<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> This article envisages critically present the use of the personal documents, looking from a historical perspective at how it was practiced in different paradigms in the humanistic-social sciences. The exposé also considers the methodological and the ethical implications of using the method, underlining, in this respect, the aspects related to the preservation and reuse of the materials of this kind. By putting into balance the trumps and downsides of the personal documents method, the article highlights, in fact, the importance of using the personal documents method in studying a wide range of specific problems of the humanistic-social sciences. The ultimate purpose of the article is, therefore, that of prompting the social scientists to look more carefully and more trustingly at the alternative of choosing the personal documents method, as a potential powerful tool for sociological research, providing them, at the same time, with possible directions in discerning between the favourable and unfavourable situations for using it.</p></abstract>

This article envisages critically present the use of the personal documents, looking from a historical perspective at how it was practiced in different paradigms in the humanistic-social sciences. The exposé also considers the methodological and the ethical implications of using the method, underlining, in this respect, the aspects related to the preservation and reuse of the materials of this kind. By putting into balance the trumps and downsides of the personal documents method, the article highlights, in fact, the importance of using the personal documents method in studying a wide range of specific problems of the humanistic-social sciences. The ultimate purpose of the article is, therefore, that of prompting the social scientists to look more carefully and more trustingly at the alternative of choosing the personal documents method, as a potential powerful tool for sociological research, providing them, at the same time, with possible directions in discerning between the favourable and unfavourable situations for using it.

Personal Documents as Data Sources for Social Sciences. A Review of History of Uses, Ethical, Methodological and Epistemological Considerations

Romanian Academy, Institute of Sociology, 13 Calea 13 Septembrie, 050711 Bucharest, Romani Romanian Academy, Institute of Sociology, 13 Calea 13 Septembrie, 050711 Bucharest, Romania

Social Change Review

This article envisages critically present the use of the personal documents, looking from a historical perspective at how it was practiced in different...

Personal Documents as Data Sources for Social Sciences. A Review of History of Uses, Ethical, Methodological and Epistemological Considerations

Published Online: Feb 13, 2014

Page range: 3 - 36

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/scr-2013-0009

Keywords
Personal documents Qualitative data Data archiving Theoretical frameworks Triangulation

This content is open access.

Personal Documents as Data Sources for Social Sciences. A Review of History of Uses, Ethical, Methodological and Epistemological Considerations

Published Online: Feb 13, 2014

Page range: 3 - 36

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/scr-2013-0009

KeywordsPersonal documents Qualitative data Data archiving Theoretical frameworks Triangulation

This content is open access.

Keywords
Personal documents Qualitative data Data archiving Theoretical frameworks Triangulation