Philosophy and Research Methodology of History

Part : A-Philosophy of History
Course Outline
1. Philosophy of History:
a) definition, subject matter and scope
b) importance of the study of history
c) nature of history as an academic discipline
d) relations of history with other subjects
2. Branches of history: (political, economic, social, cultural, diplomatic and military.)
3. Some prominent philosophers of history:
a) Ibn Khaldun, Reni Decarte, G. Vico, Auguste, Comte, Leopold von Ranke Karl Marx,
Benedetto Croce, Arnold Toynbee.
4. Indian historiography:
a) Kalhana, Sandhyakar Nandi, Minhaj-us-Siraj, Ziauddin Barani, Abul Fazl, William
Hunter, Ramesh Chandra Majumder, Sir Jadunath Sarker, A.B.M. Habibullah.
Part-B
Research Methodology
Course Outline
1. Research : definition and nature, characteristics and objectives, types of research and types of
research methods.
2. Historical method of research : nature, scope and importance, different steps of research,
sources of information, primary and secondary sources.
3. Literature review : objectives, methods of searching research related books and articles,
taking notes, review methods, model reviews.
4. Research proposal : selection of appropriate theme, presentation of the subject matter,
hypothesis, justification, review of research related books, articles and other literature,
methodology, select bibliography
5. Methods of data collection and analysis: definition of data, sources, types of sources, analysis
and explanation, classification of collected data, analysis and explanation.
6. Thesis writing : title page, preface and acknowledgement, table of contents, text of thesis,
methods of using quotations, citation of information, appendix, bibliography.

Suggested Readings:
D. M. Sturley, The Study of History.
Donald V. Gawronski, History : Meaning and Method.
E. H. Carr, What is History.
Fleix Gilbert, Historical Studies Today.
Frederick A. Olafson, The Dialectic of Action : A Philosophical Interpretation of History and the Humanities,
(Chicago, 1979).
George Wilhelm Frederich Hegel, The Philosophy of History.
J. Trueman, The Anatomy of History.
Marl Lowit, Meaning in History.
Mohibbul Hassan (ed.), Historians of Medieval India.
R. G. Collingwood, The Idea of History.
Ernst Breisach, Historiography : Ancient, Medieval and Modern. (Chicago and London : University of Chicago
Press, 1994.)
Saravanavel, P. Research Methodology
Jacques Barzum and Herry F.Graff, The Modern Research.
Babble, E. R. Survey Research Methods.
Charles H Backstrom and Gerald D.Horsh, Survey Research
Curtis D.Hardwich, and Petrinovitch Lewis, Understanding Research in the Social Sciences.
Ahmed Dr. Neaz, Research Methods in Social Sciences.
Neuman, W. Lawrence, Basics of Social Research.