Historians' Uses of Archived Material from Sociological Research: Some Observations with Reference to the Affluent Worker Study.

Abstract

Of late, historians of twentieth-century Britain have made increasing use of archived material from sociological research. Such use is examined in the case of the Affluent Worker study. It is argued that established historiographical practice needs to be maintained, and careful consideration given to the provenance and purposes of the documentary material that is drawn upon-with close reference to the context, objectives, and design of the original research. So far as the Affluent Worker study is concerned, such a consideration has not always been adequate, and with untoward consequences. Further, where, as with the Affluent Worker study, the original research was of a survey-based, quantitative kind, serious methodological differences regarding data analysis can arise. These become most apparent where the re-use of the relics of such research is aimed at qualifying the conclusions of its authors or at critically 'deconstructing' the research processes in which they were involved.