In Presence of the Past, Rosenzweig and Thelen conducted a nationwide survey to determine the ways in which Americans consider the past. Their goal was to provide an overview of how everyday people of the United States who were not part of the history profession comprehended history.
The survey took place in 1994 and was conducted by telephone. The population targeted for the survey included a diverse group of people from various age groups, ethnicities, and religious groups. The group that conducted the 1,500 phone calls and conversations were educated on how to elicit the most telling responses from the participant.
The results revealed that average American citizens did not relate to history in the same way that historians do.
The survey took place in 1994 and was conducted by telephone. The population targeted for the survey included a diverse group of people from various age groups, ethnicities, and religious groups. The group that conducted the 1,500 phone calls and conversations were educated on how to elicit the most telling responses from the participant.
The results revealed that average American citizens did not relate to history in the same way that historians do.