Page 31 - DSOC402_SOCIOLOGY_OF_KINSHIP_ENGLISH

Unit 4: Approaches to the Study of Kinship: Historical and Evolutionary

Importance of Historical Method Notes
The importance of historical method is unanimous for the study of the incidents happened in
past. M.H. Gopal writes, “If any social researcher ignores the past while analysing present,
takes a big risk.” History informs us about the society of past which can not be ignored by any
social scientist. Many sociologists have used historical method in their study. A new branch of
historical sociology has emerged in sociology because of the closeness of both sciences. Howard
also calls history as “sociology of past and sociology as history of present.” John Medge has
also written, “It is not wise to eliminate historians from the class of sociologists and only foolish
sociologists do not use documents.”
The importance and utility of historical method are as under—
1. Study of Developing Events: We can learn about emergence, development and the condi-
tions of emergence of some specific event or institution by historical method. We can under-
stand the present better only through the past. Whitehead writes — “Every characteristic
emerging in present has a past and carries the seed of future.”
Past is a collection of experiences through which we can understand the present better. This
is the best method to study the changes in the developing events. This method is very use-
ful to understand the emergence, changes and development of societies, civilisations and
institutions.
2. Study of Socio-cultural Changes: We can easily understand the process of socio-cultural
changes by historical method. Social scientists are keen to learn about changes. When the
changes occur in social institutions and conditions then the social structure and organisa-
tions also face changes due to its effects. Study of this process of change is possible through
historical method only.
3. Assessment of the Effects of Past: We can assess the importance of past effects on the
society through historical method. No society is free from the impact of past, but the study
of traditional societies and societies with ancient culture will remain incomplete untill the
impact of past on them is not assesed. The society which has a long history also has intense
impact of past on itself, which can be studied by historical method only.
4. Comprehensiveness Sociological Point of View: The other methods of sociology minutely
study the events dividing it into different small units, while historical method looks at the
social events in totality. Hence this method makes the sociological point of view compre-
hensive. Microscopic studies can be done by this.
5. Study of Social Forces: We can study those social forces which have contributed in creat-
ing the present social system, by historical method. We can only understand the secrets of
present by studying the past. English philosopher Bernard Shaw writes, “Past is not behind
the group but it exists in the group. Though present is different from the past but it is the
past that has formed the present and this past and present will surely impact the future.”
Hence the impact and gradual development of social forces which have created the present
system can be studied successfully by historical method.

Limitations of Historical Method

Historical method is useful and important method of study but it has some limitation also and
they applicable in the context of kinship. These are as under—
1. Lack of Reliable Material: The biggest limitation of historical method is that how to check
the reliability and authenticity of the sources by which data is collected. Most of the histori-
cal description are exagerated and biased.
2. Defective Way of Record Keeping: In this method, one more difficulty is that the record of
historical facts are not kept in arranged manner.

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