Research methods are referred to as techniques in Historical Science because it involves the right way to obtain various information and write it down in the form of writings or research reports. Many fields can be researched such as history.
Research Methods Called Historiographical Techniques in History
Historical research itself is a method used as a guide or guide for conducting research on historical events and the various problems that arise in them. This research method acts as an instrument to reconstruct history into a story, event, and knowledge that can be realized in today's era.
In the scope of history, this method is also known as the historical method. According to Louis Gottschalk, the historical method is an activity of collecting, testing, and analyzing data obtained from the relics of the past and then reconstructed based on the data obtained so as to produce a historical story.
This method is carried out with the aim of answering the five basic elements in historical writing, namely what (what), when (when), where (where), who (who), why (why), and how (how).
In particular, what is a historical event will be discussed further by using the historical method to find out when and where the event took place, who the actors or figures played a role in the event, why the event happened, and how the event took place to become a historical event. subject matter in history.
In the process of writing history, these six things are developed based on the facts and historical sources that already exist. These facts certainly save a phenomenon that will later be discussed and studied objectively so as to provide actual conclusions about historical events.
In the historical method, there are several steps that can be taken to collect data, analyze and study it in depth, up to the stages of interpretation and inference, and presentation. To uncover various events in the past, a writing effort called historiography is needed. This is done as objectively as possible so that research is carried out carefully based on existing historical sources and facts.
Historiography or historical writing must of course be done based on facts and complete information so as not to give rise to wrong assumptions or perceptions and deviate from the truth.
Forms of Historical Research Methods
In order to reveal various past events that have had an impact up to the present time, qualified and comprehensive forms of research are needed so that historians and scientists can develop forms of historical research based on data collection.
The following are two types of historical research conducted to obtain as accurate information as possible so that the research results are objective.
1. Field Research
In conducting this research, researchers generally come directly to the research site, in this case a historical place. Places of relics of historical objects are also called sites.
Some of these historical relics are still stored in the original place where the historical event took place, some have been moved to the museum. If the objects in question have been transferred to the museum, then field research can be done by visiting the museums that store these objects.
What is more difficult is if the historical relics are still buried in the ground or in a place that is difficult to reach, so that researchers have to dig or travel quite strenuous to get to that place.
In addition to getting information in the form of historical relics, researchers can also get information from people or eyewitnesses concerned with the historical events being studied. This field research is usually carried out by means of direct interviews with the perpetrators or witnesses of these historical events.
After the historical relics have been found, the research is continued by collecting data on the artifacts found or obtained, then identifying and briefly describing the artifacts.
Artifacts found are also usually taken to the laboratory for more thorough and in-depth investigation. This is usually done to determine the age of the artifacts found. The results of this field research are then disseminated through various means, be it print media, electronic media, or seminars attended by the researcher concerned.
Some of the important elements that must be present in this field research are as follows:
Research Element
Researchers who carry out this data collection method must fully understand the problem to be studied and what methods will be used to examine the object of research.
Actor Element
The actors here are the historical figures in question, respondents, or informants related to the historical events to be studied. The selected informants must be people who really understand the event so that the information obtained is not speculative (guessing).
Room
The room where an object or data is sought must be in accordance with the place where the historical event under study took place so that the causal relationship between the event and the scene can be traced and produce valid data.
Time
The time factor is meant by compiling research in accordance with the plan and the right timeframe. This is based on the use of funds that must be spent by researchers if research or field observations are not well structured.
Aim
Every research must have a clear and definite goal so that its implementation can be adjusted to the purpose and not widen in a direction that is not intended.
2. Library Research Methods
The research method is called library research based on the data collection method is library research, which is a documentary research. The research was carried out by scientists, especially historians with the focus of the object of research being written data or documents that are indeed important in a journey.
Because they relate to travel, the documents needed to be researched are mostly in museums or if you're lucky, you can get them from the historians themselves.
The object of this literature research does not have to be in the form of a written document. The object of research can be in the form of sound recordings, videos, and other forms that will facilitate research without having to come directly to the historic place.
To obtain accurate and objective research results, researchers can also conduct comparative research by comparing one historical source with other historical sources. For example, written sources with oral sources regarding the events of Indonesian independence.
Thus, the research method is referred to as the library method if the resulting data is obtained by looking at library references, while field research is obtained by directly examining the object of study in the right place. This is information about research methods commonly used in writing historical information in Indonesia.
Choosing a research method is not easy. If you use the wrong method, your research will not peel off perfectly. The data will only end up as data without providing any additional evidence or knowledge. Science that may be new, in the end only ends up as a hypothesis.