A manuscript by Dr. Karen Poland, assistant professor in Niagara University’s College of Education, was recently published in the case collection on the Sage Research Methods platform, an online tool dedicated to social research skills training.
Dr. Poland’s manuscript, “Unveiling National Narratives: The Value of Local Level Historical Comparative Case Study Analysis,” discusses how historical-comparative case study methodology was used to evaluate the reliability of the popular narrative used to describe the Harold Rugg textbook controversy of the 1930s.
Dr. Poland notes that curricular battles within the United States are often simplified as ideological clashes between progressive and conservative forces. In Rugg’s case, the textbook series he authored, Man and His Changing Society, was intended to teach students about the social, economic, and political problems of contemporary society in the 1930s, but was censored after it was criticized for spreading anti-American ideas.
“This research methodology is valuable when seeking to confirm, explain, and broaden our understanding of any generally accepted narrative that has emerged because of a social phenomenon,” she said.
The Sage Research Methods Cases collection provides more than 1,100 case studies showing the challenges and successes of doing research, written by the researchers themselves. Cases are peer-reviewed and come with pedagogical tools, including learning objectives and discussions questions.
