Research methods should be a part of a university education in any field, and classes should provide students with a learning experience. This is certainly true with regard to historical research in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and related professional fields (advertising, journalism, public relations, broadcasting, photography and cinema, and digital media).
Historical research is not as detail-oriented as scientific or social science research. Here we are looking at broad questions and big issues. However, historical research owes just as much to accuracy, ethics and the integrity of the process.
Media history research took a major leap forward with the digitization of historical publications in the early 2010s. Just as major new discoveries are often preceded by the development of new tools and techniques in the sciences, these new digital archives contain treasure troves of new material and insights that have barely been scratched. These include ProQuest, Google Archives, The US Library of Congress many photo and newspaper sites (including Chronicling America), Cornell University’s magazine history site ( Making of America ) and the National Library of Australia’s Trove site, among many others. These have opened windows into the past open that were unimaginable only a few decades ago.
One modern problem with university research papers is that Artificial Intelligence appears to make it easy. But that’s not necessarily so. Many times AI scrapings and glossings miss the vibrant historical record that is better revealed by traditional methods.
Here are suggested topic areas and approaches for student research and participation that are not so susceptible to AI glossing.
- Content analysis involves searching through the historical record and finding articles on a topic or person within their historical time frame.
- International media history — Communications history has not really been compiled in many nations. This web site includes a preliminary survey of regional media histories but more work is needed, and we will publish links to outstanding media histories on the web, in video or in print.
- Book and Movie reviews help keep classroom discussions vibrant and current
- Travelogues of writers who ventured through new lands and experiences are useful and interesting subjects for research.
- Visits to museums and collections can put students in touch with artifacts that help older eras come alive
- Hands on history activities (There’s a whole section for these)