UCL - Quantitative methods in studying history

[HIST1320]

[22.5h] 4 credits

This course is taught in the 2d semester.

Teacher(s): Michel Dorban

Language: French

Level: First

Aims
Main themes
Content and teaching methods
Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Aims

Attract students' attention to the possibilities of enriching certain historical procedures through recourse to quantitative methods. By the end of this course, in using the methods taught, the student should be able to provide proof that he is capable of critically solving simple historical problems on the basis of numerical data.

Main themes

Critique of numerical documentation.
Dealing with a statistical series by elementary methods (organization and processing data, descriptive analysis, graphical presentation.

Content and teaching methods

Based on numerous examples, presentation of the interest of quantitative methods in solving historical problems. - Collection, organization and presentation of data. - Analysis and description of a series of data (résumé via a unique value, distribution and concentration). Analysis of a chronological curve. Methods of data adjustment, correlation and covariation. Simple and synthetic indices. - Sampling. Elementary presentation of certain techniques.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Prerequisites : the mathematical skill normally acquired in secondary education.
Evaluation : Written examination. It deals with theory and, principally, solving practical questions.
Support : student notes
Bibliography : a dossier of graphics and statistical tables.
Teaching staff : the professor or, should need arise, assistants designated by the Department.