| An Introduction to Documentary Research | | The documentary milieu as a form of archival inquiry seems most pronounced in the area of history with many curriculum historians working extensively with primary documents. Ironically, within the tradition of the social sciences and the field of qualitative research, with its emphasis upon generating data through various means of inquiry, the use of extant documents from the past and present seem somewhat overshadowed. Yet, the field of sociology maintains a longstanding and popular tradition of documentary inquiry and, with continual evolution of hybrid and virtual documentary sources from the internet and email, this form of data, evidence, and documentation will become more commonplace as qualitative and quantitative researchers recognize that they must appraise and ascertain the provenance of information (McCulloch, 2004). From this perspective, material culture takes the form of documentation, falling into basic categories of personal, public, and official documents (Hill, 1993). Personal documents include correspondence, journals, autobiographical writings and memoir. Public documents typically comprise published and publicly presented documents including newspapers-magazines, flyers, books, etc. Official documentation includes administrative documents representing agencies and organizations. In another of its forms, documentary research couples dissonant paradigms of managing and ascertaining documentary evidence, as conceived in the traditional social sciences, with creating and formulating aesthetic presentations, as conceived from the arts and humanities. Fundamental documentary perspectives include modes of representation (images, diaries, publications, sound recordings, monuments and memorials, etc.) and modes of engagement as a creative enterprise of presentation, i.e., the aesthetic presentation of documentary radio, film, and photography (Nichols, 2001). The aesthetics of documentary studies brings attention to the modes of narration (documentary as a form of storytelling) and the protocols of subjectivities (the alignment of different perspectives and interpretations as part of the documentary items) (Austin & de Jong, 2008). With the use of primary and secondary materials, the researcher must assess and analyze the documents themselves before extracting content. Appraising documents typically includes four criteria: authenticity, credibility, representativeness, and meaning (Scott, 2006). Authenticity addresses whether the materials are genuine or of questionable origin, and whether their production is original and reliable and has not been subsequently altered. If the document has been transformed, through textual editing, marginalia, or other means, the researcher seeks to clearly identify those alterations. Authenticity is typically viewed as the most fundamental criterion for all documentary research in education since the confirmation of authorship, place, and date are typically determined before any researcher continues working with the document. Once determined that the document is “genuine and of unquestionable origin,” the material becomes “valid” as an artifact, although its content may still be questionable or subsequently found to be “incorrect.” While a narrative account or any form of qualitative data may be original and genuine—authentic—the content may still be distorted in some manner. Thus, a second criterion in appraising materials is determining credibility and whether the document’s information is honest and accurate. Such a rendering was much easier before our post-modern era and the recognition of constructed truths. At times, classroom descriptions and narratives suggest that the author may not have been in a position to formulate a faithful explanation or that the description was intentionally made to alter the record for dubious motives or unintentionally made merely by witlessness or inexperience. All accounts become biased in some manner, and the documentary researcher is constantly ascertaining motives similar to the biographer as a way to detect distortion of the material.
A third criterion, representativeness, seeks to determine whether the document is typical of such accounts—perhaps described as “reliable”—and whether the material represents a collection of produced materials rather than an idiosyncratic portrayal. A document’s representativeness may be distorted with the passing of time as the survival rate of certain materials becomes greater since the items may have been viewed as less valuable and, thus, stored away, rarely seen after their point of origination, and thus preserved. The acquisitions process—archival staff members “weeding” the collection (eliminating what are considered non-essential items)—may also distort provenance and representativeness. Similarly, some important documents do not survive because their great significance caused them to become used and worn and, subsequently, discarded while less important documents survive because they are so little used. Matters of generalizability and reliability are constantly hovering above documentary researchers as they examine materials and decide what items should be drawn upon in their work. Interestingly, Scott (2006) recognizes that determining whether documents are fully authentic, credible, and representative may never be able to be confirmed by the researcher; thus, he reverses the process and asks whether the materials may be deemed as inauthentic, non-credible, or unrepresentative. This has led to a perspective described as “methodological distrust” where researchers take a general approach of questioning all materials and demanding that documents must prove their own authenticity, credibility, and representativeness before being used. A final criterion—meaning—represents the textual analysis of the document and whether the evidence is clear and comprehensible. Coupled with this semiotic and intertextual examination is whether the document’s content is appropriately situated within its historical context; this is ascertained, in part, by the method in which meaning is constructed and perceived by its originally intended audience. While these four criteria are fundamental, McCullough (2004) underscores a fifth criterion of document analysis: theorization—the anticipated theoretical, hermeneutic framework for interpreting the material. Such theoretical perspectives are commonplace for those in the field of curriculum studies. Documentary research, however, underscores an important dimension to theorization and the construction of meaning of a document: the reconstruction of a text’s meaning as it moves from author to audience. Scott (2006) notes the transition of intended content (the author’s intended meaning), the received content (meaning as constructed by the reader/perceiver), and internal meaning (transactional understandings derived from the intended and received meanings). Related analysis and assessment of documents occurs as materials are ascertained as being public or private, primary or secondary (noting that a primary source need not be the sole original document; primary materials are first-hand documents), and whether the researcher has direct-proximate contact (being able to examine the original or primary document) or indirect-mediate access (facsimile or scanned e-version). The Biographical and Documentary Research SIG will be making a concerted effort to develop further our involvement and programming in the area of documentary research theory. We encourage all members to begin exploring this research realm. A wonderful introduction to this area is (SIG member) Gary McCulloch’s Austin, T. & de Jong, W. (2008). . London: Open University Press.
Hill, M. R. (1993). . Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.
McCulloch, G. (2004). . London: RoutledgeFalmer.
Nichols, B. (2001). . Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press.
Scott, J. P. (Ed.). (2006). . Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
By Craig Kridel, University of South Carolina | | |  Home » Documentary Analysis – Methods, Applications and Examples Documentary Analysis – Methods, Applications and ExamplesTable of Contents  Documentary AnalysisDefinition: Documentary analysis, also referred to as document analysis , is a systematic procedure for reviewing or evaluating documents. This method involves a detailed review of the documents to extract themes or patterns relevant to the research topic . Documents used in this type of analysis can include a wide variety of materials such as text (words) and images that have been recorded without a researcher’s intervention. The domain of document analysis, therefore, includes all kinds of texts – books, newspapers, letters, study reports, diaries, and more, as well as images like maps, photographs, and films. Documentary analysis provides valuable insight and a unique perspective on the past, contextualizing the present and providing a baseline for future studies. It is also an essential tool in case studies and when direct observation or participant observation is not possible. The process usually involves several steps: - Sourcing : This involves identifying the document or source, its origin, and the context in which it was created.
- Contextualizing : This involves understanding the social, economic, political, and cultural circumstances during the time the document was created.
- Interrogating : This involves asking a series of questions to help understand the document better. For example, who is the author? What is the purpose of the document? Who is the intended audience?
- Making inferences : This involves understanding what the document says (either directly or indirectly) about the topic under study.
- Checking for reliability and validity : Just like other research methods, documentary analysis also involves checking for the validity and reliability of the documents being analyzed.
Documentary Analysis MethodsDocumentary analysis as a qualitative research method involves a systematic process. Here are the main steps you would generally follow: Defining the Research QuestionBefore you start any research , you need a clear and focused research question . This will guide your decision on what documents you need to analyze and what you’re looking for within them. Selecting the DocumentsOnce you know what you’re looking for, you can start to select the relevant documents. These can be a wide range of materials – books, newspapers, letters, official reports, diaries, transcripts of speeches, archival materials, websites, social media posts, and more. They can be primary sources (directly from the time/place/person you are studying) or secondary sources (analyses created by others). Reading and Interpreting the DocumentsYou need to closely read the selected documents to identify the themes and patterns that relate to your research question. This might involve content analysis (looking at what is explicitly stated) and discourse analysis (looking at what is implicitly stated or implied). You need to understand the context in which the document was created, the author’s purpose, and the audience’s perspective. Coding and Categorizing the DataAfter the initial reading, the data (text) can be broken down into smaller parts or “codes.” These codes can then be categorized based on their similarities and differences. This process of coding helps in organizing the data and identifying patterns or themes. Analyzing the DataOnce the data is organized, it can be analyzed to make sense of it. This can involve comparing the data with existing theories, examining relationships between categories, or explaining the data in relation to the research question. Validating the FindingsThe researcher needs to ensure that the findings are accurate and credible. This might involve triangulating the data (comparing it with other sources or types of data), considering alternative explanations, or seeking feedback from others.  Reporting the FindingsThe final step is to report the findings in a clear, structured way. This should include a description of the methods used, the findings, and the researcher’s interpretations and conclusions. Applications of Documentary AnalysisDocumentary analysis is widely used across a variety of fields and disciplines due to its flexible and comprehensive nature. Here are some specific applications: Historical Research Documentary analysis is a fundamental method in historical research. Historians use documents to reconstruct past events, understand historical contexts, and interpret the motivations and actions of historical figures. Documents analyzed may include personal letters, diaries, official records, newspaper articles, photographs, and more. Social Science Research Sociologists, anthropologists, and political scientists use documentary analysis to understand social phenomena, cultural practices, political events, and more. This might involve analyzing government policies, organizational records, media reports, social media posts, and other documents. Legal Research In law, documentary analysis is used in case analysis and statutory interpretation. Legal practitioners and scholars analyze court decisions, statutes, regulations, and other legal documents. Business and Market Research Companies often analyze documents to gather business intelligence, understand market trends, and make strategic decisions. This might involve analyzing competitor reports, industry news, market research studies, and more. Media and Communication Studies Scholars in these fields might analyze media content (e.g., news reports, advertisements, social media posts) to understand media narratives, public opinion, and communication practices. Literary and Film Studies In these fields, the “documents” might be novels, poems, films, or scripts. Scholars analyze these texts to interpret their meaning, understand their cultural context, and critique their form and content. Educational Research Educational researchers may analyze curricula, textbooks, lesson plans, and other educational documents to understand educational practices and policies. Health Research Health researchers may analyze medical records, health policies, clinical guidelines, and other documents to study health behaviors, healthcare delivery, and health outcomes. Examples of Documentary AnalysisSome Examples of Documentary Analysis might be: - Example 1 : A historian studying the causes of World War I might analyze diplomatic correspondence, government records, newspaper articles, and personal diaries from the period leading up to the war.
- Example 2 : A policy analyst trying to understand the impact of a new public health policy might analyze the policy document itself, as well as related government reports, statements from public health officials, and news media coverage of the policy.
- Example 3 : A market researcher studying consumer trends might analyze social media posts, customer reviews, industry reports, and news articles related to the market they’re studying.
- Example 4 : An education researcher might analyze curriculum documents, textbooks, and lesson plans to understand how a particular subject is being taught in schools. They might also analyze policy documents to understand the broader educational policy context.
- Example 5 : A criminologist studying hate crimes might analyze police reports, court records, news reports, and social media posts to understand patterns in hate crimes, as well as societal and institutional responses to them.
- Example 6 : A journalist writing a feature article on homelessness might analyze government reports on homelessness, policy documents related to housing and social services, news articles on homelessness, and social media posts from people experiencing homelessness.
- Example 7 : A literary critic studying a particular author might analyze their novels, letters, interviews, and reviews of their work to gain insight into their themes, writing style, influences, and reception.
When to use Documentary AnalysisDocumentary analysis can be used in a variety of research contexts, including but not limited to: - When direct access to research subjects is limited : If you are unable to conduct interviews or observations due to geographical, logistical, or ethical constraints, documentary analysis can provide an alternative source of data.
- When studying the past : Documents can provide a valuable window into historical events, cultures, and perspectives. This is particularly useful when the people involved in these events are no longer available for interviews or when physical evidence is lacking.
- When corroborating other sources of data : If you have collected data through interviews, surveys, or observations, analyzing documents can provide additional evidence to support or challenge your findings. This process of triangulation can enhance the validity of your research.
- When seeking to understand the context : Documents can provide background information that helps situate your research within a broader social, cultural, historical, or institutional context. This can be important for interpreting your other data and for making your research relevant to a wider audience.
- When the documents are the focus of the research : In some cases, the documents themselves might be the subject of your research. For example, you might be studying how a particular topic is represented in the media, how an author’s work has evolved over time, or how a government policy was developed.
- When resources are limited : Compared to methods like experiments or large-scale surveys, documentary analysis can often be conducted with relatively limited resources. It can be a particularly useful method for students, independent researchers, and others who are working with tight budgets.
- When providing an audit trail for future researchers : Documents provide a record of events, decisions, or conditions at specific points in time. They can serve as an audit trail for future researchers who want to understand the circumstances surrounding a particular event or period.
Purpose of Documentary AnalysisThe purpose of documentary analysis in research can be multifold. Here are some key reasons why a researcher might choose to use this method: - Understanding Context : Documents can provide rich contextual information about the period, environment, or culture under investigation. This can be especially useful for historical research, where the context is often key to understanding the events or trends being studied.
- Direct Source of Data : Documents can serve as primary sources of data. For instance, a letter from a historical figure can give unique insights into their thoughts, feelings, and motivations. A company’s annual report can offer firsthand information about its performance and strategy.
- Corroboration and Verification : Documentary analysis can be used to validate and cross-verify findings derived from other research methods. For example, if interviews suggest a particular outcome, relevant documents can be reviewed to confirm the accuracy of this finding.
- Substituting for Other Methods : When access to the field or subjects is not possible due to various constraints (geographical, logistical, or ethical), documentary analysis can serve as an alternative to methods like observation or interviews.
- Unobtrusive Method : Unlike some other research methods, documentary analysis doesn’t require interaction with subjects, and therefore doesn’t risk altering the behavior of those subjects.
- Longitudinal Analysis : Documents can be used to study change over time. For example, a researcher might analyze census data from multiple decades to study demographic changes.
- Providing Rich, Qualitative Data : Documents often provide qualitative data that can help researchers understand complex issues in depth. For example, a policy document might reveal not just the details of the policy, but also the underlying beliefs and attitudes that shaped it.
Advantages of Documentary AnalysisDocumentary analysis offers several advantages as a research method: - Unobtrusive : As a non-reactive method, documentary analysis does not require direct interaction with human subjects, which means that the research doesn’t affect or influence the subjects’ behavior.
- Rich Historical and Contextual Data : Documents can provide a wealth of historical and contextual information. They allow researchers to examine events and perspectives from the past, even from periods long before modern research methods were established.
- Efficiency and Accessibility : Many documents are readily accessible, especially with the proliferation of digital archives and databases. This accessibility can often make documentary analysis a more efficient method than others that require data collection from human subjects.
- Cost-Effective : Compared to other methods, documentary analysis can be relatively inexpensive. It generally requires fewer resources than conducting experiments, surveys, or fieldwork.
- Permanent Record : Documents provide a permanent record that can be reviewed multiple times. This allows for repeated analysis and verification of the data.
- Versatility : A wide variety of documents can be analyzed, from historical texts to contemporary digital content, providing flexibility and applicability to a broad range of research questions and fields.
- Ability to Cross-Verify (Triangulate) Data : Documentary analysis can be used alongside other methods as a means of triangulating data, thus adding validity and reliability to the research.
Limitations of Documentary AnalysisWhile documentary analysis offers several benefits as a research method, it also has its limitations. It’s important to keep these in mind when deciding to use documentary analysis and when interpreting your findings: - Authenticity : Not all documents are genuine, and sometimes it can be challenging to verify the authenticity of a document, particularly for historical research.
- Bias and Subjectivity : All documents are products of their time and their authors. They may reflect personal, cultural, political, or institutional biases, and these biases can affect the information they contain and how it is presented.
- Incomplete or Missing Information : Documents may not provide all the information you need for your research. There may be gaps in the record, or crucial information may have been omitted, intentionally or unintentionally.
- Access and Availability : Not all documents are readily available for analysis. Some may be restricted due to privacy, confidentiality, or security considerations. Others may be difficult to locate or access, particularly historical documents that haven’t been digitized.
- Interpretation : Interpreting documents, particularly historical ones, can be challenging. You need to understand the context in which the document was created, including the social, cultural, political, and personal factors that might have influenced its content.
- Time-Consuming : While documentary analysis can be cost-effective, it can also be time-consuming, especially if you have a large number of documents to analyze or if the documents are lengthy or complex.
- Lack of Control Over Data : Unlike methods where the researcher collects the data themselves (e.g., through experiments or surveys), with documentary analysis, you have no control over what data is available. You are reliant on what others have chosen to record and preserve.
About the author Muhammad HassanResearcher, Academic Writer, Web developer You may also like Discourse Analysis – Methods, Types and Examples Graphical Methods – Types, Examples and Guide Framework Analysis – Method, Types and Examples Data Analysis – Process, Methods and Types Regression Analysis – Methods, Types and Examples Probability Histogram – Definition, Examples and...All Subjects 4.2 Research Methodologies for Documentaries2 min read • july 25, 2024 Documentary research is a crucial foundation for creating compelling films. It involves gathering primary and secondary sources , conducting interviews , and synthesizing findings. Effective techniques ensure accurate, comprehensive information that shapes the narrative. Organizing research is key to crafting a powerful documentary story. This process includes identifying themes, fact-checking , and adapting strategies as new information emerges. Visual tools and collaboration help manage complex data and refine the film's focus. Documentary Research MethodologiesPrimary and secondary source utilization. - Primary sources provide firsthand accounts, original documents, artifacts, photographs, audio recordings offer direct evidence
- Secondary sources include books, articles, documentaries, expert analyses synthesize and interpret primary sources
- Evaluating source credibility assesses author expertise, publication date, peer-reviewed status ensures reliable information
- Balancing primary and secondary sources creates comprehensive understanding of topic
- Archival research techniques uncover historical documents, rare materials (National Archives)
- Digital research tools and databases streamline information gathering (JSTOR, Google Scholar)
Effective interview techniques- Pre-interview preparation involves background research, developing questions tailors approach to subject
- Interview techniques utilize open-ended questions , active listening , follow-up questions elicit detailed responses
- Building rapport with interviewees establishes trust, encourages candid responses
- Handling sensitive topics requires empathy, respect for boundaries
- Technical considerations address lighting, sound quality, camera placement ensure high-quality footage
- Legal and ethical considerations include obtaining informed consent , release forms protect subjects' rights
Research Organization and ApplicationSynthesis of research findings. - Creating a research database categorizes information, implements tagging system facilitates easy retrieval
- Identifying key themes and patterns reveals underlying narrative structure
- Developing narrative structure explores chronological, thematic, character-driven approaches
- Fact-checking and verification ensure accuracy, credibility of documentary
- Creating timeline of events provides visual representation of historical context
- Visual organization tools like mind maps, storyboards aid in conceptualizing complex information
Adaptation of research strategies- Iterative research process allows for continuous refinement of focus
- Identifying information gaps guides further investigation
- Adjusting focus based on new findings ensures relevance of documentary
- Incorporating unexpected discoveries adds depth, nuance to narrative
- Balancing depth and breadth of research provides comprehensive yet focused exploration
- Time management for ongoing research maintains project timeline
- Collaborating with team members involves sharing findings, dividing research tasks
- Adapting to limited access or resources requires creative problem-solving
- Utilizing alternative research methods like social media analysis , crowdsourcing information expands data collection possibilities
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INTRODUCTION TO DOCUMENTARY RESEARCH1h to 2h/week Prerequisites Course on demand General & scientific knowledge Course language  PRESENTATION: The “Introduction to Documentary Research” MOOC aims to present the methodology involved in literature review, an essential step in any scientific or technical work, used across all disciplines. The course looks at how to create a bibliography and the correct habits to use when citing authors. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Identify relevant sources in a given field of study. Conduct a literature review. Evaluate sources, particularly those with free online access. Make the best use of database tools and queries. Build and expand a properly structured bibliography. Learn how to cite sources correctly and avoid plagiarism. This course seeks primarily to teach students how to identify relevant sources in a given field; how to conduct research; how to find and evaluate sources, especially those with open access online; how to cite authors; etc. It also aims to show students how to optimize their literature search by encouraging them to make the most of the tools and queries of bibliographic databases. By the end of this course, students should be able to build and expand an orderly bibliography, and know how to properly cite their sources in order to avoid plagiarism. The MOOC is divided into three parts. The first part focuses on the definition of documentary research and the tools used to conduct it. The second part provides more information on copyright, plagiarism and the necessary steps for conducting research. Lastly, the third part is devoted to the use of databases and resources offered by the École Polytechnique Library (BCX) and online open access. SYLLABUS Week 1: Documentary research for all! Documentary research is useful in all disciplines, whether it is used for research or practical work. This module gives you the essential tools to understand how to conduct it effectively and how to cite your sources correctly. Tools and definition of documentary research 1.0 Introduction - Why should you conduct documentary research? 1.1.1 Presentation standards - Systems 1.1.2 Presentation standards - ISO690, IEEE, Nature 1.2 Introduction to Citeulike 1.3 Introduction to the use of EndnoteWeb 1.4.1 Zotero - Part 1 1.4.1 Zotero - Part 2 Quiz: Understanding - Week 1 Week 2: Useful methodology for conducting documentary research This module aims to teach you a useful methodology to carry out your research and show you how to avoid the mistakes of plagiarism. How to conduct proper documentary research 2.0 Introduction to Week 2 2.1 Plagiarism - Guest speaker: Jeremy Huet 2.2 Intellectual property and copyright 2.3 How to build a research project 2.4.1 Where to find your sources - Part 1 2.4.2 Where to find your sources - Part 2 Quiz: Understanding - Week 2 Week 3: Searching bibliographic databases This last module applies the research methodology you will have learned and the use of bibliographic reference software, by showing you how to use the main bibliographic databases and specialized search engines. Introduction to bibliographic databases 3.0 Introduction to Week 3 3.1 Presentation of the Web of Sciences 3.2 Introduction to Business Source Elite 3.3 Mathscinet 3.4 Arxiv-Isidore 3.5 Europresse 3.6 Presentation of open archives - HAL 3.7 Five research tips - End of course Peer Review: Bibliography  Boutevin Stéphanie T h e N e w S c h o o lCourse catalog, documentary research methods, schools of public engagement: media. Credits : 3 This course is a non-production course in documentary research methodology. With a focus on the American documentary tradition, this course introduces the theoretical and practical foundations necessary for conducting research in the context of designing and developing documentary film content. We will examine award-winning documentary films as models, and will look at their process, their choices, and the emotional impact of these decisions in an attempt to understand the various stages of thought and of research that went in to creating the final film as a piece of art. The readings represent a diversity of approaches to qualitative research, and raise questions about what constitutes "good" research; and as such, what adds to our knowledge of the social world. We will ask such questions as: What is a good documentary subject? Why should we do documentary research, and how does doing it implicate us in a complex web of issues concerning the politics of representation and the social construction of meaning? Methodologies examined include print, photo and archival research; observation and direct cinema; interviews and oral histories; and participant observation; among others. Students will create a literature and film review on their own documentary subject, and will design, research, and write up their own documentary proposal and treatment. College : Schools of Public Engagement (NS) Department : Media (MED) Campus : New York City (GV) Course Format : Seminar (R) Modality : Online - Synchronous Max Enrollment : 18 Add/Drop Deadline : September 9, 2024 (Monday) Online Withdrawal Deadline : November 17, 2024 (Sunday) Seats Available : No Status : Closed * * Status information is updated every few minutes. The status of this course may have changed since the last update. Open seats may have restrictions that will prevent some students from registering. Updated: 5:30am EDT 8/26/2024  Published by  Follow this blog Documentary analysis: the research method that can level the playing fieldby Aimee Grant 22nd March 2022 Whenever I say that I ‘do documentary analysis’ or ‘research with documents’ I tend to get a confused look. I think this is because unlike ‘doing interviews’, it’s not clear what documentary analysis means! So, let me start out by telling you a little bit about documentary analysis, and then I’ll move on to my experience of doing documentary analysis and explain why I think it’s a fantastic leveller for students and researchers with a wide variety of needs. At its most basic, documentary analysis is research which involves documents as the data. Going back to the ‘doing interviews’ analogy, instead of talking to a person to find out about their views or experiences, we would find and then analyse things that people have written. This also allows us to understand something about their views and experiences of the thing they’re writing about. The type of data that are used for documentary analysis aren’t only things that are in hard copy; these days we also look at the things people are creating online. We also don’t restrict ourselves to words but also include images in our analysis, because sometimes images are used to imply things that are so offensive they could not be ‘said out loud’ ( Stuart Hall talks about this ). Examples of documents include images like adverts on the side of buses (and anywhere else), packaging of products we use and buy, passports, meeting notes, letters, diaries and anything else with words or images on it. Moving on to analysis and there are dozens and dozens of qualitative analysis techniques. What may be surprising to know is that there is not a single analysis technique called ‘documentary analysis’. This is something that is definitely not as clear as it could be. Instead, returning to our comparison with interviews, any analysis technique can be used to consider the data using both methods. This includes things like thematic analysis, discourse analysis and content analysis. Detailed examples of documentary analysis using each of these analysis methods can be found in my first book, Doing Excellent Social Research with Documents . My experiences of using the method stem from my research using documents as data as part of my undergraduate dissertation (looking at how UK Housing Benefit procedures contribute to homelessness). As part of my masters (examining an example of a policy failure) and PhD (on lived experiences of welfare reform for disabled people and staff ), I used this method again, alongside other qualitative methods. To be honest, at that time I used the documents as ‘second-class’ data, placing more emphasis on the interview and observational data that I undertook. I had greater knowledge of how to handle this data, which I supplemented and triangulated with the available documents. Following my PhD, however, I moved out of academia. As a disabled academic awaiting multiple surgeries, I did not have the luxury of taking a job that required me to move out of my local NHS trust area, which severely limited my academic job opportunities. That said, I definitely didn’t feel that I was ‘done’ with being an academic, and so I started to look for ways that I could continue my research. One major issue was that without being part of a university, I did not have access to an ethics committee. This led me back to documents – many documentary analysis studies don’t require ethical approval. The exception to this in general seems to be where you would need to log in to a website to access the content you wish to analyse. That said, as researchers, we need to be careful to consider the ethical implications of using data when ethical review isn’t required (see chapter 4 of my new book, Doing your Research Project with Documents ). Another barrier was that I worked full time 9-5 in a charity, and then for the NHS. Using documents as research data allows you to do the research whenever or wherever you want to, unlike for example, needing to interview somebody. I remember sitting on a Megabus on the way to visit friends in London, for example, while coding newspaper articles relating to treatment targets (like the UK four-hour waiting time) in A&E departments . Likewise, when my day job looked like it wasn’t going to produce any journal articles for a while, I was able to do an analysis of comments about breastfeeding in public on the Mail Online website (the online version of the Daily Mail ) and also compare it to content relating to the same incident on Twitter. Documentary analysis also allowed me to apply for small pots of funding, and to know that there would be a piece of research which could be published from it; for example this research involved an analysis of Twitter content relating to waterpipe smoking , with Dr Hannah O’Mahoney working for me for two months. Had we needed to interview people, or conduct observations, those two months would likely have been taken up with data collection alone, which was an issue that Dr Dawn Mannay and I found with interview-based projects that used visual methods; the data was brilliant, but it was challenging to do these pieces of work with tiny pots of seed funding. To conclude, documentary analysis is a flexible method which can be used with and without theory and using a wide range of analysis approaches. It has many advantages for researchers and students alike who are disabled, working alongside their studies or research careers, or who have caring responsibilities. I would be surprised if there were a single topic in the world that could not be at least partially understood through critically reading things that have been written about it. If you are carrying out your first research project using documents, or feel like you are not confident with the methodology, you may wish to read my new book, published by Policy Press, Doing your Research Project with Documents . Aimee Grant is a qualitative researcher with a long-standing interest in documentary analysis. She is based at Swansea University’s Centre for Lactation, Infant Feeding and Translational Research.  Find out more about impact, influence and engagement at Policy Press here . Policy Press newsletter subscribers receive a 25% discount – sign up here . The views and opinions expressed on this blog site are solely those of the original blog post authors and other contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of the Policy Press and/or any/ all contributors to this site. Image Credit: Chiara F on Unsplash Related postsLessons from covid-19: how transformative justice and mutual aid can help to address harm in communities, ‘i am, because we are, we are because i am’: race and covid-19, racialisation, covid-19 and bioessentialism, the dehumanisation of the human species, what’s wrong with work technology, environment and informality. Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer. To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds to upgrade your browser . Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link.  The Use of Documentary Research Methods in Social Research Related PapersJashim Ahmed This paper explores the documentary research method (DSM) in social research and aims to provide a general understanding of the DSM as well as specific tools for its successful implementation. In recent years, although a number of social research scholars discuss the importance of documentary research but this method has had little attention as compared to other methods. The DSM  University governing bodies in comprehensive universities in post-1994 South Africa have been grappling with various forms of institutional instability that have been manifesting through periodic institutional protests. Indeed, some of these institutions have come under administration. A significant amount of this institutional instability may be attributed to the dysfunctionality at the institutional structures, systems and cultures of the different university governing councils. This research design was developed to examine the role of these governance aspects of the university council in a comprehensive university context at bringing about effective governance. This research design was guided by the following research questions from the research project: To what extent are institutional structures, systems and cultures within university councils perceived as contributing to effective institutional governance practices in comprehensive universities? What forms of data could be developed from this relationship? The research design utilised the concept of structures, systems and cultures developed from a multi-theoretical approach being brought to the framing of good university governance by governing bodies. The research design used for this research project was a Sequential-exploratory mixed method research paradigm and justifying the location of the study within the interpretive paradigm. The research design explains the advantages and disadvantages of each of research methods explicitly and justifications for using documentarily sources, interviews and surveys after the interviews. The paper ends with a proposition of a methodological framework on how to collect data on research involving stakeholders in university governance across governing bodies' contexts. Wênia Xavier Princess Maureen Kyalya I chose to explore the issue of Child Criminal victimisation in Uganda. For three years in a row, the Government of Uganda reports that the most prevalent crime in the whole country is child sexual defilement. Yet, the vice has the lowest success rates of conviction compared to other crimes. The Inspector General of Uganda Police commented that “I note that sex-related crimes, in particular defilement, are not decreasing” (Uganda Police, 2013, p.9). The study seeks to answer one question: Is criminal justice accessible to child victims in Uganda? Answers to this question would be identified through frequency of; i) Nature of most prevalent crime against children, ii) Age group of the victims, iii) Gender of victims and iv) case progress in the criminal justice system. Lee, F. and Cronin, B. (eds), Handbook of Research Methods and Applications in Heterodox Economics, London: Edward Elgar, pp. 569-589 Lynne Chester This chapter discusses the analysis of an industry sector using the example of the Australian electricity sector (Chester 2007). The research problem was to determine the outcomes and beneficiaries from this sector's radical structural change which commenced in the early 1990s. The task required an analytical framework able to explain the process of change over time and at the level of an industry sector, to consider the outcomes of structural change beyond the dimensions of employment, investment, and industry composition , and to consider the distributional consequences. Régulation theory fully satisfies these criteria for a dynamic, historical, and multidimensional analysis which is not limited to economic factors and incorporates quantitative and qualitative dimensions. A Régulationist sector analysis requires two levels of analysis: first, the five institutional forms of the macro mode of régulation; and second, the sector's reflection of these macro institutional forms. A four-point method defines the parameters of the sector-based analysis which was used for the Australian study. The research design was guided by this method and the study's theoretical framework. This required the collection of both qualitative and quantitative data from the 1980s onwards. Document analysis and secondary analysis were the two data collection methods used by the study. Documentary sources provided a rich source of qualitative and quantitative empirical material. Annual reports, budget papers, legislation, policy papers, reports from official inquiries and regulatory determinations, inquiry submissions, prospectuses, media statements, and statistical collections were some of the wide range of documents sourced. A critical content analysis was conducted to make an overall judgment about each document's meaning and significance. A protocol of ten core questions was developed to interrogate all documents in order to identify conceptualizations, the definitions of problems presented, explanations given for problems, preferred solutions advocated to overcome problems, what was not considered problematic, as well as to determine the explanations and solutions not included and for whom the documents 'spoke'. A similar protocol was developed for the quantitative data sets and used to ascertain whether any were deliberately or unintentionally biased. The following sections in this chapter discuss the purpose of the Australian study sector, and briefly outline a Régulationist analytical framework before explaining the study's research design to move the chosen theoretical framework to an empirical representation , the mixed methods research design, and the approaches considered to undertake document and secondary analyses, the data sources used, and the key findings of the study. The chapter concludes with some observations about the study's analytical framework, triangulation, and a mixed methods research design. International Journal of Communication Thomas F Corrigan The political economy of communication (PEC) situates media systems and practices in their structural and historical contexts; however, PEC scholars rarely articulate or justify their research methods. To address this oversight, this article explains how PEC scholars use trade publications to study media industries, practices, policy making, and discourses thereof. Following a critical realist approach, PEC researchers “burrow down” in trade press advertisements and reports and “listen in” to the frank, insider discussions therein. This article evaluates the trade press against Scott’s four “quality control criteria” for documentary sources—authenticity, credibility, representativeness, and meaning. Trade publications employ daunting industry jargon, and they can be cozy with the industries they cover. Still, the trade press provide otherwise unobtainable insights into the structure and organization of media industries, how they are regulated, and the practices and worldviews of media executives and professionals. This article argues that by approaching the trade press ethnographically, PEC researchers can reap their benefits while avoiding pitfalls. Anna Olsson Lesley Phillpots Julius John L Palacpac , Czarino Torrano , Janice G. Manzanares Davies Banda DESCRIPTION Abstract Sport is increasingly being recognised for the contribution it can make to the Millennium Development Goals and, in particular, the response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. This study is based on Zambia, a low-income country, heavily affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa. The study focuses on National Sports Associations (NSAs), which are quasi- autonomous organisations at meso level of policy analysis. Centring on three NSAs: Football Association of Zambia (FAZ), Zambia Basketball Association (ZBA) and Netball Association of Zambia (NAZ), this study critically analysed the organisational responses of each of the selected cases towards the HIV/AIDS multi-sectoral approach. The study adopted a case study approach which utilised semi-structured (face-to face and telephone), interviews, focus group discussions and documentary analysis for data collection. Comparative analysis of all three cases revealed differences in how each case main-streamed HIV/AID... Loading Preview Sorry, preview is currently unavailable. You can download the paper by clicking the button above. RELATED PAPERSSebastian Garcia Adeyinka R Oduwole Jørgen Rafn SAGE Research Methods Cases Hanna Danilovich Jill Veenendaal IVOR GOODSON CHRISTOPHER NGOGO Ricson Bondad Vusi Tsabedze Patrick A. Manu 12th European Association for Sociology of Sport Conference Ekain Rojo-Labaien Rozina Bibi Ikrom Abualiff Albert Mills zanariah hamid Simon Barrick , Luke Potwarka Gece Akademi Volkan Göçoğlu richard phillips Hussein Zedan Rfah Alyami Muhammad Athar H. Shah Audley Genus Lucie Allan Eduardo R Infante Trevor Moatlhodi Sudip Ghimire Mihai Surdu constance ndeleko Tharindu Liyanagunawardena Dr. Darren Bednarski Dragoljub Kaurin The Qualitative Report Ane Johnson Public Administration Review Catherine A. Hardy Aggrey Sonny Makhila - We're Hiring!
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Documentary Research. Definition: Documentary research is a type of research method that involves the systematic investigation and analysis of existing documents or records. These documents can be in the form of written, visual, or audio materials, such as books, articles, photographs, videos, and audio recordings.
The documentary. research method is used in investigating and cat egorizing physical sources, most commonly written. documents, whether in the private or public domain (Payne and Payne 2004). This ...
This book guides you through the documentary research process, from choosing the best research design, through data collection and analysis, to publishing and sharing research findings. Documentary Research by Gary McCulloch. Publication Date: 2004. Documentary sources have become increasingly neglected in education and the social sciences.
Documentary research examples. Bellow, we can find a few real-life examples of documentary research applied to companies' daily events. 1. Social research studies. Although documentary research is not used extensively today, it is the go-to research method to conduct social research studies. For example, Karl Marx and Emile Durkheim used ...
Documentary research is a valuable form of research methodology as it provides access to existing documents and materials for analysis and interpretation. There are many advantages of these methods, such as diverse sources of data, historical perspectives, and access to large volumes of data from analysis.
This book guides you through the documentary research process, from choosing the best research design, through data collection and analysis, to publishing and sharing research findings. Using extensive case studies and examples, it situates documentary research within a current context and empowers you to use this method to meet new challenges ...
Overview. Documentary research is a critical aspect of research in the social sciences and beyond. Indeed, it might be said to be endemic, as all researchers use documents - whether they be academic articles, national policy statements, historical records, online materials or personal accounts - to some extent in their research.
the use of documentary research as the main approach or as part (i.e. alongside other approaches or techniques) of a research project, and the purpose and usage of documents. ... Meanwhile, in the foreground, practices and fashions in research methodology have also evolved, with a growing interest in the visual and aural seeking to complement ...
This research was informed by a number of overlapping and complementary research methodologies and frameworks: (1) ... Research-based documentary film has also proven to be a methodologically rigorous and in-depth research approach. This medium provides the unique opportunity to share information while simultaneously affecting viewers on a ...
This book guides you through the documentary research process, from choosing the best research design, through data collection and analysis, to publishing and sharing research findings. Using extensive case studies and examples, it situates documentary research within a current context and empowers you to use this method to meet new challenges ...
It is a matter of questioning the subject in all its dimensions, formulating it in a short sentence, selecting important concepts and looking for synonyms. This step allows you to set the issue, identify documentary needs and select the key concepts/words in order to question your sources. 1 - Define the topic.
An Introduction to Documentary Research. Documentary research, serving as both a complement to and extension of biographical inquiry, takes on different meanings in the field of education. In one sense, documentary research becomes synonymous with archival research and addresses issues related to the role and use of documents and public and ...
Documentary analysis, also referred to as document analysis, is a systematic procedure for reviewing or evaluating documents. This method involves a detailed review of the documents to extract themes or patterns relevant to the research topic. Documents used in this type of analysis can include a wide variety of materials such as text (words ...
Archival Research: Archival research refers to the systematic investigation of historical documents and records to uncover facts, stories, and insights relevant to a subject or topic. This type of research is essential in documentary production as it provides authenticity and depth, allowing filmmakers to present a well-rounded narrative by incorporating primary sources such as photographs ...
the documentary research method or the use of documentary sources in social research. This method is just as good and sometimes even more cost effective than social surveys, in-depth interviews or participant observation. The use of documentary methods refers to the analysis of documents that contain infor-
Documentary method of data collection is a scientific and acceptable method of data collection in social science research which applies rigorous adherence to research ethics (Mogalakwe, 2009 ...
Documentary research is the use of outside sources, documents, to support the viewpoint or argument of an academic work. The process of documentary research often involves some or all of conceptualising, using and assessing documents. The analysis of the documents in documentary research would be either quantitative or qualitative analysis (or both). [1]
The "Introduction to Documentary Research" MOOC aims to present the methodology involved in literature review, an essential step in any scientific or technical work, used across all disciplines. The course looks at how to create a bibliography and the correct habits to use when citing authors. Identify relevant sources in a given field of ...
This course is a non-production course in documentary research methodology. With a focus on the American documentary tradition, this course introduces the theoretical and practical foundations necessary for conducting research in the context of designing and developing documentary film content. We will examine award-winning documentary films as models, and will look at their process, their ...
If you are carrying out your first research project using documents, or feel like you are not confident with the methodology, you may wish to read my new book, published by Policy Press, Doing your Research Project with Documents. Aimee Grant is a qualitative researcher with a long-standing interest in documentary analysis.
RESEARCH REPORT The Use of Documentary Research Methods in Social Research Monageng Mogalakwe Department of Sociology University of Botswana Gaborone, Bostswana Introduction Social research is an activity that is undertaken to find an answer or explanation regarding a particular social phenomenon. It involves systematic collection of data about ...
Several methods of ensuring the credibility of a study were outlined by Guba and Lincoln (1989), but two of the named strategies are particularly relevant when considering documentary filmmaking as a research method: prolonged engagement and persistent observation. Often documentaries are longitudinal in nature and therefore prolonged ...
documentary methods refers to the analysis of documents that contain infor. mation about the phenomenon we wish to study (Bailey 1994). Payne and. Payne (2004) describe the documentary method as ...