How to evaluate the reliability of historical sources

Summary

This history skills video teaches viewers how to evaluate the reliability of historical sources for research essays. It emphasizes the importance of assessing a source's trustworthiness based on the creator's background, presence at the event, education, and audience approval. The video uses examples like Shakespeare's portrayal of King Richard III and Adrian Goldsworthy's scholarly work on the Roman army to illustrate varying degrees of reliability, urging students to choose credible sources for their studies.

Takeaways

• 🔍 Evaluate the reliability of historical sources to ensure the trustworthiness of quotes used in research essays.
• 📚 Reliability is a degree-based assessment, not a binary one; sources can be extremely, very, somewhat, rarely, or not very reliable.
• 👤 The reliability of a source is primarily determined by analyzing the creator's background and perspective on the historical events.
• 🏛 Consider the creator's presence at the event, their education level, and their professional reputation in assessing reliability.
• 📘 Fact-checked sources, such as academic journals, are generally more reliable due to peer approval.
• ❌ Avoid using sources deemed unreliable; if necessary, justify their use with alternative evaluation skills.
• 🤔 Establish unreliability by questioning the creator's presence, education, or the presence of biased language in the source.
• 🎭 Shakespeare's play about Richard III is an example of an unreliable source due to its entertainment purpose and bias.
• 🎓 Adrian Goldsworthy's works on the Roman army are reliable due to his academic credentials and expertise in the field.
• 📝 Use the examples provided to understand the difference between reliable and unreliable sources in historical research.
• 💡 For further guidance on historical source evaluation, visit the recommended website for more examples and advice.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video script?

The main focus of the video script is to teach viewers how to evaluate the reliability of historical sources for their history assessment tasks, particularly research essays.

Why is it important to use reliable sources in history assessment tasks?

It is important to use reliable sources in history assessment tasks to ensure that the quotes and information used can be trusted, thus providing a solid foundation for the arguments presented.

What does the term 'reliability' mean in the context of historical sources?

In the context of historical sources, 'reliability' refers to the degree to which a source can be trusted to provide accurate and unbiased information about historical events.

How should one approach the evaluation of a historical source's reliability?

One should approach the evaluation of a historical source's reliability by examining the creator's background, their presence at the event, their education, and the source's purpose and audience.

What are some factors that can indicate a source is reliable?

Factors that can indicate a source is reliable include the creator being personally present at the event, having a highly-educated perspective on the topic, or the source being fact-checked and approved by its audience.

What should one do if they find a source to be unreliable?

If a source is found to be unreliable, the best advice is not to use it. However, if the source is relevant and no alternative is available, one should use a different evaluation skill to justify its use.

How can one establish the unreliability of a source?

One can establish the unreliability of a source by pointing out that the creator was not present at the event, lacks sufficient education on the topic, uses biased language, or the source's purpose is for entertainment rather than presenting facts.

What is an example of an unreliable historical source mentioned in the script?

An example of an unreliable historical source mentioned in the script is William Shakespeare's play about Richard III, as it was written over a hundred years after the king's death and primarily aimed to entertain rather than present historical facts.

What is an example of an extremely reliable source discussed in the script?

An example of an extremely reliable source discussed in the script is Adrian Goldsworthy, who has a PhD in ancient history, specifically on the Roman army, and is a world-renowned academic on ancient Roman military matters.

How does the script suggest using unreliable sources in an argument?

The script suggests that if one must use an unreliable source in an argument, they should use a different evaluation skill to argue for its inclusion rather than simply stating that the source is unreliable.

What is the purpose of the examples given in the script about Richard III and the Roman army?

The purpose of the examples given in the script is to illustrate how to apply the concept of source reliability evaluation to real historical figures and topics, helping viewers to solidify their understanding of the concept.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Evaluating the Reliability of Historical Sources

This paragraph introduces the concept of source reliability in historical research, emphasizing its importance for assessment tasks like research essays. It explains that reliability is not absolute but exists in degrees, and suggests that the creator's background is crucial in determining a source's trustworthiness. The paragraph outlines factors that can indicate a source's reliability, such as the creator's presence at the event, educational background, or the source being an academic publication that has undergone fact-checking. It also addresses how to handle unreliable sources, suggesting either not using them or justifying their use with additional evaluation skills. The paragraph concludes with an introduction to examples that will be used to illustrate the evaluation process.

05:00

🏛 Case Studies in Historical Source Reliability

The second paragraph provides two examples to demonstrate the evaluation of historical sources. The first example discusses the reliability of Shakespeare as a historical source for King Richard III, noting that his play was written over a century after the king's death and was intended for entertainment rather than historical accuracy, making it a biased and unreliable source. The second example contrasts this with Adrian Goldsworthy, a scholar with a PhD in ancient history and a renowned academic in Roman military matters, whose books are considered extremely reliable sources. The paragraph concludes by encouraging viewers to visit history skills comm for further guidance, signaling the end of the video script.

Keywords

💡Reliability

Reliability in the context of historical sources refers to the trustworthiness of the information presented. It is a critical evaluation skill that helps determine the credibility of a source. The video emphasizes that assessing reliability is not about labeling a source as 100% trustworthy or completely untrustworthy, but rather considering the degrees of reliability. For example, the script mentions that a source can be 'extremely, very, somewhat, rarely, or not very reliable,' illustrating the nuanced approach needed in historical research.

💡Historical Sources

Historical sources are the materials and evidence used by historians to understand and interpret past events. The video script discusses the importance of evaluating these sources for reliability, especially for research essays. The script provides criteria for assessing reliability, such as the creator's presence at the event, their educational background, and the source's purpose, which directly relates to the theme of choosing quality sources for historical assessment tasks.

💡Source Evaluation

Source evaluation is the process of critically assessing the validity and credibility of historical sources. The video script explains that this skill is essential for determining the trustworthiness of the information used in historical research. It is tied to the main theme by illustrating how to draw conclusions about a source's reliability based on the creator's background and the source's intended audience.

💡Creator

The creator of a historical source is the individual or entity responsible for its production. The video script highlights the importance of discovering who the creator was and investigating their background to assess the source's reliability. The creator's presence at the event, educational level, and perspective on the historical events are all factors that contribute to the source's credibility.

💡Perspective

Perspective refers to a particular way of regarding or understanding something, often influenced by one's position or background. In the video, the script advises to consider the creator's perspective on the historical events when evaluating a source's reliability. For instance, a university professor might offer a highly-educated perspective, which could enhance the source's reliability.

💡Fact Checked

Fact checking is the process of verifying the accuracy of information presented in a source. The video script suggests that a source can be considered reliable if it has been fact-checked and approved by its audience, such as in an academic journal. This process adds a layer of credibility to the source, making it more reliable for historical research.

💡Unreliability

Unreliability, in the context of historical sources, indicates the lack of trustworthiness or accuracy in the information provided. The video script discusses how to establish unreliability by pointing out factors such as the creator's absence during the event, lack of formal education, biased language, or an entertainment purpose, which can undermine the source's credibility.

💡Bias

Bias refers to a preference or inclination towards a particular perspective or viewpoint, often leading to a distorted representation of facts. The video script uses the example of an online blog post to illustrate how biased language can affect a source's reliability. It is a key concept in evaluating the objectivity and trustworthiness of historical sources.

💡Entertainment

Entertainment is the purpose of providing amusement or enjoyment, often prioritizing engagement over factual accuracy. The video script contrasts this with the purpose of providing an opinion or focusing on facts. It uses Shakespeare's play about Richard III as an example of a source that is more focused on entertainment than historical accuracy, thus being unreliable for historical research.

💡Academic Journal

An academic journal is a periodical publication that contains scholarly articles and research in a specific discipline. The video script mentions academic journals as an example of sources that have been fact-checked and approved by their audience, which contributes to their reliability. This is relevant to the video's theme of choosing quality sources for historical assessment tasks.

💡Context

Context refers to the circumstances or setting in which something occurs, which can affect its interpretation. The video script implicitly emphasizes the importance of understanding the context of a historical source, such as the time it was created or the creator's background, to assess its reliability accurately.

Highlights

Evaluating the reliability of historical sources is essential for choosing quality sources in history assessment tasks, especially research essays.

Reliability is a source evaluation skill that helps determine if a source is trustworthy.

Sources should be reliable to ensure the quotes used from them can be trusted.

It's hard to be completely sure if any source is 100% reliable or completely unreliable.

Reliability of sources is discussed in terms of degrees, such as extremely, very, somewhat, rarely, or not very reliable.

Assessing a source's reliability is primarily based on what you know about the creator.

Investigate the creator's background, perspective, and when they lived to determine the source's reliability.

A source may be considered reliable if the creator was present at the event, has a highly-educated perspective, or if the source has been fact-checked and approved by its audience.

If a source is found to be unreliable, it's best not to use it.

If an unreliable source is relevant and no alternative exists, use a different evaluation skill to justify its use.

To establish unreliability, raise doubts based on the creator's absence at the event, lack of education, biased language, or the source's purpose to entertain rather than inform.

Shakespeare's play about Richard III is an example of an unreliable historical source due to his bias and lack of eyewitness account.

Adrian Goldsworthy is an extremely reliable source on the Roman army due to his education, expertise, and academic reputation.

Goldsworthy's background in ancient history, including a PhD and teaching experience, makes him a credible authority on the topic.

Understanding the reliability of sources helps students feel more confident in their historical studies.

For further explanations, examples, and advice on evaluating historical sources, visit historyskills.com.

Transcripts

[Music]

welcome to another history skills video

today we're looking at how to evaluate

the reliability of historical sources

this skill will allow you to confidently

choose quality sources for history

assessment tasks especially research

essays so what is reliability

reliability is a source evaluation skill

which asks you to draw a conclusion

about whether a particular source is

trustworthy it is important that the

sources you use in your assessment

pieces are reliable so that the quotes

you use from them can be trusted but be

careful it's hard to be completely sure

that any source is 100% reliable or

completely unreliable

therefore when we talk about reliability

of sources we talk in terms of degrees

of reliability for example you can

conclude that a source is extremely very

somewhat rarely or not very reliable so

how do you assess reliability your

decision about a sources reliability is

based primarily upon what you know about

the creator of the source therefore

during your analysis of the source

ensure that you discover who the creator

was and investigate their background

when they lived in what perspective they

had on the historical events you're

focusing upon once you know enough about

the creator of the source you can argue

that a source is reliable

based upon any of the following

information that the creator of the

source was personally present at the

event or that the creator of the source

has a highly-educated perspective on the

topic such as a university professor

alternatively that the source has been

fact checked and subsequently approved

by its audience such as an academic

journal but what if you find that a

source is unreliable when using

information from sources to prove your

argument you need to be able to use

sources that are reliable if you have

found a source which you think is

unreliable the best advice would be not

to use that source however if the source

is true relevant to your topic that you

cannot use another try and use a

different evaluation skill to argue for

why you are using it rather than simply

saying that the source is unreliable

but if you have to how do you establish

unreliability based on what you have

discovered in your analysis of the

source you can raise doubts about the

reliability of a source based upon any

of the following firstly that the

creator of the source was not present at

the time of the event for example though

writing hundreds of years after it

occurred or that the creator of the

source is not sufficiently educated

enough about the topic for example they

have no formal education in history

alternatively you have discovered so

much biased language in the source that

you believe it undermines its

credibility for example an online blog

post

finally it is clear that the purpose of

the source was to entertain rather than

simply give an opinion or focus on the

facts about the topic now that you know

how to evaluate a source for reliability

let's look at some examples to solidify

your learning our first example is about

one of the most famous and controversial

kings of England Richard the third who

lived between AD 1450 to and 1485 King

Richard was so famous that Shakespeare

himself wrote a play about his life and

death where the king is portrayed as an

extremely evil character but how

reliable is Shakespeare as a historical

source about Richard the third let's

look at what our analysis of Shakespeare

tells us firstly Shakespeare wrote the

play about Richard the third over a

hundred years after the King's death so

Shakespeare was not an eyewitness of the

events secondly and most importantly

Shakespeare wrote the play about Richard

primarily to entertain an audience

rather than to present historical fact

as a result Shakespeare clearly presents

a biased version of Richard's life in

order to make him a great villain in his

story rather than trying to be

historically accurate therefore we can

easily conclude that Shakespeare is a

very unreliable source about the life of

Richard the third our second example is

about a specific aspect of ancient

culture the Roman army if you are

researching Rome's ancient military

you'll quickly encounter books on the

topic by an author called Adrian

Goldsworthy

he has many titles dedicated to Roman

society military and significant

historical personalities from the era

including Julius Caesar and Augustus but

how reliable is Goldsworthy as a

historical source about the Roman army

let's look at what our analysis of goals

really tells us Goldsworthy studied both

ancient and modern history at Oxford

University and received a PhD in ancient

history his thesis was specifically on

the Roman army between 100 BC and AD 200

furthermore he is taught history at many

universities around the world as well as

writing many books as is clear from this

information Goldsworthy is a world

renowned academic about ancient Roman

military matters therefore we can easily

conclude that Goldsworthy is an

extremely reliable source about the

ancient Roman military now you have a

better understanding of reliability of

sources I hope that you feel more

confident in your studies if you need

further explanations examples and advice

head over to history skills comm and

I'll see you next time

you