Finding History

Research Methods and Resources for Students and Scholars

By (author) Christine Bombaro

Publication date:

06 September 2012

Length of book:

254 pages

Publisher

Scarecrow Press

Dimensions:

236x156mm
6x9"

ISBN-13: 9780810883796

In today’s world of modern research methods, the irony is that even though more materials are readily available now than ever before, this proliferation of sources has actually made the process more difficult for the novice researcher. In addition, today’s professors expect high-quality sources to be used in students’ undergraduate research precisely because so much information is available; however, without instruction, many students are not even aware of the standard history sources that they should be using routinely for history research projects. Finding History is a practical and modern guide to research for history projects, helping to sort through the available resources and technology for students, scholars, and librarians.

Finding History includes practical, step-by-step instructions for discovering historical evidence using library catalogs, databases, and websites. It simplifies and clarifies the research process so that students new to the experience may locate appropriate research material with the same skill as seasoned historians. This book addresses the information literacy skills defined by the American Library Association and the American Historical Association, which include

recognizing the need for scholarly historical information;
defining and identifying the need for primary, secondary, and tertiary sources;
knowing what finding tools are available to help locate historical sources;
using history research tools efficiently and effectively;
learning research vocabulary as well as the vocabulary of the historical profession;
making evaluative judgments about the scholarly value of materials once they are located;
physically acquiring research materials;
using research material effectively to support a thesis or argument; and
using research material ethically and responsibly.

Including search samples and tables, Finding History is a valuable resource for anyone wanting to ensure their research draws from the best available sources and those needing instruction in locating, obtaining, evaluating, and using scholarly sources efficiently, directly, and ethically.

Acknowledgments
Preface
Chapter One: Introduction to Historical Research
Chapter Two: Getting Started
Chapter Three: Overview of Historical Information
Chapter Four: Tertiary Sources
Chapter Five: Secondary Sources
Chapter Six: Primary Sources
Chapter Seven: Search Tricks
Chapter Eight: Case Study
Appendix 1: Bibliography
Appendix 2: Footnotes
Appendix 3: Academic Presses and Scholarly Journals for Historians
Appendix 4: How to Tell the Difference between an Online Article and a Website
Appendix 5: How to Scan Secondary Sources for Content

Authored by the associate director for information literacy and research services for the Waidner-Spahr Library at Dickinson College, this work is good for students to use as a handbook for learning to research, specifically in the area of history but in all areas that can use ideas and examples drawn from history, as well as being suitable for librarians seeking ideas for information literacy sessions for history students, and for collection development of free and paid sources. Written so that it can be read cover-to-cover as a textbook or informational text, the chapters also stand alone, serving as a reference book to refer to when facing specific questions....This book is of great use to new students of history and those practitioners who are new to technology or wish a refresher to adapt to the ever-changing and over-expanding world of historical research, and to gain an understanding of the methods and standards behind the research proves followed by librarians and history professionals.