Research Methodology

 Research Methodology

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A. What examples are there of historians who have researched this theme/topic/event (list and provide references to at least three historians, and at least one of their respective publications/books/articles)?

i) S.F. Mason “Science and Religion in the 17th Century England”

ii) William H. Austin “Isaac Newton on Science and Religion”

iii) Michael Hunter “Science and Society in Restoration England”

B. What type of historical sources did they use in their research?

i) S.F. Mason is a historian who discusses developments of science and ties to religion in “Science and Religion in the 17th Century England. Mason uses books and articles from other historians on similar topics to help formulate viewpoints and ideologies. This includes credible works scientists and academics. His attention is on subjects prior to and during the Stuart era. Focusing primarily science such as astronomy and mechanics and the relation with science and religion over time.  

ii) William H. Austin discusses Isaac Newton’s views on science and religion in his article “Isaac Newton on Science and Religion.” Austin uses books and articles from other historians, as well as Newton’s own work. 

iii) Michael Hunter examines the social relations between the scientific community in Stuart England and society, and the issues that the community faces. Hunter explores the links between science and technology, religion, and politics, and examines contemporary attacks on science.

C. Are there other blogs covering the same topic/theme as yours?  If so – mention at least two of them.  If not: why do you think there aren’t other blogs on this topic/theme?

While searching for other blogs related to our topic, our group experienced difficulty in finding blogs that focused explicitly on science and natural philosophy in the Stuart period. We did find several blogs that discussed Stuart England, such as https://www.britainexpress.com/History/Stuarts_index.htm, however this blog does not discuss science or natural philosophy. We did find a blog/podcast that was quite interesting that covered a wide range of topics in the Stuart period, found here https://earlystuartengland.wordpress.com/. Although the topics focus on the political events of the period, there are episodes that discuss the scientific aspects of Stuart Society.

D. How did your group determine the theme/topic of your blog?

When we first began our research for our topic, all sources linked back to one key event: the foundation of the Royal Society. We decided that our first blog post should cover this establishment since it was so important to the foundation of science in Stuart England. During our research of the Royal Society, we continuously ran into the big names of the period (Hooke, Newton, Boyle). We eventually started reading about these people, and from here decided that it would be best to focus each blog post on one of these scientists, seeing as how each of them were key to scientific advancements in this period, as well as that by focusing on the individual, rather than any abstract concepts, the topic would be given a ‘human connection’ that would be easier for people viewing the blog to relate to.

E. What was the strategy your group used to locate historical sources/primary sources for the blog?

The sources that we used for our blog were primarily secondary sources that discussed the scientists that we covered. By using these secondary sources, like Britannica, we were given links to the primary sources that they used. Finding primary sources was also very easy, as the people we were researching have all written books themselves, and accessing these books was easy. 

  

F. How did you determine which historical/primary sources to use/discuss?

While there were many sources that discussed our topic, we decided to try and stick with academic sources for the most part as these would be the most credible. When it came to primary sources, we stuck to the published works of the scientists we were researching, and used secondary sources to supplement the information and to help us understand some of the more complex ideas that were presented.

G. How did you determine the tasks of each group member in maintaining the blog and posting throughout the term?

We figured out at the start that it would be easiest if we all worked on each blog post together all at once. We met once a week for a few hours each session, and in that time we would begin by researching and sharing sources we found with one another, taking time to reach each source. We were able to gather sources very quickly this way with all four of us searching, and once we had a basis for our blog post, we would designate two people to break down the most important information into point form, while the other two would begin to formulate those points into a post.

H.    What are the most important “lessons” that your fellow students in this course should take away from your blog, and why?  (indicate at least TWO)

We hope that by reading our blog that our fellow students will see that in the Stuart period, scientific thought flourished, and England was home to many great minds that advanced various different scientific fields through their discoveries. We also want students to understand that, despite the almost mythical status that scientists like Newton hold within our society, these individuals were still just human, and were capable of the same failures and flaws that everyone else was.