Planning and Conducting Historical Investigations (HSC SSCE Modern History): Revision Notes
Planning and Conducting Historical Investigations
Introduction to historical investigations
A historical investigation project allows you to develop as a critical thinker and make informed judgements about the past. This process is valuable for building skills you'll need in the modern world, including collaboration, critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and information literacy.
Investigation means carrying out formal or systematic examination or research into something or someone. Through historical investigation, you will explore various historical source materials including primary and secondary sources, letters, diary entries, paintings, and photographs. This helps you understand changing perspectives in history and the factors that influenced key personalities and events.
The historical inquiry process is fundamental to developing your skills as a historian. It provides a structured approach to examining the past while building essential analytical abilities.
The historical inquiry process enables you to:
- Question and examine the validity of source material
- Acknowledge how history has been represented
- Use evidence effectively to construct and support your judgements
- Communicate your arguments in a coherent and logical format
Formulating historical questions and hypotheses
Creating a strong historical investigation project requires thought and effort. However, this process allows you to think intellectually about an area of history you're passionate about whilst developing your planning and organisation skills. You'll build a thoughtful, well-sequenced research process by focusing on one step at a time.
Choosing your topic
To begin, you need to:
- Choose a topic of interest
- Develop a series of research questions
- Create a central thesis argument
- Write a research proposal
Taking time to fully explore your chosen interest area will help establish a positive foundation for your research. Careful planning and initial research ensure you'll be comfortable with your focus and enjoy the research experience.
Common Mistake to Avoid
Being too quick in deciding what to research creates difficulties throughout the entire process. Meticulous planning and organisation make the investigation both enjoyable and challenging. Take your time in the initial stages to ensure success later.
Topic suggestions
There are several approaches you can take when selecting a topic:
Approach 1: Studying an Individual
Examine a person's life, significance, and impact. For example, was Che Guevara a freedom fighter or calculated terrorist? Was Yasser Arafat a peacemaker or terrorist?
Approach 2: Studying an Event
Investigate the background, what happened, and the significance of events such as the Arab Spring, the fall of the Berlin Wall, or the Falklands War.
Approach 3: Studying a Theme Through Time
Examine what happened, the significance, and impact of themes like terror, decisive battles of modern history, or turning points in history.
Approach 4: Studying a Historical Site
Explore features, development, and the role through time of sites like Nuremberg, the Suez Canal, Berlin, or the River Thames.
Approach 5: Studying a Historical Debate
Select richly debated topics such as: Was the bombing of Hiroshima/Nagasaki necessary or did it save lives? Did the peacemakers cause World War II? Was American involvement in the Vietnam War justified?
Approach 6: Studying Representations in History Through Film
Examine how film has interpreted and represented significant personalities and events. For example, is Gallipoli a masterpiece of Australian history or artistic fiction? Does Saving Private Ryan show D-Day as it really happened?
Clarifying your topic
After identifying potential topic ideas, evaluate them by asking:
- Will there be enough historical information to examine about this topic?
- Can I construct a research project that examines various historical perspectives and make a clear judgement based on evidence?
- Is the scope manageable? Is the topic too narrow or too broad?
Perspective refers to a point of view from which events and issues in history can be analysed, such as the perspective of an individual or group in the past.
Interpretation is a way of understanding and explaining what happened in the past. Historians acknowledge there is often more than one view of what happened.
Choose a topic that incorporates an issue allowing you to explore differing historical perspectives and interpretations from historians. The syllabus states that your investigation must not overlap with or duplicate significantly any topic you'll study in Year 12 Modern History or History Extension courses.
How to frame a research question
Developing a good research question is an essential first step because it will focus your work and provide direction. You may have an interest in a broad area like World War I or World War II, but you need to identify a specific research area so you can develop a strong hypothesis.
Hypothesis means a proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation.
A good research question defines the focus of your project. It helps your teacher know the specific subject matter you'll address within your chosen broad topic. It sets boundaries to help you figure out where to go next, defining what evidence you need to collect and which methods you'll use to access and analyse your documents.
Evidence is the information elicited and interpreted from a source that is used to support a historical argument or inform a specific historical inquiry.
A strong historical investigation requires an analytical approach to research rather than simply providing narrative (a written account of connected events; a story). Your work must go beyond storytelling to include critical analysis and evaluation.
Instructional terms for framing questions
Most essay questions include an instructional term (the key word that outlines what a student is required to do). Consider using one of these instructional terms to phrase your focus question:
- To what extent...?
- Evaluate the significance...
- Analyse...
- Evaluate...
- Assess...
Another approach is to engage in a challenging debate about an event or personality. For example:
- Yasser Arafat – peacemaker or terrorist?
- Albert Speer – technocrat or ideologue?
- The atomic bombs – saved lives or unnecessary?
Analysing the meaning of research questions
Here's an example of a well-constructed research question:
Worked Example: Deconstructing a Research Question
"To what extent was Germany responsible for the outbreak of World War I?"
This question has three key components:
1. The instructional term: "To what extent" requires you to make a judgement on the nature of the extent (for example, 'large' extent, 'some' extent, 'certain' extent)
2. The scope and context: This focuses on the outbreak of World War I, specifically examining causes of the war up to 1914
3. The focus: German responsibility is central. Although you'll examine roles played by other nations, your research must provide a strong assessment of Germany's role
Why this works: This research question is specific and attention-grabbing. It requires analysis of the extent of German responsibility and demands a strong judgement on this historical area with reference to differing perspectives and interpretations.
Developing a proposal
Proposal means a plan or suggestion presented to a person or group of people to consider.
A research proposal is a one-page document outlining the preliminary research you've completed. The objective is to clearly articulate to your teacher:
- Your main research question
- Related sub-questions
- The evidence you'll be evaluating
- Your working thesis
You'll also discuss the benefits of researching this historical area and how you plan to organise your research. Your teacher will then provide valuable feedback highlighting the strengths and limitations of your preliminary research, ensuring you have the best opportunity to produce a coherent project.
Components of a research proposal
The proposal helps you plan and organise your research from the beginning. A sample pro-forma includes space to identify:
Research topic: Your broad area of historical interest
Research question: Your specific focus question
Initial inquiry questions: Questions that will help organise your research and provide detail to develop a strong response. These questions guide the evidence gathering process.
Sources identified so far: List books, journal articles, and internet resources that will assist in gathering evidence to support your historical arguments
Opposing historical viewpoints: Document key arguments in the historical debate you'll be examining. This typically includes Position A and Position B, showing you've identified different perspectives on your topic.
Key tips for an effective research proposal
Key Points for Creating a Strong Research Proposal:
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Selecting and narrowing: Choose a key historical idea that will form the basis for your project, then narrow the topic to ensure you can provide detailed analysis.
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Passion and requirements: Select a topic you're passionate about that meets the syllabus requirements.
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Clear definition: A focused topic helps you conduct an in-depth and well-argued research project.
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Important research questions: Outline important research questions and considerations in developing a working thesis as a key outcome of preliminary research.
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Thought-provoking debate: A good research question focuses on a thought-provoking historical debate where there are various perspectives and interpretations influenced by their historical context.
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Evidence-supported thesis: A strong working thesis needs support through evidence demonstrating extensive research throughout the process.
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Teacher feedback: Create a proposal that clearly outlines your historical topic, research questions to be explored, and working thesis for your teacher to provide feedback, guidance, and approval.
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
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Historical investigations develop critical thinking skills and help you make informed judgements about the past
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Choose a specific, manageable topic that you're passionate about and that allows exploration of different historical perspectives
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Frame your research question using instructional terms like "To what extent," "Evaluate," or "Analyse" to ensure an analytical approach
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Create a research proposal to organise your preliminary research and receive teacher feedback before proceeding