THE FORMATION OF COMPUTER-BASED SOURCE STUDIES: A HISTORIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

Abstract

The rapid digitalization of the humanities has led to the emergence of a new field - computer-based source studies - reflecting profound changes in the research, processing, and analysis of historical sources. This article presents a historiographical overview of its development, identifies key stages, and examines how digital methods influence traditional source studies. The aim is to explore mechanisms of transformation and the expansion of research tools through information technologies. The methodological basis includes comparative-historical, systemic, and content analysis. Special attention is given to the role of computer technologies in the systematization, storage, classification, processing, and visualization of historical data.

The study highlights the development of a digital paradigm in source studies and emphasizes the necessity of an interdisciplinary approach, combining digital sciences with historical research. It demonstrates the theoretical and practical significance of computer-based source studies. Digital tools improve the efficiency of source processing, expand analytical possibilities, enable deeper interpretation of historical data, and foster the creation of new research strategies. Digitalization also facilitates automated data retrieval, large-scale text analysis, and the identification of hidden connections between historical phenomena.

Specialized software promotes the standardization and easier cataloging of sources, broadens the types of data used in research, and enables modeling of historical processes. The study concludes that digital technologies complement rather than replace traditional methods, enhancing research practices, improving analytical precision, and expanding the horizons of historical inquiry.