Aims

In order to validate the body of information on which to base one's research, and in order to achieve scientific objectivity, the student must acquire some basic skills in the critique of information. These methods are inspired by historical criticism. The critique of information is a requirement for the responsible citizen, desirous to know the pertinence and the validity of the information he or she receives or is researching. In either case, information is not only varied and multiform, but also abundant as well as redundant.

Main themes

The lecture course will present different sources of information: texts, figures, images, oral information, material traces [objects?]. As it is impossible to concentrate on a critical approach to each of these forms of information, we shall instead focus on daily sources of information, that is, the media (newspapers and television). Using this daily experience as a springboard, the lectures will move towards applying the critique to a scientific project (evaluation of the relevance of the information and the methods to be used to interpret and to use the information at hand, in each of the stages making up the research: defining the subject, the methods, and the aims of the research; collecting information (varied and multiform, see below); building the body of information and processing it; describing the phenomenon or the fact retold and offered as evidence; explaining the phenomenon or fact; presenting the results to the scientific community or to the public). The practical part will introduce the heuristic and the critical using concrete cases: how to find information? how to examine it to isolate the pertinent information? The 10 hours allotted to tutorials will be divided into two five hour segments. Five hours of documentary research should lead the student to: define the subject matter of the research: concepts and chronological and geographical time limits; identify the existing sources of information to address the subject matter, from general works (encyclopedias, dictionaries, etc.), to library catalogues and encyclopedic bibliographies (such as Current Contents), to national (for instance the Bibliographie de Belgique), to sector (Francis, for instance), to specialized (by discipline) sources. Information to be found on the internet (News, Sites Web, FAQ) will also be used: sorting this mass of information, identifying the works and sources that are useful and pertinent to deal with the subject. Five hours of critically examining the information: applying the rules seen during the lecture course to texts exhibiting a variety of information. At this stage, the particular skills to be exercised should be: to know the "check list" of rules for historical critique and to apply the theoretical rules to a concrete case; to understand a text after carefully reading and re-reading it; to analyze the structure of a text; to synthesize the information learned from different texts; evaluate the information; encouraging work in groups

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

Assessment:
Assessment is based on: - knowledge of the (theoretical) rules of criticism for information related to research and the activities of the citizen; - transfer of theoretical rules; - ability to understand a text; - quality of critical judgment; - synthetic abilities, including writing; - ability to identify, sort, and present information produced in a complete heuristic process.

Other credits in programs