Archival research

(noun)

An archive is a way of sorting and organizing older documents, whether it be digitally (photographs online, e-mails, etc.) or manually (putting it in folders, photo albums, etc.). Archiving is one part of the curating process which is typically carried out by a curator.

Related Terms

Examples of Archival research in the following topics:

  • Industrial Cities

    • Archival health records show that as many as 40% of working class deaths in cities were caused by tuberculosis.

  • Reviewing the Literature

    • Sociological researchers review past work in their area of interest and include this "literature review" in the presentation of their research.
    • In writing the literature review, the purpose is to convey what a researcher has learned through a careful reading of a set of articles, books, and other relevant forms of scholarship related to the research question.
    • It indicates the theoretical framework that the researcher is working with.
    • It offers an explanation of how the researcher can contribute toward the existing body of scholarship by pursuing their own thesis or research question .
    • Good literature reviews require exhaustive research.

  • Research Funding

    • Research funding comes from grants from private groups or governments, and researchers must be careful to avoid conflicts of interest.
    • Money for sociological research doesn't grow on trees.
    • Research funding is often applied for by scientists and approved by a granting agency to financially support research.
    • Money for sociological research doesn't grow on trees.
    • Examine the process of receiving research funding, including avoiding conflicts of interest and the sources of research funding

  • Use of Existing Sources

    • Studying existing sources collected by other researchers is an essential part of research in the social sciences.
    • The study of sources collected by someone other than the researcher, also known as archival research or secondary data research, is an essential part of sociology .
    • In archival research or secondary research, the focus is not on collecting new data but on studying existing texts.
    • Without a thorough understanding of the research that has already been done, it is impossible to know what a meaningful and relevant research question is, much less how to position and frame research within the context of the field as a whole.
    • Researchers use secondary analysis for several reasons.

  • Documents

    • Documentary research involves examining texts and documents as evidence of human behavior.
    • It is possible to do sociological research without directly involving humans at all.
    • One such method is documentary research.
    • In documentary research, all information is collected from texts and documents.
    • Sociologists may use government documents to research the ways in which policies are made.

  • Preparing the Research Report

    • Like any research paper, sociological research is presented with a literature review, an overview of the methods used in data collection, and analysis, findings, and conclusions.
    • It shows the path of prior research and how the current project is linked.
    • It places the formation of research questions in their historical context.
    • Without assurance that the research is based on sound methods, readers cannot countenance any conclusions the researcher proposes.
    • In the findings and conclusion sections, the researcher reviews all significant findings, notes and discusses all shortcomings, and suggests future research.

  • Determining the Research Design

    • The research design is the methodology and procedure a researcher follows to answer their sociological question.
    • In this method of research, the researcher actually becomes a member of the group she or he is studying.
    • A research design encompasses the methodology and procedure employed to conduct scientific research.
    • Although sociologists often specialize in one approach, many sociologists use a complementary combination of design types and research methods in their research.
    • Even in the same study a researcher may employ multiple methods.

  • Misleading Research Subjects

    • If a researcher deceives or conceals the purpose or procedure of a study, they are misleading their research subjects.
    • Asch's study of conformity is an example of research that required deception.
    • Some sociology studies involve intentionally deceiving subjects about the nature of the research.
    • Pre-consent involves informing potential participants that a given research study involves an element of deception without revealing its exact nature.
    • Researchers working in dangerous environments may deceive participants in order to protect their own safety.

  • Confidentiality

    • These rules apply to field research as well.
    • Any research notes that might identify subjects should be stored securely.
    • By ensuring the safety of sensitive information, researchers ensure the safety of their subjects.
    • Following ethical guidelines, researchers keep individual details confidential for decades.
    • Give examples of how the anonymity of a research subject can be protected

  • Defining the Sample and Collecting Data

    • Many empirical forms of sociological research follow the scientific method .
    • It is important to determine the scope of a research project when developing the question.
    • The choice of method often depends largely on what the researcher intends to investigate.
    • While quantitative research requires at least 30 subjects to be considered statistically significant, qualitative research generally takes a more in-depth approach to fewer subjects.
    • Sampling can be used in both quantitative and qualitative research.