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Methodological Tools

Code: 45753
Credits: 3
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
History of Science: History, Heritage and Scientific Communication OB 1

Contact lecturer

Name :
Jaume Sastre Juan
Email :
jaume.sastre@uab.cat

Teaching staff

Celia Miralles

Teaching staff (external to UAB)

Nicolás Kwiatkowski
Dolores Martín Moruno
Jesús Galech

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

There are none.

Objectives

This subject provides training in the use of basic technical and methodological tools for academic research and writing, and for the planning and development of both research in the field of the history of science and projects in the areas of the definition and management of scientific heritage and scientific communication.

Learning outcomes

  • CA09 (Integrate methodologies and techniques from the history of science in the construction of interdisciplinary historical narratives that promote an effective dialogue between scientific and humanistic cultures, incorporating the dimensions of gender, race, class, materiality, and power.) Integrate methodologies and techniques from the history of science in the construction of interdisciplinary historical narratives that promote an effective dialogue between scientific and humanistic cultures, incorporating the dimensions of gender, race, class, materiality, and power.
  • CA10 (Integrate methodologies and techniques from the history of science, both autonomously and as a team, in the construction of interdisciplinary narratives in the fields of heritage definition and management and scientific communication.) Integrate methodologies and techniques from the history of science, both autonomously and as a team, in the construction of interdisciplinary narratives in the fields of heritage definition and management and scientific communication.
  • CA11 (Design projects in the fields of heritage definition and management and scientific communication, incorporating the dimensions of gender, race, class, materiality and power.) Design projects in the fields of heritage definition and management and scientific communication, incorporating the dimensions of gender, race, class, materiality and power.
  • KA08 (Critically select historiographical research techniques and methodologies in the planning and development of research in the field of the history of science that integrate scientific and humanistic cultures.) Critically select historiographical research techniques and methodologies in the planning and development of research in the field of the history of science that integrate scientific and humanistic cultures.
  • KA09 (Rigorously select techniques and methodologies for analysing the history of science in the planning and development of projects in and on the areas of the definition and management of scientific heritage and scientific communication.) Rigorously select techniques and methodologies for analysing the history of science in the planning and development of projects in and on the areas of the definition and management of scientific heritage and scientific communication.
  • SA09 (Apply historiographical research techniques and methods in the analysis and commentary of primary sources and representative texts of the different schools of the history of science, incorporating the dimensions of gender, race, class, materiality and power.) Apply historiographical research techniques and methods in the analysis and commentary of primary sources and representative texts of the different schools of the history of science, incorporating the dimensions of gender, race, class, materiality and power.
  • SA10 (Use methods and techniques for analysing the history of science in the formulation of historiographical and practical problems in the fields of the definition and management of scientific heritage and scientific communication.) Use methods and techniques for analysing the history of science in the formulation of historiographical and practical problems in the fields of the definition and management of scientific heritage and scientific communication.
  • SA11 (Apply the theoretical and methodological tools of the history of science in the production and editing of narratives of and about scientific heritage and science communication, incorporating the dimensions of gender, race, class, materiality and power.) Apply the theoretical and methodological tools of the history of science in the production and editing of narratives of and about scientific heritage and science communication, incorporating the dimensions of gender, race, class, materiality and power.

Contents

This subject aims to provide students with the basic methodological tools they need to carry out their dissertation. A first group of sessions focuses on teaching an applied methodology for academic writing, reflecting on academic writing and the specific nature of historical writing, and guiding students to formulate a research question. A second group of sessions offers an introduction to the specific approaches and methods of research in the history of science, the management of scientific heritage and the communication of science. In these sessions, students will learn to analyse and take a critical stance towards different types of historical sources (written, visual and oral).

1 How to write an academic paper

2 Constructing a research question

3 The specificity of historical writing

4 The different sources of history: written sources

5 The different sources of history, heritage and communication: visual sources

6 The different sources of history, heritage and communication: oral sources

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Orientation and exercises 12 0.48 CA09, CA10, CA11, KA08, KA09, SA09, SA10, SA11
Autonomous work 45 1.8 CA09, CA10, CA11, KA08, KA09, SA09, SA10, SA11
Classes and seminars 18 0.72 CA09, CA10, CA11, KA08, KA09, SA09, SA10, SA11

This subject is conceived as a toolbox in which students can find recommendations for methodological readings, links to resources or advice directly applicable to their final master's thesis.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Exercise 2 45% 0 0 CA09, CA10, CA11, KA08, KA09, SA09, SA10, SA11
Exercice 1 45% 0 0 CA09, CA10, CA11, KA08, KA09, SA09, SA10, SA11
Participation 10% 0 0 CA09, CA10, CA11, KA08, KA09, SA09, SA10, SA11

The continuous assessment consists in:

- Class participation 10%

- 2 exercises, each exercise is worth 45% of the mark.

In the first exercise, students will have to answer a written question; in the second, they will analyse a primary or secondary source.

This subject allows the use of AI technologies exclusively for support tasks such as [***bibliographic or content-based searches, text correction or translations, where applicable]. In the case of subjects in a Modern Languages degree, use of translation must be specifically authorised by the teacher. Other specific situations may be contemplated, as deemed appropriate by the teacher. The student must clearly (i) identify which parts have been generated using AI technology; (ii) specify the tools used; and (iii) include a critical reflection on how these have influenced the process and final outcome of the activity. Lack of transparency regarding the use of AI in the assessed activity will be considered academic dishonesty; the corresponding grade may be lowered, or the work may even be awarded a zero. In cases of greater infringement, more serious action may be taken.

Bibliography

Alía Miranda, Francisco. Técnicas de investigación para historiadores: Las fuentes de la Historia. Madrid: Editorial Síntesis, 2017.

Aróstegui, Julio. La investigación histórica: Teoría y método. Barcelona: Crítica, 2001.

Ashman, Sandra and Creme, Phyllis, Reading for Study. A Guide for Students, London, University of North London Press, 1996.

Bloch, Marc, Apología de la historia o el oficio del historiador, Mexico, FCE, 1993.

Eco, Umberto Como se hace una tésis, Gedisa, 2001.

Fontana, Josep Introducción al estudio de la historia. Barcelona: Crítica, 1999.

Ginzburg, Carlo Mitos, emblemas e indicios, Buenos Aires, Prometeo, 2013

Stoler, Ann Laura. Along the Archival Grain: Epistemic Anxieties and Colonial Common Sense. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2010.

Schrag, Zachary M. The Princeton Guide to Historical Research, Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2021.

Software

Not needed.

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TEm) Theory (master) 1 Catalan/Spanish second semester afternoon