Research Skills: Back to the Sources

Full course description

This research training offers a first, hands-on introduction to the critical analysis of primary sources, especially those related to the (early) history of European integration. In three consecutive assignments the following types of primary sources will be discussed: public political statements, archival government records and public opinion sources (including opinion polls). Students will be introduced to the quality control criteria of authenticity, credibility and representativeness which they will need to apply themselves to a number of sources. Two of the three assignments will result in group presentations, in which students will work together to present their analysis of a number of primary sources.