Social Science History

Historical analysis sits at the heart of the social sciences, yet historical data is often treated as if it provides objective knowledge about the past. This book challenges this assumption, revealing the uncertainty, selectivity, and interpretive mediation embedded in every historical claim. Advocating an intersubjectivist approach that avoids both naïve positivism and radical relativism, the authors show how rigorous historical analysis can strengthen theory building, causal inference, and generalization. Along the way, the book highlights common hazards – from presentism and confirmation bias to unreflective data use – that threaten the credibility of historical research. Outlining five general principles, each supported by practical procedures, it provides a clear roadmap for reducing bias and strengthening the credibility of social science history. The result is an essential methodological guide for social scientists seeking to use historical evidence with greater clarity, care, and scholarly integrity.