Teaching
Jackie Turton from the Department of Sociology at the University of Essex recently collaborated with the UK Data Service to develop an assignment for a module on crime and control. The aim was to incorporate the use of research methods with the practice of accessing and analysing UK Data Service archived qualitative data and applying the findings to an appropriate criminological question.
The assignment required students to explore the qualitative collections in the UK Data Service catalogue relating specifically to issues of crime and social control. They were asked to use the UK Data Service thematic guides to assist them in their exploration of the collections. The students examined the research methods used in the collections and then were required to consider alternative methods and research questions. They were asked to develop a critical approach to assessing secondary resources, understand how secondary resources can be used to study the theme of crime and control, and finally think about how secondary resources can help them plan and develop their own research projects.
The initial pilot was very successful and will be incorporated into the modules in future years. In addition, with support from further funding, a generic template is now available to allow teachers to adapt and refine the assignments and their use of UK Data Service qualitative data collections. This template was successfully applied to a health and human sciences module and will be applied to a sociological module on youth studies.
One of the key outcomes was the opportunity for students to explore real life data. “Students found the data exciting,” says Turton. “It is just so amazing to have that archive and I think that is what we should be enthusing students about.” One student noted “I found it interesting to go into transcripts. I found that bit quite absorbing – a bit too absorbing perhaps! I had to stop myself and I wanted to go on and read more.” Turton echoed this feedback when she said, “once you get into the data… it is really difficult to get out again. I mean I get very excited when I start to read this sort of data.”
See also:
- Our Projects: Using data in sociology teaching (UK Data Archive)