Introduction to Database Design and Use Beginners
Wed 14 Jan - Fri 16 Jan 2015
Description
Bookings for this module open on THURSDAY, 11 DECEMBER at 10:00 am
For more information see: http://www.ssrmc.group.cam.ac.uk/ssrmc-modules/core/making/windows
This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Centre training programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences.
The classes provide a basic introduction to databases and to the commercial database management system, Microsoft Access, using a historical dataset.
Target audience
- Mphil and PhD students from participating departments taking the Social Science Research Methods Centre training programme as part of their research degree
Prerequisites
- You must have a University Information Services (Computing) Desktop Services password (http://www.ucs.cam.ac.uk/linkpages/newcomers)
Sessions
Number of sessions: 3
| # | Date | Time | Venue | Trainer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wed 14 Jan 2015 14:00 - 17:00 | 14:00 - 17:00 | Phoenix Teaching Room 1, New Museums Site | map | Natalia Mora-Sitja |
| 2 | Thu 15 Jan 2015 14:00 - 17:00 | 14:00 - 17:00 | Phoenix Teaching Room 1, New Museums Site | map | Natalia Mora-Sitja |
| 3 | Fri 16 Jan 2015 14:00 - 17:00 | 14:00 - 17:00 | Phoenix Teaching Room 1, New Museums Site | map | Natalia Mora-Sitja |
Topics covered
- Session 1: Introduction to designing a relational database
- Session 2: Creating tables and queries
- Session 3: Useful operations
Aims
- To learn to use Access menus;tool bars; viewing and browing tables
- To create quick forms; develop queries using Boolean operators
- To perform simple statistical operations
Format
Presentations, demonstrations and practicals
Assessments
- Three workbook assignments, completed in class.
Textbook(s)
- Hemingway, V. (1994). Using and Designing Databases for Academic Work: a Practical Guide. Newcastle
- Coppock, T.(ed.) (1999). Information Technology and Scholarship Applications in the Humanities and Social Sciences. Oxford
Notes
- To gain maximum benefits from the course it is important that students do not see this course in isolation from the other MPhil courses or research training they are taking.
- Responsibility lies with each student to consider the potential for their own research using methods common in fields of the social sciences that may seem remote. Ideally this task will be facilitated by integration of the SSRMC with discipline-specific courses in their departments and through reading and discussion.
Duration
Three sessions of three hours each.
Frequency
3 sessions over one week (intensive).
Theme
Software Packages
Booking / availability