RETROSPECTIVE STUDY: CHARACTERISTICS, EXAMPLES AND LIMITATIONS - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2024

The retrospective study consists of a research methodology that focuses on past events in order to establish a chronological analysis that allows understanding the present.

In other words, retrospective studies study the past of a certain element - it can be a scientific discipline or a type of art - with the aim of determining its development over time and understanding its current state.

Retrospective study consists of a research methodology that focuses on past events. Source: pixabay.com

For example, a retrospective study of astronomy must inquire about the origins of this science. Therefore, it would have to focus on the first astronomical manifestations of man - probably originating from the time of the caves -, passing through the contributions of Aristotle or Galileo Galilei, among others.

In this way, the researcher will understand the evolution of this discipline to this day. You will also be able to determine what historical elements or events influenced astronomical changes and advances.

The word "retrospective" comes from the Latin word retrospicĕre, a verb that can be translated as "look back." For this reason, the retrospective can be defined as that which takes into account a work, development or event that took place in the past.

Retrospective studies are one of the most widely used analysis methods today, especially when you want to make known the progress or changes that a certain object or subject has undergone. Consequently, this methodology is frequently used in artists' exhibitions or in museums of all kinds.

History

Some authors claim that the retrospective study is almost as old as mankind. This is because from the beginning of its existence, human beings have been interested in knowing their past and using it not only as inspiration, but also as the basis of their beliefs and convictions.

For example, the Romans used the events of their past to nurture their values ​​as a nation. Formerly, the study of past events was mixed with mythological or religious events, since this was the way that men had to perceive the world.

At present, retrospective studies cannot be influenced by the beliefs or feelings of the researcher. In fact, whoever investigates the past must do so from objectivity and without making value judgments.

characteristics

Retrospective studies allow the researcher to take a journey through the trajectory of a certain discipline, element or factor, taking into account the works that have been carried out at different times.

One of the characteristics of these methodologies is that they allow us to know the past of nations and societies, which is an incentive to promote collective memory. Furthermore, studies of this type are strongly linked to the historical discipline, since they follow the same research parameters.

Likewise, in order to develop any retrospective study, it is necessary to rely on a broad bibliographic content. Therefore, the researcher compiles a series of texts that allow him to establish a chronological line.

The researcher compiles a series of texts that allow him to establish a chronological line. Source: pixabay.com

Examples

In linguistics

One of the disciplines that has most benefited from retrospective studies has been linguistics. This is because linguists must study the past of a certain language to know its evolution, as well as the origin of the different words.

Specifically, the branch of this discipline that employs retrospective methodology is called historical or diachronic linguistics. His studies are focused on the changes that languages ​​have undergone over time.

The results of historical linguistics are frequently compared with those of other disciplines such as archeology, history and genetics. This is because these disciplines seek to reconstruct a relative chronology made up of contact between peoples, cultural influences, and routes of expansion.

In epidemiology

Epidemiological studies use retrospective approaches to learn about experimental and intellectual activities related to health that have been carried out in the past. This with the aim of knowing the causes and consequences of human diseases throughout history.

In other words, retrospective studies within epidemiology are longitudinal studies in time that seek to analyze current events but with data from past events.

That is, epidemiologists try to determine and link the diseases of the past with the diseases of the present. The purpose of this action is to understand more efficiently the reason for the current epidemics.

In literature and in the arts

In literary studies, researchers and critics use retrospective methodology with the aim of knowing what the way of thinking of a certain culture or society was like.

For example, when studying and analyzing the ancient text The Iliad of Homer, an approximation can be made to the worldview of the Greek world, since in this text the customs and convictions of the ancient Greek civilization are recorded. For this reason, some authors argue that literature functions as a record of the idiosyncrasy of the human being.

The retrospective study is also used in the analysis of other artistic manifestations. This can be seen in the discipline of Art History, where important scholars such as Ernst Gombrich (1909-2001) established chronologies that describe and analyze the evolution of painting and sculpture throughout the history of man.

Limitations

The main limitation of the retrospective study consists in the finding of texts or sources whose veracity cannot be verified, which happens due to the age of the documents or the lack of bibliographic material that supports the information.

Furthermore, on many occasions the recorded data may be wrong or incomplete. For example, sometimes researchers are unable to accurately date a historical event or finding, because the information necessary to establish claims was not found.

Another limitation of retrospective studies is that every event or element of the past was conceived from the notions of its time.

Therefore, researchers may have problems when trying to understand this phenomenon, since their way of thinking can collide with past worldviews. Consequently, the success of the retrospective study will depend on the objectivity of the investigator.

References

1. Anderson, I. (1988) Retrospective study of 1000 deaths from injury in England. Retrieved on December 7, 2019 from bmj.com
2. SA (sf) Definition of hindsight. Retrieved on December 7, 2019 from definition.de
3. SA (sf) Enst Gombrich. Retrieved on December 7, 2019 from Wikipedia: es.wikipedia.org
4. SA (sf) Historical linguistics. Retrieved on December 7, 2019 from Wikipedia: es.wikipedia.org
5. Samsoon, G. (1987) A retrospective study. Retrieved on December 7, 2019 from Wiley Online Library.
6. Spengler, D. (1986) Back injuries in industry: a retrospective study. Retrieved on December 7, 2019 from europepmc.org