Capstone Research

Section 1: Overview of the method of the systematic analysis

While the nature of this systematic analysis was inherently exploratory, the hope was to find valid evidence that the general public has an increased interest in learning about history through the use of historical artifacts as opposed to the traditional lecture style teaching method. Specifically, the goal was to receive feedback from a range of different people indicating what they thought of this method, if they found it personally interesting, and if they thought the method had potential to help both students and non-students engage and connect with history. In order to accomplish this, a basic free to access website was built in order to display various historical artifacts. From there, the website was sent out to a variety of different people from different backgrounds along with a Google survey. The results of that survey formed the basis for our results. While we expected to find that people did in fact find it easier to engage and connect with history, we did not expect to receive such overwhelmingly confirming results.

Section 2: Method of the Systematic Analysis

In order to conduct the systematic analysis, we built the starting framework for a free to access website meant to display a wide range of historical artifacts along with information about the context in which the items were used, found, and brought back to the United States. The items ranged from personal effects, headgear, patches, and more. 

Once the website framework was created the site was published and made available online via SquareSpace website builder. Along with the website we created a thorough and thoughtful Google Survey consisting of 11 questions that asked various questions including the background and occupation of the respondent as well as an assortment of questions centering around how viewing the website made each respondent feel and think about their relationship with history and what potential they saw in this method. 

Next, the website and survey were sent out to an array of different types of people with the request that they view the site and fill out the survey with complete honesty. We received an appropriate number of responses in order to base our systematic analysis findings. 

Upon receiving the survey results, they were added into an excel style document for further analysis. From there the results became quite clear.

Section 3: Results of the Systematic Analysis

While we hoped for positive results confirming that this method of using historical artifacts to teach history would be appealing and effective, we could not have anticipated how positive the results would be. 

Of the seven responses received through the Google Survey, we saw almost exclusively positive results. Answers ranged from enthusiastically positive to moderately interested with each respondent leaving a positive response in the last survey question that asked for additional thoughts, notes, and/or concerns. 

By adding the results into an excel style document, we were able to clearly compare each respondents replies to each question systematically. It became immediately clear that the responses were far more positive than had been initially expected.

Section 4: Summary of results of the systematic analysis

After having completed the predetermined systematic analysis as exactly as possible, we found that the general public's openness to, interest in, and excitement for learning about history through historical artifacts was far greater than we had initially expected. The varying types of backgrounds and occupations of the participants serves to further prove that this method is effective in engaging not just a specific type of person, but rather a wide range of people who may or may not have any common interests among them. Overall, we have been overwhelmingly pleased and confident in both the methodology of the systematic analysis as well as the subsequent results.