Abstract
In answer to the question, “What is history,” Gallie (1968) stated that it is a wide collection of searches, resting upon evidence, that addresses past human endeavors. History is an account, a story, or a record of what has happened in the life of a people, a country, or a society. It is a branch of knowledge dealing with past events. In a sense, everything we do and say is a part of history. It may not have meaning to others and it may not be recorded for others to ponder, but nevertheless it is a part of the human story. History as a whole tells the story of human actors in a complex world of change, disruption, and continuity. As such, the domain of historical methods constitutes an appropriate context for understanding research findings on attitudes and behavior associated with family functioning.
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Schvaneveldt, J.D., Pickett, R.S., Young, M.H. (2009). Historical Methods in Family Research. In: Boss, P., Doherty, W.J., LaRossa, R., Schumm, W.R., Steinmetz, S.K. (eds) Sourcebook of Family Theories and Methods. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-85764-0_4
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