Answer to Question 1
1
Rationale 1: External criticism is the test of authenticity of a source.
Rationale 2: Applicability of information to the researcher's topic is not addressed by external criticism.
Rationale 3: The accuracy of information in the letter is a test of internal criticism. This test is considered after the source passes the test of external criticism.
Rationale 4: This may be a valid issue, but is not a test of external criticism.
Answer to Question 2
3,5
Rationale 1: Whereas much of this research has been completed by doctoral students, interest in historical research is not limited to those nurses.
Rationale 2: There are many examples of primary sources: oral histories, written records, diaries, eyewitnesses, pictorial sources, and physical evidence.
Rationale 3: Whereas many readers are simply interested in reading about the past, the primary reason for any nursing research is to improve the provision of nursing services. Applying knowledge of past events to current happenings is a good way to make use of the work of those nurses who have gone before us.
Rationale 4: Historical research is a valid type of nursing research.
Rationale 5: This is a true statement. More research into the actual historical practice of nursing is needed.