Hello everyone, sorry for the gap between posts. Work has been busy since lockdown eased!
I have been trying to present my work to new audiences, and one conference I presented at was called ‘New Perspectives on New Challenges’. The online conference was run by the History of Education Society and the Children’s History Society on the 16th October.
There was a vast array of research connected to education, including computerisation in Indian schools and research combining computer science in Ohio and digital science in London. All the papers examined the impact of the pandemic on research and were heartening, demonstrating the resilience of researchers to carry on in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic. It also featured presentations on publishing by Dr Heather Ellis and a key note speech from Dr Jonathan Doney on his research and use of Statement Archaeology.
I will now go through my paper and then give some more information on the conference organisers.
‘What Next? The Significance of Mass Observation During the Pandemic
My paper explored the issues I faced during the pandemic, namely that all the research material was only available through libraries and archives which were closed. There was also little written material online and I was very worried how I was going to get through my PhD. Luckily, one of my tutors mentioned Mass Observation and this really helped me both in conducting my research and to meet new researchers.
Mass Observation is a social research project primarily from 1937 to the mid-1960s. It sought to gather public opinion through the study of writing, polls and surveys. I mainly used surveys on family planning conducted in 1944 and 1949, allowing me to see opinion during the Second World War and the post-war period. The surveys I accessed were all through Mass Observation online, but you can also physically see the material at the Keep (University of Sussex). I am looking forward to visiting the Keep soon!
I found the online surveys incredibly useful, demonstrating the contrast in birth control provision based on location. While many in London stated there was plenty of birth control support, many in the countryside challenged this by stating there was inadequate provision. This distinction is key to my research and Mass Observation allowed me to start my data collection with quality research. It also developed my research- I found that one of the founders, Charles Madge, supported the Family Planning Association in Birmingham and this is something I am looking forward to researching in the near future.
Secondly, Mass Observation allowed me to meet new researchers which really helped during the lockdown. I met researchers through conferences connected to Mass Observation. We also emailed and had online discussions about our research. The Mass Observation Online Archive has lots of pictures and photographs and these stimulated our discussions.
https://www.massobservation.amdigital.co.uk/Introduction/NatureAndScope
I found Mass Observation extremely useful, it re- energised my love for research in the most troubling of times. Now I am visiting archives and am able to develop my research. This is happening in no small part because of Mass Observation and I am extremely thankful.
The conference organisers
The Children’s History Society will be holding a conference next year and further details will follow. The society is on Facebook and Twitter – ( Children’s HistSocUK @histchild) which has lots of interesting updates and information.
The History of Education Society also has a Twitter account and website https://historyofeducation.org.uk/. The society has just recently had their annual conference which had lots of wonderful, engaging presentations. I will be writing about the conference and my paper in the next blog.