1
A diary written by a protester during the 1981 Springbok Tour is what type of source?
Primary source
A history textbook about the Springbok Tour written decades later is what type of source?
Secondary source
The particular viewpoint of the person who created a source is its...
Perspective
What is one major strength of a photograph taken during a historical event?
It provides visual evidence.
A source that helps a historian answer their research question is considered...
Useful
What is a secondary source?
a. the second source you find b. a source written by someone a step or two removed from the topic c. first hand information, directly from someone central to the topic
b. a source written by someone a step or two removed from
This is another word for the trustworthiness of a document.
Reliability
The historical circumstances surrounding when and where a source was created are its...
context
A protester's diary gives us a first-hand account, but what is a limitation?
One person's experience
True or false:
Bias automatically makesa primary source useless
False
A source asks people to oppose the Springbok Tour. What is the most likely purpose?
To persuade people to oppose the Tour.
The reason why a source was created is its...
Purpose
A preference or viewpoint that influences how information is presented is called...
bias
An anti-Tour cartoon may be biased, but what could it be very useful for studying?
Attitudes towards the Tour
A photograph of a protest is useful for showing what the protest looked like, but may not explain...
Why it happened
A primary source is created by someone who witnessed an event. Does that automatically mean everything they say is accurate?
No. Their perspective, memory, purpose, emotions and access to information can affect the accuracy of their account.
What does comparing sources give you?
This is what historians look for when comparing two sources that describe the same event differently.
Similarities and differences
A photograph shows police facing protesters during the Springbok Tour. What is one thing the photograph cannot necessarily tell us?
Why the confrontation happened.
A protester describes police as "rough", while a police report describes their actions as "necessary". Why might the accounts differ?
They have different perspectives.
A soldier's diary says that his unit performed brilliantly in battle, but another soldier's diary describes the same unit as badly organised. What should a historian do?
Compare and corroborate the sources, considering each author's perspective, purpose and circumstances.
A newspaper strongly supports the Springbok Tour and describes protesters as "violent troublemakers."
What should a historian consider before accepting this description?
The newspaper's perspective, purpose and possible political or social bias. The historian should compare it with other sources, including accounts from protesters and police.
A protester writes about the Tour many years later and describes the police as deliberately attacking peaceful protesters.
Why might this source be useful but also have limitations?
It provides a personal perspective and evidence about the protester's experience, but memory may have changed over time and their personal feelings could influence their account.
You want to find out how New Zealanders felt about the Springbok Tour. Which might be more useful: a personal diary or a police report?
A personal diary
A source is biased but gives valuable evidence about people's attitudes towards the Springbok Tour. Is the source useful?
Yes, for understanding attitudes.