Historical Research and Policy Analysis

Historical Research and Policy Analysis – Uses and Limits

• Quantitative Research
  • Requires data which is numerical/statistical
  • Examples: Content analysis, surveys
• Qualitative Research
  • Involves data which is textual/visual
  • Example: historical research and policy analysis
• Remember
  • They are not mutually exclusive
  • Example: Lewis & Neville on Rosie the Rivetter

History & Policy: Definitions

• “History” : “Record of what has happened in the past” and the past starts now
• “Policy” : Planned rules governing expectations for behaviour; generally administrative, can be public or private, formal or informal
• “longitudinal” : (adj) describing something which occurs over time (e.g. childhood education used by scientists, some social scientists.)

Historical Research: Uses

• Understand how/why something happened in the past
  • Examples:
    • National film distribution policies
      • How did industries develop? Any obstacles? What policies enacted? Effective? Is Canadian situation comparable?
    • How did Canadian film production develop? Who was involved ? How did they work? What stories did they tell?
• Provide background/context for current phenomena
  • Examples:
    • New presidents appointed for a government agency? Who is she? What’s her background? What experience does she have?
  • Assumption:
    • Knowing the past will help us understand the present
    • Knowing the past will help us prepare for the future.
• Understand change
  • Examples:
    • Impact of TV on news/entertainment in 1950s
      • What was available before? How fast did TV spread? Did everyone have access?
    • Demers:
    • Does corporate ownership affect newspaper quality?
  • Assumptions
    • Knowing the past will help us understand the present
    • Knowing the past will help us prepare for the future.
• Understand the past for its own sake
  • “Preentist”: current bias affects historical view
  • “The past is a different country”
    • Examples:
      • Study of magazines and start of consumer culture
      • Use of past to justify the present

Category: Research Methods