Using Historical Research Methods to Understand Digitalisation and Technological Change

Professor Chris Forde has argued for the benefits of using archival methods (any research technique that involves extracting, analysing and interpreting data from existing primary sources) as a means of understanding the effects of digital technological change on the workplace in historical perspective. In his published work, he has documented how archive research is used in relevant fields, and developed an understand of the strengths and challenges of an archival approach.

In this session, he will discuss his methodological research on archival methods, including giving his perspective on how they might be used to understand technological change, and lead a discussion among attendees who are interested in the use of these techniques.

Outcomes

Attendees will:

• Develop a stronger understanding of what archival research involves;
• Understand critically how it might be used including strengths and limitations;
• Support students looking to use these techniques, providing a stronger understanding of how they might approach it.

Contributors

• Prof Chris Forde is Professor of Employment Studies at the University of Leeds and Co-Director of the Centre for Employment Relations, Innovation and Change. He is Deputy Director of the ESRC Digital Futures at Work Research Centre, and has been co-lead of the Digit Data Observatory. He was Co-ordinator of the Q-Step Programme at the University of Leeds between 2014 and 2024 and is a founding member of the Leeds Migration Research Network.
• Prof Charles Umney is Professor of International Work and Employment at the University of Leeds and Deputy Director of the Digital Technologies, Communication and Artificial Intelligence (DCA) Pathway for the WRDTP.