Module Information
Module Identifier
HYM1220
Module Title
Sources for Postgraduate Research in the Modern Humanities and Social Sciences
Academic Year
2026/2027
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 1
Reading List
Other Staff
Course Delivery
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Essay reflecting on the use of the source types studied 3000 Words | 50% |
| Semester Assessment | Report or short project using data gathered from another of 3000 Words | 50% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Report or short project using data gathered from another of 3000 Words | 50% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Essay reflecting on the use of the source types studied 3000 Words | 50% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
Demonstrate a critical understanding of the research use of a selected range of key primary sources in the modern humanities and social sciences, including understanding of practical and methodological issues associated with those sources.
Demonstrate an ability to use these sources in specified tasks and in their own research.
Conduct independent research utilising one or more of the sources studied in the module.
Communicate effectively their use of these sources orally and in written form.
Brief description
This module introduces postgraduate students to key primary sources in the modern humanities and social sciences. It provides you with essential research training in the methodologies and approaches required to utilise these sources in your own research, through a series of full-day workshops.
The module comprises a series of eight day-long workshops, each of which deals with a different kind of source. You must attend a minimum of four. You are welcome to attend to more than those four if you wish. Each workshop will typically comprise one or two sessions in the morning that introduce you to the source and to the technical, theoretical and practical challenges associated with its use, and a practical session (or equivalent) in the afternoon in which you will have the opportunity to conduct your own research using this source. This will be followed at the end of each workshop by a short ‘debriefing’ and discussion session with the workshop convenor.
The module comprises a series of eight day-long workshops, each of which deals with a different kind of source. You must attend a minimum of four. You are welcome to attend to more than those four if you wish. Each workshop will typically comprise one or two sessions in the morning that introduce you to the source and to the technical, theoretical and practical challenges associated with its use, and a practical session (or equivalent) in the afternoon in which you will have the opportunity to conduct your own research using this source. This will be followed at the end of each workshop by a short ‘debriefing’ and discussion session with the workshop convenor.
Content
List of workshops:
‘Reading’ a film
Newspapers as historical sources
Photographs: Gaze (or gift) of both image and spirit
Oral History: “To read in the book of life that which has never been recorded in written form”
Deconstructing Objects
The National Archives
Letters and correspondence
Recorded sound as a primary source
‘Reading’ a film
Newspapers as historical sources
Photographs: Gaze (or gift) of both image and spirit
Oral History: “To read in the book of life that which has never been recorded in written form”
Deconstructing Objects
The National Archives
Letters and correspondence
Recorded sound as a primary source
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | Through understanding of statistical and other numerical data as required |
| Communication | Through seminar discussion and essay writing |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | By guided reflection during seminars and feedback sessions following submission of written work. |
| Information Technology | Through data retrieval exercises for research purposes and word-processing for essay writing purposes. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | Through furthering practical primary source research skills, and understanding the use of these sources in academic research environments. |
| Problem solving | By introduction to key practical and methodological issues involved in research in particular primary sources; by own independent research in these sources. |
| Research skills | By critical assessment of, and hands-on experience with, the methodological and practical challenges associated with the primary sources under review. |
| Subject Specific Skills | By developing and enhancing key research skills appropriate to postgraduate research in the modern humanities and social sciences |
| Team work | Through seminar work. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 7