First class research with secondary data: teaching social research methods with archival resources

In this guest blog, Kuba Jablanowski, a lecturer in Digital Sociology at the University of Bristol, explores how the university's use of AM Digital collections have enabled students to access crucial interdisciplinary content to support their research. 

Archives are invaluable resources for social research, yet they are often underused in teaching. As Kuba Jablanowski, a lecturer in Digital Sociology at the University of Bristol notes "we have found that introducing undergraduate sociology and politics students to archival research early in their training enhances their understanding of social science data and its uses." By focusing on archival analysis first and foremost, students gain critical skills in querying existing data, an approach well-suited to a digitised world rich in online data.

A cornerstone of the teaching is the extensive use of the AM digital collections. Through their AM Explorer subscription, the University of Bristol have access to a vast array of crucial interdisciplinary content. Collections such as Mass Observation Project Online and Sex & Sexuality provide students with access to rich, curated resources that helps them formulate research questions and build evidence-based arguments. The University of Bristol's second year research methods unit, Investigating Society, encourages students to prioritise archival research, using AM collections to conduct original analysis. 

When exploring AM’s collections, the students focus typically centres on topics of contemporary significance, with strong interest in themes like sex, sexuality, and identity formation. AM’s archival collections are instrumental in making these investigations possible.  Such materials are especially pertinent in today’s context, where certain identities and behaviours are often thought to be recent developments however, a glance at Mass Observation records reveals they have existed for much longer. 

Additionally, students use these resources to examine the societal impact of communication through modern media, contrasting it with the offline world. AM’s collections not only illuminate the past but also offer powerful insights into the ways society continues to evolve.

When navigating these collections, students often search independently. With limited time, students focus on identifying resources quickly and efficiently, prioritising purposeful searches over exploratory browsing. This means digital collections must be labelled clearly and descriptively, ideally accompanied by examples to illustrate their content. Highlighting how "old" data has been used to address "new" questions can be especially effective. To enhance student experience, there is a need for distinctive branding and clear navigation tools. AM’s Sex & Sexuality collection excels in this area, explaining it’s lasting appeal and popularity.

Students should be encouraged to explore the advantages of secondary data, not just its limitations. Digital archival collections provide unmatched rigour, depth, scope, and scale and such qualities cannot be replicated with the limited time available for student projects. With access to digital archives, such as those published by AM, students develop essential skills and learn what it takes to conduct high-quality research.