event: Databases for Historians I

Course dates: 1) 4 - 7 November 2008, 2) 31 March - 3 April 2009
Course fee: £160
Course tutor: Dr Mark Merry (Centre for Metropolitan History, IHR)

The aim of this course is to provide students with an introduction to computing techniques appropriate for historical research. The course is taught via a mixture of formal lectures and 'hands-on' practical classes in which students are provided with practical guidance on the use of commercially-available computer software packages. The module covers a broad range of skills and techniques, starting with data manipulation in terms of searching, sorting, and editing records, and introducing the main methods of modelling historical data for computer-based analysis. Methods of data collection and data entry are also discussed, together with the principles of coding. The remainder of the course considers the general presentation of historical information in terms of the design, calculation and production of tables, charts and basic figures, introducing the use of spreadsheets and the computer generation of tabular material and associated graphics. The module does not require any previous specialist knowledge of computing or training in mathematics, though a basic knowledge of Microsoft Windows is necessary.

The course is open to postgraduates, academics and all who are interested in using databases to organise or analyse historical data. Places are strictly limited and early application is strongly recommended.

Further details
Application form (rtf file, 32KB)