English Literature

Among the questions raised by Raitz and others started with the inquiry of why tobacco grows in the area of Wisconsin. Through an evaluation of historical records, more specifically a map, they found out that planting tobacco was not primarily connected with soil, climate, etc. but is rather related to flux of Norwegian immigrants. After that, they inquired into the relationship between an individuals membership in a particular ethnic group and activities related to agriculture. In order to find out the answers to this, the researchers dealt with interview of key persons such as the growers themselves, the co-op employees, government agency employees. In addition to this, they deal with a review of primary sources. They found out that the first set of Norwegian immigrants worked as laborers for the Yankee farmers, who brought the cigar-tobacco practice from the Miami Valley. Through time, it has been a practice carried on from one generation to another.

The central question that Ritz and his fellow researcher focused on is related to the uniformity of the rock fences in Kentucky. Among the specific questions involved the ability of several amateur masons to work on the fence with a single pattern and who trained them to do such. In order to find out the answers, the researchers engaged in observation, interviews, and historical data and records. The researchers found out that Irish immigrants worked as masons while African Americans acted as slaves. The African American slaves became trained in building Irish fences, which were considered to be sturdy ones, and used what they taught to construct the fences in Kentucky.

Different types of evidence bear their own drawbacks and limitations. First, oral traditions are limited to a certain group to which it belongs and it can be tainted with personal beliefs and biases. Second, the first-hand witness accounts limits the perspective to only one person and it is susceptible to misinterpretations between the source and the recipient. Third, experts are usually figures of authority in a particular field and they could not explain problems which arise from multiple disciplines. More so, there is the tendency to believe experts even though their opinions do not have scientific foundations.

The need to combine various types of evidence arises from the characteristic of a research to be thorough in data collection. In order to answer a particular phenomena, there is a need to look into several data sets. An evidence usually links to another that makes research more comprehensive in answering the requirements of the research questions.