Introduction

This online module will introduce you to the basics of modern research methods for researchers in the humanities and social sciences.

Today technology offers research opportunities never before possible. Across the globe, librarians at archive and research centers are digitalizing their collections at a furious pace. Their hard work means that researchers can perform a large portion of their work from a local library, or even home.  More importantly, these digitalized documents make possible new and exciting forms of research, and even the statistical analysis of research sources.  Many more research documents are only available in analog.  Yet, even here advances in technology make it easy for researchers to duplicate and store thousands of documents digitally on their own.

The flexibility afforded by modern research tools not only makes archival trips less necessary, but quicker, cheaper, and more productive. Research is no longer limited to school recesses. It can be done throughout the year for a fraction of the cost of an expensive long-term research trip.  While modern tech offers contemporary researchers numerous advantages, there are definite best practices to follow to maximize one’s time and research budget.  This module will guide you through them.

When you are finished, please return here and take a very short survey of your experience.
CLICK HERE TO GO TO SURVEY

For questions or comments, please contact Lane Sunwall at sunwall@wisc.edu