33
Views
0
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Articles

Discovering the past through data: promoting the design and analysis of original data-sets in history undergraduate courses in Hong Kong

&
Pages 208-220 | Received 27 Jun 2015, Accepted 23 Nov 2015, Published online: 05 Feb 2016
 

Abstract

This article discusses the objectives and outcomes of a project to enhance digital humanities training at the undergraduate level in a Hong Kong university. The co-investigators re-designed a multi-source data-set as an example and then taught a multi-step curriculum about gathering, organizing, and presenting original data to an introductory history course for undergraduates in a broad-based admissions social science program. Undergraduates learned how to develop feasible topics, to search for data in different types of sources, to compile the data in spreadsheet format, and to describe the significance of the data for further research. This pilot curriculum enhanced the customary training for history students in the host institution which focuses primarily on qualitative analysis.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the University Library and the History Department of Hong Kong Baptist University, Mr. Haipeng Li, Dr. Eva Wong of the Centre of Holistic Teaching and Learning at Hong Kong Baptist University, Mr. Patrick Ho-tung Ho, and Mr. Login Lok-yin Law.

Funding

This work was supported by the Hong Kong Baptist University Teaching and Learning Development Grant [grant number TDG/1314/06].

Notes

1. Original data is a set of concrete values of qualitative or quantitative variables that are created from research or generated from research sources. Original data are collected and analyzed to create or reinforce understanding or knowledge.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.