Chapter 1: Learning History

LESSON 2: HISTORICAL METHOD

IRADIEL M. DELOS REYES
HISTORICAL METHOD
HISTORICAL METHOD
The historical method refers to the strategies and standards
historians use to investigate and write history using primary
sources and other data.

Historians rely on historical sources, which are classified as

primary or secondary, depending on the subject being
studied.
HISTORICAL METHOD
The historian, on the other hand, must rely on a variety of
sources that aren't found in books.

History is studied through historical sources, with historians

using various techniques and theories to research and write
about it, aiming to enhance and promote national identity.
2 TYPES OF SOURCES
 2 TYPES OF SOURCES
A. PRIMARY SOURCES
B. SECONDARY SOURCES
PRIMARY SOURCES

Primary sources are documents created by individuals or

groups who were directly involved in the event or issue
under investigation. These individuals are either participants
in the incident or eyewitnesses to it. Eyewitness reports,
diaries, letters, legal papers, official documents
(government or private), and even pictures are among the
sources.
EXAMPLES OF PRIMARY SOURCES
1. Photographs that may represent historical and
contemporary social circumstances.
2. Old sketches and drawings that may depict the living
circumstances of bygone cultures
3. Old maps showing how space and geography were
employed to emphasize trade routes, structural
development, etc
4. Cartoons for political or propagandist purposes
5. Prehistoric material evidence such as cave paintings,
archaic syllabaries, and ancient texts
6. Tables, graphs, and charts with statistical data
7. Oral history or electronic recordings of eyewitness or
participant stories were subsequently transcribed and
utilized for study.
SECONDARY SOURCES

According to Gottschalk, Secondary sources are "testimony

of anybody who is not an eyewitness—that is, of someone
who was not there at the incident of which he relates."
Secondary sources were developed by people who were not
present at or involved in the events or situations you're
studying.
EXAMPLES OF SECONDARY SOURCES
1. Biography: Accounts of a person's life written by someone
other than the subject
2. Art reviews: Critiques of art
3. Journal articles: Articles that analyze or comment on research
4. Textbook: A book that collects information from primary
sources
5. Dissertations: Research papers that analyze a topic
6. Newspaper articles: Articles that analyze news
7. Encyclopedias: Works that provide information on a wide
range of topics
8. Political commentary: Opinion pieces that express a political
viewpoint
TYPES OF PRIMARY SOURCES
 TYPES OF PRIMARY SOURCES
Published Documents. Some primary sources are
documents that have been published. They were made for
a big audience and widely disseminated.
Unpublished Documents. Unpublished records of all kinds
have been preserved and can be used as primary sources.
Oral Traditions/Oral Histories. Oral histories and traditions
are another approach to learning about the past from
those who lived through historical events directly.
Visual Documents and Artifacts. Photographs, videos,
paintings, and other kinds of artwork are examples of
visual documentation
External and Internal Criticism
 External and Internal Criticism
Many diaries, memoirs, reposts, and testimonials are
produced to elevate the writer's status, stature, or
relevance, thus researchers cannot take historical facts at
face value. As a result of this potential, historical data
must be checked for validity and accuracy. Such an
assessment is carried out through criticism, questioning,
and research to establish data accuracy, bias, omissions,
and consistency (Historical Research Methods, n. d.).
 External Criticism
External Criticism is the element of the historical method
that assesses whether or not a source is genuine. The goal
is to identify created, forged, or falsified papers and to
tell the difference between a hoax and a
misrepresentation.
- In a historical investigation, it refers to the authenticity
of the documents used by the researcher.
- Also known as lower critique. It examines whether the
evidence under evaluation is genuine.
 Internal Criticism
Internal Criticism is the portion of the historical method
that evaluates if the facts in the text are historically
accurate. The document does not have to be proven
authentic; even forgeries or documents with abridged
facts may include available information.

- It's also known as higher criticism. It deals with more

important matters than external forms.
- It can be approached positively to uncover the text's real
meaning or negatively to find reasons to doubt it.
 EXTERNAL VS. INTERNAL CRITICISM
EXTERNAL INTERNAL

- Determines if a source is - Determines if a source's

authentic content is accurate
- Examines the source's - Examines the source's
physical characteristics, such content and truthfulness
as its date, place of origin, - Evaluate the author's
and authorship perspective, knowledge, and
- Evaluate the source's purpose in writing
context of creation
CODE OF KALANTYAW
SYNTHESIS
The historical method is not a static process but a dynamic
and evolving one. It's a continuous cycle of questioning,
researching, analyzing, and interpreting, always open to new
evidence and perspectives. As new sources emerge and our
understanding of the past deepens, historical narratives are
constantly refined and reshaped. This ongoing process of
inquiry is what makes the study of history so vital, allowing
us to continually learn from the past and apply those lessons
to the present and future.
ACTIVITY: “A DAY IN LIFE” COMICS-MAKING
Objective: To inform the incoming 1st-year students of NCC.
Direction: Draw a comic strip (as a primary source) showing what
a typical day is like for a student at NCC! Think about classes,
lunch, clubs, friends, and anything else that makes up your school
day. Keep it simple and fun! (A4 size bandpaper)
Rubrics:
Content -----– 10 pts
Creativity----- 10 pts
Originality---- 10 pts
Total --------- 30 pts
THANK
YOU VERY
MUCH!
SER RAD