Historical research is the process of investigating the past using evidence, sources, and methods. A historical research question is a specific, focused, and feasible inquiry that guides your analysis and argument. How can you write a great historical research question? Here are some tips to help you.
The first step is to choose a topic that interests you and is relevant to your discipline, course, or assignment. You can start with a broad area, such as a period, a region, a theme, or a phenomenon, and then narrow it down to a more specific aspect. For example, if you are interested in medieval Europe, you can focus on a particular country, century, social group, or event.
Writing a great historical research question is essential for guiding your investigation and shaping the direction of your study. A well-crafted research question should be specific, clear, and relevant, while also offering room for exploration and analysis. In summary, writing a great historical research question involves careful consideration of your area of interest, narrowing down the focus, reviewing existing literature, formulating a clear and relevant question, seeking feedback, and remaining open to discovery. By following these steps, you can craft a research question that guides your inquiry and contributes to our understanding of the past.
The next step is to do some background research on your topic to gain some general knowledge and context. You can use secondary sources, such as books, articles, encyclopedias, and websites, to learn about the main issues, debates, and perspectives in the field. You can also look for primary sources, such as documents, artifacts, images, and recordings, that provide direct evidence of the past. Background research can help you identify gaps, problems, or controversies that can inspire your research question.
You need a mix of both breadth and depth. "General knowledge" is not enough. A great research question is in step with the other questions being asked by researchers, but it lives in its own lane. Go for breadth first to see what resonates and where you're feeling most drawn and then dive deep into that area that's calling you to identify the holes.
The third step is to formulate a question that is clear, concise, and arguable. An effective historical research question should be based on historical evidence and context, be relevant to your topic and purpose, be original and interesting, manageable and feasible, and debatable and not obvious. Depending on your goal and approach, you can use different types of questions such as descriptive, explanatory, evaluative, or comparative. For instance, a descriptive question could be: What were the causes and consequences of the Black Death in Europe? An explanatory question might be: How did the Black Death affect the social and economic structures of medieval Europe? An evaluative question might inquire: To what extent was the Black Death a catalyst for cultural and intellectual change in medieval Europe? And a comparative question could ask: How did the responses to the Black Death differ between Western and Eastern Europe?
Spannend wird es immer dann, wenn man nicht nur in der Geschichte forscht (das ist meist nur für Historiker selbst spannend), sondern immer versucht die Parallelen zur Gegenwart zu ziehen. Also die Frage aufwirft: was k?nnen wir aus der Geschichte für heute und für die Zukunft lernen?
The final step is to refine your question by revising, testing, and feedback. You can revise your question by rephrasing, clarifying, or modifying it to make it more precise, specific, or focused. You can test your question by checking if it meets the criteria mentioned above and if it can be answered with available sources and methods. You can also seek feedback from your peers, instructors, or experts to get different perspectives and suggestions on how to improve your question.
Writing a great historical research question is a skill that requires practice, creativity, and critical thinking. A historical research question can help you frame your research project, guide your inquiry, and shape your argument. By following these tips, you can write a historical research question that is meaningful, engaging, and rigorous.