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Qualitative and quantitative analyses of historical data.
1Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California 95616-8686, USA. dksimonton@ucdavis.edu
Annual Review of Psychology
|August 13, 2002
Summary
Psychologists can analyze historical data using qualitative or quantitative methods across various subfields. Quantitative analysis may become more prevalent than qualitative methods for historical psychological research.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Historical Research Methods
Background:
- Traditional psychological studies focus on contemporary participants.
- Historical data, including persons and events, are occasionally analyzed by psychologists.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline the distinctive methodological features of using historical data in psychology.
- To discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this research approach.
- To explore the future use of historical data and quantitative analyses in psychology.
Main Methods:
- Examples provided from cognitive, developmental, differential, abnormal, and social psychology.
- Methodological features cover data collection (sampling, unit definition) and data analysis (qualitative and quantitative).
Main Results:
- Historical data can be analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative techniques.
- Distinctive features of data collection and analysis for historical research are identified.
Conclusions:
- Psychologists are likely to continue utilizing historical data in their research.
- Quantitative analyses may increasingly supersede qualitative methods in the application to historical psychological data.