Publication details

Bridging digital history methods and source criticism : A research agenda for the study of inquisition records

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Authors

ZBÍRAL David SIKK Kaarel SHAW Robert Laurence John

Year of publication 2025
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source Acta Historica Tallinnensia
MU Faculty or unit

Faculty of Arts

Citation
web full text of the article
Doi http://dx.doi.org/10.3176/hist.2025.1.02
Keywords digital history; computer-assisted source criticism; computational modelling; data analysis; inquisition records; information extraction for history; Large Language Models (LLM)
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Description We outline the benefits of computational modelling approaches for extracting and analysing data derived from inquisition records, while also highlighting some drawbacks of digital history methods and the dangers of their superficial application. Most crucially, we propose ways of integrating those methods with source criticism. If source-critical information feeds into the analysis itself as data, computational modelling can improve the precision of argumentation, make assumptions and limitations more transparent, and allow digital methods to enhance the discipline of history at its core, paving the way for a genuine 'source criticism 2.0'.
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