Examples of archival research in Psychology

Many times researchers rely on secondary data to get the information they may not have the time to collect primary data, face challenges in finding the right sample size, or lack the resources to conduct such research. This is where they often prefer Archival Research for systematic investigation of records and documents in order to discover and preserve information.

What is Archival Research?

Archival Research is the process of researching records that are created and stored by institutions, organisations, and individuals. The records may be in any format, from paper to audio or video recordings. The records may be created for different purposes, such as the administration of a company or a university. The person who conducts archival research is called an archivist. They work in archives which are in libraries, museums, universities and other institutions with collections of documents usually managed with the help of Archival Management Software.

An example of archival research could be a cancer specialist looking at a cancer research centre’s records from the 1980s to determine the prevalence of cancer symptoms in patients during that time.

Advantages Of Archival Research

  • Archival Research provides an in-depth understanding and analysis of the subject matter.
  • With the archives as your primary data source, you can be sure that you’re not missing out on anything.
  • There are various resources to obtain and validate data that can be used for your research.
  • It saves a lot of time which would otherwise be spent on travelling, surveys, interviews, etc.
  • It is a cost-effective method of research as compared to other research options.

 

Limitations Of Archival Research

When done properly, Archival Research can be a very valuable tool for finding information on a topic. However, it is also fraught with difficulties.

There are limitations of archival research. Let’s get into the details.

  • The researcher may not be able to find the exact information they are looking for. The researcher may also not be able to find the information at all because it is not available in any archives.
  • The researcher may also come across a biased or opinionated source. This could lead to a biased or opinionated conclusion because the researcher will have no other sources to refute it with.
  • The researcher may not understand the language used in the archived documents. It can be a big challenge in research.
  • It may take hours or days to find the right document or information needed for research. Also, the conclusions are not directly available. Researchers may have to study archived data and obtain conclusions.
  • The information found in these archived sources might be out-dated.
  • Archival sources may not be available or accessible because they are not digitized or because they are kept in private collections.

 

How does an Archival Management Software help with Archival Research?

Archival Management System ‘iARCH’ provides a platform for preserving and managing digital materials. The system helps in the discovery of the right kind of material that is required for research. It also helps in organising, storing and retrieving digital materials to make them available to researchers. The system also provides a search engine to find archives or documents within the archive. It provides an indexing service to make it easy for researchers to find specific records or files by using keywords, dates, etc. Once you have an archival management system in your library, museum, or institution, researching data becomes blissful.

At Algorhythms, we provide iARCH, the best Archival Information Management System. It is trusted by the leading museums, monasteries, corporates, and libraries in India and abroad. With iARCH by your side, you can have custom dashboards, organise your collections, have a stable catalogue, manage multimedia content, use advanced search interfaces, export reports, and more. Interested? Get in touch with our experts to discuss your iARCH installation and customisation requirements today!

Some researchers gain access to large amounts of data without interacting with a single research participant. Instead, they use existing records to answer various research questions. This type of research approach is known as archival research. Archival research relies on looking at past records or data sets to look for interesting patterns or relationships. These records may include newspaper articles, personal ads, censuses, sports statistics, speeches by public figures, and even tweets!

In an example of archival research, the measurements of the models photographed for Playboy magazine’s centrefolds were studied from 1953 to 2001 (Voracek & Fisher, 2002). The researchers were able to use the published data on height, weight and measurements for the bust, waist and hips that accompanied the photographs. These data then allowed them to calculate body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, and a rating on an androgyny index. The results showed that body mass index decreased from 20 to 18, and waist-to-hip ratios increased from just below 0.7 to just above 0.7. The effect of these changes means that more recent models have become more androgynous in appearance.

Because this study used a nonexperimental research method, we cannot make cause and effect claims. We can hypothesize why the centrefolds have become increasingly androgynous but we can't say so conclusively. Maybe the change reflects a change in the readership of Playboy. Today's readership is 83% male, earns a median income of $53,000, and is mostly between 18 and 44 years old (75%). How does this compare to the readership in the 1950s? Alternatively, the changes may reflect changes in western cultural tastes and standards regarding female appearance. Only more research using more experimental methods will be able to illuminate these questions.

What are some examples of archival research?

Some examples are manuscripts, letters, photographs, moving image and sound materials, artwork, books, diaries, artifacts, and the digital equivalents of all of these things.

What is archival research in psychology?

the use of books, journals, historical documents, and other existing records or data available in storage in scientific research. Archival research allows for unobtrusive observation of human activity in natural settings and permits the study of phenomena that otherwise cannot easily be investigated.

What are examples of archival data?

Archival data, or backups, can take many forms. External hard drives, DVDs, and backup tapes are just a few examples. Acquisition of archival data can range from simple to extremely complex. The type and age of the backup media are major factors in determining the complexity of the process.

Which situation is an example of an archival study a researcher?

Common examples of archival research sources are census records or survey data that was collected in the past.