Research Skills: Back to the Sources

Full course description

This research training offers a first introduction on how to deal with the problems of tracing, selecting and assessing primary sources, especially those related to the (early) history of European integration. During the course, the specific characteristics of the following types of primary sources are discussed: political speeches, international treaties, archival records and public opinion sources. Also the specific problems of using internet sources are dealt with. Each of the three assignments is devoted to a specific problem and a specific category of historical sources: the assignment on political speeches is mainly devoted to the critical analysis of sources. The assignment on archival sources focuses on the problems of selecting and combining a variety of sources. Finally, the assignment on public opinion sources addresses the problems of representativity and influence.