Does data mining encourage the creation of a specific kind of history?
It can be argued that digitalisation of history has ushered in a new era through the way in which information is researched. Stephen Ramsay credits this in his appraisal of big data; he states that this would further encourage the traditional humanist research nonetheless. Methodologies in data mining assist historians by categorising and producing new and perhaps unthought-of perspectives behind the information displayed. Furthermore, Tim Hitchcock and some of his colleagues consider historians who discredit this type of history are fairly old fashioned and isolate themselves within the archives.[1] Intriguingly this interpretation of historians may have stemmed from the debate on books vs. internet books and journals; arguing whether reading a physical book is better than reading text of a screen and visa versa. In relation to data mining, it could be argued that digital history is easier and more precise in researching. On the other hand, books were the original form of information that cannot replace that personal interaction and sentiment with the document. This is a further point to discuss; nonetheless everyone has their own preference, but what can be noted is that more and more data is being uploaded.
[1] With Criminal Intent, http://criminalintent.org/; consulted 18 April 2012
[1] With Criminal Intent, http://criminalintent.org/; consulted 18 April 2012