The correct answer is: All of the above.
Historical research is different from experimental research in the following ways:
- Replication: Historical research cannot be replicated in the same way that experimental research can. This is because historical events are unique and cannot be repeated.
- Formulation of the hypothesis: In historical research, the hypothesis is often formulated after the data has been collected. This is because the researcher is trying to make sense of the data and to find patterns that may not have been obvious at the outset.
- The hypothesis testing: In historical research, the hypothesis is often tested using qualitative methods, such as document analysis and interviews. This is because the data that is available for historical research is often qualitative in nature.
In experimental research, the hypothesis is formulated before the data is collected. The hypothesis is then tested using quantitative methods, such as surveys and experiments.
Here are some additional details about each of these differences:
- Replication: Historical research cannot be replicated in the same way that experimental research can. This is because historical events are unique and cannot be repeated. For example, if a historian is studying the American Civil War, they cannot go back in time and change the events that happened. They can only study the evidence that is available to them, such as documents, letters, and diaries.
- Formulation of the hypothesis: In historical research, the hypothesis is often formulated after the data has been collected. This is because the researcher is trying to make sense of the data and to find patterns that may not have been obvious at the outset. For example, if a historian is studying the causes of the American Civil War, they may start by looking at economic data, such as the distribution of wealth in the United States in the 1850s. They may then look at political data, such as the debate over slavery in Congress. As they collect more data, they may start to develop a hypothesis about what caused the Civil War.
- The hypothesis testing: In historical research, the hypothesis is often tested using qualitative methods, such as document analysis and interviews. This is because the data that is available for historical research is often qualitative in nature. For example, if a historian is studying the causes of the American Civil War, they may analyze documents such as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. They may also interview historians and other experts on the Civil War.
In experimental research, the hypothesis is formulated before the data is collected. The hypothesis is then tested using quantitative methods, such as surveys and experiments. For example, if a researcher is studying the effects of a new drug on blood pressure, they will first formulate a hypothesis about how the drug will affect blood pressure. They will then conduct a study in which they randomly assign participants to either take the drug or a placebo. They will then measure the participants’ blood pressure before and after taking the drug.