subject: The Importance Of Historical Research In Modern Society [print this page] The process of historical research is one that is as important today as it has ever been. While many are indeed preoccupied with the now, the truth is that the past still has a great deal to tell us about how the future might turn out. In this article, we'll examine some of the key ways that people in all walks of life conduct historical research.
Historical research is of course not limited to academic study, although it does form a key section of the people who conduct it. People investigating their own family's history, for example, will have a big interest in historical research, and will learn to take advantage of a great many different sources in order to garner the information they need.
But for many who engage in historical research, they are doing it as part of academic studies, or in relation to education. The library in all its many guises presents us with a huge range of information that can help see historical events in new light. Newspaper archives, books, periodicals, all of these help to give different views on the same information. It is not good practice to simply accept the first source you come across, you really need to verify it with another source, or at least show an opposing point of view.
And of course there are different sources to consider too. Primary sources are sources of information that have come from people who actually witnessed an event and who have given their opinion or viewpoint on it. A secondary source might be considered to be something like a book that has been written on the subject and which comes to its own conclusions, perhaps backed up itself by secondary sources.
Historical research is something of an art in itself, and many would say is essential for the continued success of modern civilisation. Without learning the lessons of the past, we will no doubt continue to make the same mistakes, something that cannot be tolerated. Historical research takes time to learn how to do properly, and even when you come to your conclusions, you will find that there will be someone who disagrees with you. This is the nature of the beast, a nature that can only be tamed with consummate attention to detail. No one can establish exactly what happened years ago, but by a methodical approach to historical research, it is possible to identify something that approaches it.
