3.1.1 Understanding the aims of the Historical Investigation

• A historical investigation involves formulating a hypothesis
• Formulating a hypothesis is a key aim of a historical investigation
• Historical inquiry involves formulating questions, gathering evidence, analyzing sources, and presenting findings
• Key steps in historical inquiry

  1️⃣ Formulating a clear question

  2️⃣ Collecting and evaluating evidence

  3️⃣ Analyzing sources

  4️⃣ Interpreting evidence

  5️⃣ Presenting findings
• Match the objective of historical inquiry with its benefit:

  Understand past events ↔️ Develop critical thinking and analytical skills

  Interpret primary and secondary sources ↔️ Promote informed decision-making

  Develop historical perspectives ↔️ Foster empathy and understanding

  Write coherent historical narratives ↔️ Enhance communication skills
• Understanding past events in historical inquiry develops critical thinking and analytical skills
• Primary sources provide direct evidence of historical events
• Match the type of primary source with an example:

  Diaries and Letters ↔️ Personal journals, correspondence

  Speeches and Public Records ↔️ Political speeches, court documents

  Photographs and Maps ↔️ Images, cartographic works

  Artifacts and Material Culture ↔️ Tools, pottery

  Newspaper Articles and Publications ↔️ Contemporary reports
• A limitation of primary sources is potential bias
• Secondary sources provide valuable context and different perspectives
• Steps in analyzing secondary sources

  1️⃣ Identify the author's thesis

  2️⃣ Evaluate the evidence

  3️⃣ Compare perspectives

  4️⃣ Assess credibility
• Secondary sources like academic articles offer in-depth analyses of historical events, helping historians understand their complexities
• What is a historical investigation?

  A thorough study of history
• Steps in conducting a historical investigation

  1️⃣ Formulating a hypothesis

  2️⃣ Using primary and secondary sources

  3️⃣ Conducting detailed analysis

  4️⃣ Drawing a well-reasoned conclusion
• A historical investigation is crucial for the AQA A-Level History Non-Exam Assessment.
• When investigating the causes of World War I, a hypothesis could be: "The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand was the primary trigger
• What is the first aim of a historical investigation?

  Formulating a hypothesis
• Gathering both primary and secondary sources provides a comprehensive view
• Analyzing evidence involves critically assessing source reliability and relevance.
• What type of evidence could support a hypothesis about the Industrial Revolution's impact on urbanization?

  Census data
• The main purpose of historical inquiry is to formulate questions, gather evidence, analyze sources, and present findings
• Steps in historical inquiry

  1️⃣ Formulating a clear question

  2️⃣ Collecting and evaluating evidence

  3️⃣ Analyzing sources

  4️⃣ Interpreting evidence

  5️⃣ Presenting findings
• Historical inquiry aims to contribute to historical knowledge.
• What is a benefit of historical inquiry?

  Develops critical thinking
• Studying the French Revolution can reveal economic inequality, political instability, and societal pressures as major contributing factors
• Primary sources provide direct evidence of historical events.
• What is an example of a primary source?

  Personal diary
• A limitation of primary sources is their potential bias
• What can analyzing letters from the French Revolution reveal?

  Social and political grievances
• Secondary sources are interpretations created after the events they describe.
• Steps to analyze secondary sources

  1️⃣ Identify the author's thesis

  2️⃣ Evaluate the evidence

  3️⃣ Compare perspectives

  4️⃣ Assess credibility
• Match the source type with its purpose:

  Primary Source ↔️ Provide direct evidence

  Secondary Source ↔️ Offer context and perspectives
• Secondary sources include books, articles, and biographies.
• What is the first step in analyzing a secondary source?

  Identify the author's thesis
• Evidence in secondary sources is used to support the author's thesis.
• Primary sources are firsthand accounts or artifacts
• What is the primary purpose of secondary sources?

  Offer context and perspectives
• Match the source type with an example:

  Primary source ↔️ Diary

  Secondary source ↔️ Book
• Secondary sources are analyses or interpretations
• What is the strength of secondary sources in historical analysis?

  Context and analysis