There are three major methods of research. the method which enquirers regarding past is called as historical method. In this presentation, historical method is described in brief.

1. Methods of
research

2. Experimental
Historical Descriptive
Past Present Future
What
was?
What
is?
What
will be ?

3. The descriptive method is related with
the present situation. The commonly
used descriptive methods are
Survey
Co relational
Ex post facto

4. Experimental method is related
with the future. Here researcher
has to select certain appropriate
design to implement the
experiment.

5. Historical research is the systematic
collection and objective evaluation of
data related to past occurrences in
order to test hypotheses concerning
causes, effects or trends of those events
that may help to explain present events
& anticipate future events.

6. The purpose of a historical
study is to discover new
knowledge or to correct or
expand existing knowledge
regarding historical thins,
incidences & facts.

7. Formulation of hypothesis if any
Criticism of Data--internal & external
Interpretation & synthesis of data
Writing of the research report.
Defining the problem

8. Primary
-Records
documents-
Official
Personal
Oral, Pictorial
Published matter
Diaries
Remains & relics
Letters, receipts
Secondary-
Historical books
biographies
Bakhar
Encyclopedia

9. External criticism is concerned with establishing
the time, place& authorship of the document&
restoring the original form & language
employed by the author.
It requires opinions & testing by experts.
Lab testing is required.
Authenticity & genuineness is tested.

10. Internal criticism is concerned with ascertaining
the meaning & trustworthiness of the data within
the document.
It requires checking & verifying the data on
different levels.
Whether the information is written without any
prejudices, biasness. Whether whatever written is
authentic & written exactly as per the actual thing
happened &without doing any modifications or not.

11. Whether the Writer was in good mental
condition or not.
Whether the matter or the incidence was not
written under pressure or not.
Whether the writer has written the matter
objectively or not.
Whether the matter was written without any bias
& prejudices or not.

12. The historical study some times become vague.
Most of the times Secondary data are used which
always less reliable.
Criticism may be incomplete, improper.
There may be limitations in logical analysis.
It may become biased.
Limitations may arise due to improper writing skill
also..

13. Thanks