Research Project

The major assignment for this course is a research project in which you find or create a dataset that allows you to investigate a historical topic. You will then use Python to process and analyze the data in order to present an argument, interpretation, or narrative based on that analysis. You are free to choose any topic or dataset that you want, but it must be generally historical in nature. The assignment is scaffolded across several stages.

Research Project Proposal

Submit a research proposal to Canvas that addresses the following:

  • Name
  • Title of your project
  • What research topic are you interested in?
  • Description of Dataset: What kind of information does it contain? Are you going to be transcribing it yourself or is it already in a machine-readable format? How are you going to access it?
  • Ideas for analysis: what research questions do you want to answer and how can you use this data to answer them?

Due Tuesday, November 9th by 11:59PM

Research Project Data Biography

You will write a short “data biography” modeled on Heather Krause, “Data Biographies: Getting to Know Your Data” Global Investigative Journalism Network (March 27, 2017). Your data biography should address:

  • Introduce the dataset and its contents. What kind of information is in there? How much data is there?
  • Where did it come from?
  • Who collected, processed, and made it available?
  • How was it collected, processed, and made available?
  • Why was it collected, processed, and made available?
  • How is it stored today? How did you access it?
  • Potential problems with the data - are there any limitations, biases, missing data or gaps, or ethical considerations to consider when using this data?

Due Friday, November 19th by 11:59PM

Research Project: Draft

Your full research project will take the form of a zipped project directory uploaded to Canvas that contains all of your datasets and necessary files. This directory should include a Jupyter Notebook as the main written part of your project. In that document you will include the following:

  • Introduction: the questions you sought to answer about your data and any context that you think your reader will need to understand the data, including existing scholarship or research on the topic
  • Methodological discussion of how the data was collected, processed, and analyzed
  • Main analysis of the dataset: a clearly communicated argument, interpretation, or narrative supported by compelling evidence and examples; appropriate visualizations of your dataset
  • Conclusion: the larger cultural context of this dataset; ethical concerns or issues around its collection or application
  • Bibliography: list of existing scholarship and sources of your data

Due Sunday, December 5th by 11:59PM

Project Presentation

On Monday, December 6th you will give a 10-minute presentation to your classmates that walks through your dataset and main analysis. Treat this as both an opportunity to share what you’ve accomplished and a chance to solicit feedback on specific pieces of your project.

Due Monday, December 6th

HIST 5261 only: Written feedback on classmates’ projects

I will be pairing each graduate student enrolled in HIST 5261 with 1-2 of your classmates. Your responsibility is to take notes during their presentation and synthesize the feedback given by their peers and professor. You will write up these notes in a short memo and send them to the classmate over Slack DM (include Professor Blevins in this DM).

Due Tuesday, December 7th by 11:59PM

Research Project: Final

This will take the same format as the Research Project: Draft outlined above. Note that I will be assessing your project not just on its final version, but also on how well you took into account feedback from your peers and myself.

Due Tuesday, December 14th by 11:59PM