What are the best historical research skills for a museum professional?

1 Define your research question

The first step in any historical research project is to define your research question. This is the problem or issue that you want to investigate and answer. A good research question should be clear, specific, and feasible. It should also be relevant to your museum's mission, audience, and collection. To define your research question, you need to do some preliminary research and brainstorming. You can use various sources, such as books, journals, websites, databases, catalogs, and archives, to get an overview of your topic and identify gaps or controversies. You can also consult with your colleagues, supervisors, or experts to get feedback and suggestions.

2 Develop your research strategy

Once you have your research question, you need to develop your research strategy. This is the plan or method that you will use to collect and organize the information that you need to answer your question. A good research strategy should be systematic, comprehensive, and flexible. It should also be ethical and respectful of the sources and the people involved. To develop your research strategy, you need to consider several factors, such as your research scope, your research purpose, your research sources, and your research tools. You need to decide what types of sources you will use, such as primary, secondary, or tertiary, and how you will access them, such as online, offline, or in person. You also need to choose what tools you will use to manage your sources, such as citation software, note-taking apps, or spreadsheets.

3 Evaluate your sources

As you collect your sources, you need to evaluate them critically and carefully. This means that you need to assess their credibility, reliability, validity, and relevance for your research question. You also need to compare and contrast different sources and perspectives and identify any biases, limitations, or inconsistencies. To evaluate your sources, you need to apply several criteria, such as authority, accuracy, currency, coverage, and objectivity. You need to check the credentials and reputation of the authors, publishers, and institutions behind the sources. You need to verify the facts, data, and arguments presented in the sources. You need to examine the date, scope, and quality of the sources. You need to analyze the purpose, tone, and perspective of the sources.

4 Analyze your data

After you evaluate your sources, you need to analyze your data. This means that you need to interpret, synthesize, and contextualize the information that you have gathered and relate it to your research question. You also need to identify and explain any patterns, trends, relationships, or anomalies that emerge from your data. To analyze your data, you need to use various techniques, such as categorization, classification, comparison, contrast, correlation, or causation. You need to organize your data into themes, concepts, or categories that help you answer your question. You need to use evidence, logic, and reasoning to support your claims and arguments. You need to situate your data within the broader historical framework and background.

5 Communicate your findings

The final step in any historical research project is to communicate your findings. This means that you need to present and share your results and conclusions with your intended audience and format. You also need to acknowledge and cite your sources and respect the intellectual property and copyright of others. To communicate your findings, you need to use various skills, such as writing, speaking, visualizing, or digitalizing. You need to tailor your message, style, and tone to your audience, purpose, and medium. You need to use clear, concise, and coherent language and structure. You need to use appropriate and effective visual aids, such as graphs, charts, maps, or images. You need to use reliable and consistent citation systems, such as MLA, APA, or Chicago.

These are some of the best historical research skills for a museum professional. By developing and applying these skills, you can enhance your professional competence and performance and contribute to the advancement of historical knowledge and understanding.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?