Research Strategies CHLS 300

Susan Luévano Ethnic Studies Librarian

Today’s Objectives:Learn & practice research search strategies/computer commandsExamine useful electronic resourcesLearn where to find primary & secondary sources

Developing a search strategy

Develop a general research conceptConduct pre-research or background research on your topic

Pre-Research - Reference SourcesGale Virtual Reference Library Library Home pageDatabases by title “G”

Latino American ExperienceLibrary Home pageDatabases by title “L”

Your turn

• Using your worksheet write your topic or thesis statement.

• Use both the Gale Virtual Reference Online the Latino American Experience databases to find background data on your topic.

Developing a search strategy

Develop a topic into a thesis statementDevelop research questionsPrompts: How, why, when, where, howBreak your thesis statement into key concepts or keywords

Thesis, RQs, Keywords/concepts

The leadership style of César Chávez’s in the United Farmworkers Union contributed to the rise and decline of the United Farmworkers.

LeadershipCésar Chávez

United Farmworkers Union

Your turn

• Using your worksheet write your topic or thesis statement.• Write at least 3 research questions• Circle the keywords or key topics.

Tech Tools - Boolean Operators

Tech Tool: Boolean Operators

Tech Tool: Truncation* Search root word with variant endings

Plurals

More results

Examples: ◦Immigrat*◦Immigrate◦Immigrates◦Immigrated◦Immigration

Tech Tool: Adjacency◦Searches words next to each other in order listed

◦Double quotation marks “xx”◦Examples:◦“Day laborer*”◦“Environmental justice”◦“People of color”◦“Undocumented worker*”

Your turn

•Develop a search strategy using Boolean Operators (AND, OR), truncation (*) and, if needed, adjacency (“---”).

LibGuide – CHLS 300http://csulb.libguides.com/chls300

What is a primary source?

A document which describes an event by a witnesses (diaries, speeches, letters, interviews, autobiographies, etc.) Fundamental or original document relating to a particular subject (government publication, law or legislation, court reports, etc) A source from the time of an event (newspaper articles, news footage, songs, map, cartoons etc)

Primary sources Search words:

◦ Sources◦ Personal Narratives◦ Interviews◦ Letters

Examples: ◦ “immigrant women” and sources◦ “Undocumented immigrant*” and letters◦ “Garment worker*” and interviews

What is a secondary source? Information written by an authority who

reports on an event, person, place or thing (i.e., a biography, etc.) An accounting of events or experiences (i.e., a news story, etc.) not personally observed or experienced by the writer. A scholar's description or analysis of primary sources. (i.e., a journal article, etc.)

Your turn

• Using your search strategy find 1 secondary article on your topic in America: History & Life, Chicano Database and send the citation to yourself in Chicago style format.

• Using your search strategy find 1 primary source on your topic in COAST and send the bibliographic information to yourself via email.

Search Tips What to do if you get too much?

Limit options, e.g. age, geography, ethnicity, gender

Field searching, e.g. subject headings, date, language

Combine searches or add more concepts What to do if you get too few?

Eliminate concepts/use broader topic

Related articles

Cited references

Search Strategies Review LIMIT -

Language

Boolean Truncation *

Adjacency “xxx xxx”

LIMIT LIMIT

LIMIT

How do I get full-text article?

21

HOW DO I GET THE FULL-TEXT ARTICLE?

SUSAN LUÉVANO, CSULB, UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

BeachReach

Research Steps Step 1: Develop search strategy using

◦ Pre-research in reference sources◦ Identify unique Keywords that describe your search◦ Create a search strategy using

◦ Research Questions◦ Boolean operators, Truncation, Adjacency

Step 2: Find primary & secondary sources◦ Research Databases◦ Coast◦ Interviews◦ Internet

Step 3: Search the database◦ Try different keywords, try different searches◦ Select the best citations◦ Retrieve the full-text◦ Use internal citation generators when sending information

Research Steps Step 4: Evaluate resources

◦ Read & analyze article

◦Step 5: Apply and use information◦ Synthesize information◦ Write up the finding and conclusion ◦ Create your bibliography & in-text citations using correct citation style

Use the CHLS 300 Research Guide as a starting point!!

Circular process – Repeat and Revise

Still need a little help? Research Subject Guide –LIBGUIDES Your subject librarian!

◦ Susan Luévano –susan.luevano@csulb.edu◦ Office hours: Wed., 2:30-4:30 PM, Lib, 4th floor, room 416

LibAnswers: http://csulb.libanswers.com/ Research & Information Desk, 1st floor, University Library Chat with a Librarian 24/7

◦ http://www.csulb.edu/library/247ref.html