Lesson 2: Research Methods: Finding and Evaluating Sources
Historical research requires evaluating sources — not just finding information, but understanding where it comes from, who produced it, and how reliable it is.
Primary sources are original documents or firsthand accounts: the 1744 rules themselves, a newspaper account of the 1913 US Open, a photograph of Young Tom Morris. They require interpretation but are the closest you can get to historical events.
Secondary sources are analyses or summaries of primary sources: history books, academic articles, documentary films. They help you understand and contextualize primary sources, but they reflect the author’s interpretation.
Not all sources are equally reliable. A golf equipment manufacturer’s history of equipment design may be accurate, but it has commercial interests that could affect what it includes or excludes. A peer-reviewed academic article has been checked by other experts. A Wikipedia article may be accurate or may not — it is a starting point, not an ending point.
Primary sources are original documents; secondary sources analyze them. Evaluate every source: who wrote it, why, and what might they have included or excluded?
For your research question, find: (1) one primary source (an original document, photo, or firsthand account), (2) one strong secondary source (a book, academic article, or reputable historical website), and (3) one source whose reliability you are uncertain about. Write a brief evaluation of each: what is it, who produced it, and how reliable do you consider it?