One of the most significant questions facing researchers engaged in contemporary history is the use of sources. These might include archival, oral, visual, electronic or printed sources. The particular mix employed will depend on the topic covered and the amount of time and money available to conduct the work. This article reviews both the importance and limitation of questionnaires for examining contemporary history in light of the advice provided in methodological texts.
BakerD. (1995), ‘The Blue Map of Europe: Conservative Parliamentarians and European Integration’ in British Elections and Parties Yearbook, London: Frank Cass.
3.
BrivatiB. (eds.) (1996), The Contemporary History Handbook, Manchester: Manchester University Press.
4.
De VausD. (1991), Surveys in Social Science Research, London: UCL Press.
5.
DevineF. (1995), ‘Qualitative Analysis’ in MarshD.StokerG. (eds.) Theory and Methods in Political Science, Houndmills: Macmillan.
6.
MayT. (1997), Social Research, Buckingham: Open University Press.
7.
NorrisP. (1998), ‘New Labour, New Politicians?’, Contemporary Political Studies, Vol.2, pp. 766–779.
8.
NossiterT. (1996), ‘Survey and Opinion Polls’ in BrivatiB. (eds.) The Contemporary History Handbook, Manchester: Manchester University Press, pp. 326–341.
9.
SeldonA.PappworthJ. (1982), By Word of Mouth, London: Methuen.
10.
SeldonA. (1988) ‘Interviews’ in SeldonA. (ed.) Contemporary History: Practice and Method, Oxford: Basil Blackwell.
