Which of the following are sources of data in historical research?
(A) Personal observation
(B) Focused group discussion
(C) Oral testimony
(D) Relics
(E) Actuaries
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct option is D

In historical research, sources of data typically include oral testimony (C), relics (D) (artifacts, documents, and physical evidence from the past), and actuaries (E) (historical records, often related to statistical data, vital statistics, or life tables). These sources provide insight into past events and conditions. While personal observation and focused group discussions are common in contemporary research, they are not typically used in historical research as sources of historical data.
Information Booster: 1. Oral testimony refers to accounts and stories passed down through generations, often used to supplement historical records in the absence of written documentation.
2. Relics include artifacts, objects, or documents from the past that help reconstruct historical events.
3. Actuaries in historical research refer to statistical records, such as census data, birth and death records, and other demographic data.
4. Personal observation is more aligned with fieldwork or ethnographic studies and is not typically a primary source in historical research.
5. Focused group discussions are contemporary qualitative methods, more relevant to modern social science research rather than historical analysis.