Counterfactuals are routinely used in physical and biological sciences to develop and evaluate sophisticated, non-linear models. They have been used with telling effect in the study of economic history and American politics. For some historians, counterfactual arguments have no scholarly standing. They consider them flights of fancy, fun over a…

A course designed to acquaint undergraduates with the problems of interpreting historical evidence is described. (DE)

Maintains that the definitions of what constitute primary and secondary sources in historical studies are arbitrary and oversimplified. Proposes three major categories and provides examples of each. Stresses the importance of these classifications in teaching students to be discriminating in their search for historical truths. (RW)

Online information services (e.g., DIALOG, ORBIT) and computer databases (e.g., Social Sciences Citation Index, Historical Abstracts) that historians can use in their historical research are discussed. The important differences among representative databases are described. (RM)

A course is designed to introduce the student of history to available bibliographic tools. A systematic program through which use proficiency is gained includes varied learning activities and experiences which include preparation of a resource bibliography, a lecture series, use of audiovisual tutorial machines and a systematic program of…