Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:53:20-1:53:38

How synthesized references should be disclosed

Historians can combine several sources to support a reconstructed point, but should make clear that the claim is synthesized and identify every source used.

Historical MethodHistorical SourcesHistoriography
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Question

Can a historian add details that are not present in one cited source by drawing on other evidence?

Short answer

Yes, through a synthesized reference, but the writer must disclose that multiple sources were combined and identify all of them.

Notes

The prompt raises a dispute over an author supplying details that were not present in one cited source. Historians may combine several sources to support one point, a practice called a synthesized reference. The method is not a license to blur provenance. The writer must indicate that several sources were used and point readers to all of them.