Original title: Investigar em educação histórica em Portugal: opções metodológicas
published in: Educar em Revista, Curitiba, Brasil, v. 35, n. 74, p. 109-125, mar./abr. 2019
The article, "History Education Research in Portugal: Methodological Options" by Isabel Barca, explores the methodologies used in historical education research in Portugal. It focuses on understanding students' historical thinking at both substantive and meta-historical levels, particularly in formal education settings. The study primarily employs qualitative research methods, supplemented by quantitative data analysis.
The article discusses four key studies in history education:
- Students' Ideas about Provisional Historical Explanation – Examines students' understanding of historical explanations and their ability to evaluate multiple perspectives on historical events.
- Teachers' Conceptions on Narrative and Historical Consciousness – Investigates how history teachers perceive historical narratives and their role in shaping students' historical consciousness.
- Students' Narratives on History in Time – Analyzes how students construct historical narratives, particularly in relation to migrations and interactions of peoples over time.
- Conceptions and Practices in History Education – Studies classroom practices and their impact on developing students' historical thinking, emphasizing conceptual progression and active learning.
The research highlights the importance of epistemology in history education, advocating for a more analytical and multi-perspective approach to teaching history. It also identifies challenges, such as the tendency of students and teachers to favor single, consensual explanations rather than recognizing historical divergence.
The findings suggest that history education should focus on fostering students' ability to critically analyze different perspectives, improve their historical narratives, and enhance conceptual understanding through interactive and reflective teaching methods.
Read the publication here.
[Informations provided by Andrea Coromoto Velazquez Fumero]
