Research Methods for History

A wide-ranging critical survey of methods for historical research at all levels

Historians have become increasingly sensitive to social and cultural theory since the 1980s, yet the actual methods by which research is carried out in History have been largely taken for granted. Research Methods for History encourages those researching the past to think creatively about the wide range of methods currently in use, to understand how these methods are used and what historical insights they can provide.

This updated new edition has been expanded to cover not only sources and methods that are well-established in History, such as archival research, but also those that have developed recently, such as the impact of digital history research. The themes of the different chapters have been selected to reflect new trends in the subject, including landscape studies, material culture and ethics. Every chapter presents new insights and perspectives and will open researchers’ minds to the expanding possibilities of historical research.

Key features

• International scope
• Encourages methodological comparison across time-periods
• Encourages historians at all levels to think critically and creatively
• Transferable methodological skills useful for English Studies, Geography, Archaeology and Cultural Studies

Contributors

• Krista Cowman, University of Lincoln
• Lucy Faire, University of Leicester
• William Gallois, University of Exeter
• Jo Guldi, Brown University
• Simon Gunn, University of Leicester
• Ludmilla Jordanova, Durham University
• Prashant Kidambi, University of Leicester
• Michelle T. King, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Keith Lilley, Queen’s University Belfast
• Alan Mayne, University of South Australia and University of Leicester
• R. J. Morris, University of Edinburgh
• Bob Nicholson, Edge Hill University
• Catherine Porter, Lancaster University
• Julie-Marie Strange, University of Manchester
• Alistair Thomson, Monash University