Course: Quantitative Methods in Historical Research

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Course title Quantitative Methods in Historical Research
Course code UHV/BKM
Organizational form of instruction Seminar
Level of course Bachelor
Year of study not specified
Semester Summer
Number of ECTS credits 4
Language of instruction Czech
Status of course Compulsory-optional
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Nekvapil Jirásková Šárka, Mgr. Ph.D.
Course content
Research Source base Methods of data processing. Programs suitable for quantitative analysis. Creating and using databases in historical research. Basic scientific outputs. Quantitative versus qualitative research. Quantitative methods in an interdisciplinary perspective. Presentation of students' research Analysis of databases. Discussion, other possible uses of quantitative methods. On-line databases.

Learning activities and teaching methods
Monologic (reading, lecture, briefing), Dialogic (discussion, interview, brainstorming), Work with text (with textbook, with book), Methods of individual activities
  • Contact teaching - 26 hours per semester
  • Term paper - 60 hours per semester
  • Home preparation for classes - 13 hours per semester
  • Data/material collection - 10 hours per semester
  • Preparation for a credit (assessment) - 10 hours per semester
Learning outcomes
The aim of the course is to introduce students to quantitatively oriented research that can be used in historical research. In the seminar, students will learn the basic assumptions and procedures of this type of research, such as the selection of the source base and processing methods, defining primary outputs, creating a database and its use, and representative outputs. Emphasis will also be placed on the possibilities of combining quantitative and qualitative research.
Students will become oriented in the principles and procedures of quantitatively oriented research applicable to historical research and will be able to select and justify an appropriate source base and methods of quantitative data processing for a specific historical research problem. They will be able to interpret the results of quantitative analysis in a historical context, present them clearly to both specialist and wider audiences, and understand the possibilities and limitations of combining quantitative and qualitative research, which they will be able to combine appropriately.
Prerequisites
Skill in critically working with specialized texts and archival material.

Assessment methods and criteria
Home assignment evaluation, Presentation

Presentation, active participation, study of literature
Recommended literature
  • BARTOŠ, J. Úvod do metodiky historického bádání a nauky o pramenech. Olomouc. 1999.
  • BURKE, P. Francouzská revoluce v dějepisectví: škola Annales (1929?1989). Praha. 2004.
  • HENDL, J. Kvalitativní výzkum: základní teorie, metody a aplikace. Praha. 2008.
  • MAUR, E.. Základy historické demografie. Praha. 1983.
  • MYŠKA, M. et al. Prameny k hospodářským a sociálním dějinám novověku 1. Ostrava. 2008.
  • MYŠKA, M. et al. Prameny k hospodářským a sociálním dějinám novověku 2. Ostrava. 2010.
  • NEKVAPIL JIRÁSKOVÁ, Š. Protoindustriální společnost. Populační chování a životní strategie venkovského obyvatelstva severovýchodních Čech v 18. a 19. století. Pardubice. 2019.
  • POSTON, D. L. ? BOUVIER, L. F. Population and society: an introduction to demography. New York. 2010.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester