Books, Articles and Historical Research

To an unqualified observer, the differences between books and articles may appear to be non-existent, aside from the obvious differences of length. To a historian however, the differences between books and articles is substantial. While neither books nor articles can claim to be superior in value, both books and articles have valuable characteristics that depending on the situation or type of information required will cause the historian to turn to either a book or article. Books and articles are have their own purpose and value in the discipline of history.
Both types of literature adhere to the same scholarly principles of language, structure and a clear purpose. Books are the result of lengthy study, often years of dedication and investigation on the part of a historian. The wealth of information exhibited presented in book form is the result of careful methodological considerations to the authors broader argument and deep contemplation of the sources, their significance, meaning and how they fit into existing or non-existing historiographies. Books cover a wide range of issues and debates within their pages used to validate an authors general argument. While books provide a great deal of information on a general perspective, often large portions of the literature is irrelevant to a student or researching historian. However, information presented in books is valuable to student historians and practicing historians because it illustrates the interconnectedness of certain issues or debates within a specific subject. Books take advantage of both primary and secondary materials. The use of secondary materials is often extensive in books demonstrating the cumulative nature of historical knowledge and the historical disciplines ability verify, revise or contradict the works of other historians.
Articles, while sharing many of the characteristics with books, have subtle but important differences. Articles typically provide clear and concise details on a specific aspect of an issue or debate. Articles can either argue a very specific aspect of an issue or debate or can provide new questions or methodologies that have not been explored on a subject. Articles are useful when attempting to gain a general sense of the issues and debates that exist on a given topic, or a specific aspect of a general topic. Articles are beneficial in preliminary research as they introduce the student historian or professional historian to the complex issues and debates surrounding a specific topic. In certain cases, articles are mediums that act as an expose for primary source materials that have not been available for study in the past. Articles of this nature often do not attempt to formulate an argument or come to conclusions on the significance or meaning of the sources but rather introduce them to fellow historians in the subject area and how and why it may be necessary to re-visit past studies in light of the new information available.