Susan C. Luévano, WGSS LibrarianWGSS 401

FEMINIST RESEARCH METHODS:STRATEGIES & RESOURCES

RESEARCH REVIEW

• Step 1: Develop search strategy • Thesis statement • Pre-research• Research questions• Keywords• Boolean operators (and , or)• Truncation (*)• Adjacency

• Step 2: Select databases• Secondary peer-reviewed sources• Coast

RESEARCH REVIEW

• Step 3: Search the database• Try different keywords, try different searches• Move to database subject headings• Select the best citations• Use internal citation generators when sending

information

• Step 4: Evaluate resources• Read and assess content

RESEARCH REVIEW

• Setp 5: Apply and use information• Synthesize information

• Write up the finding and conclusion

• Create your bibliography using correct citation style

• Circular process – Repeat and Revise

• Use the WGSS Research Guide!!

• http://csulb.libguides.com/wgss

BACKGROUND/PRE-RESEARCH

• http://csulb.libguides.com/wgss401

CREATING A SEARCH STRATEGY• Develop a thesis statement:

The Catholic church’s battle over birth control use in developing nations.

CREATING A SEARCH STRATEGY

• Define the question

• Ask why????• What is the church’s position on contraceptives?• How does the church prevent women’s access to contraceptives

in Africa, if at all?• Why is the push for contraceptive use by philanthropist Melinda

Gates called “globalism” by the church?• What are the arguments for the use of contraceptives in Africa

by the WHO?• Where is this fight headed?

CREATING A SEARCH STRATEGY

• Break down your thesis statement by concept

• The Catholic church’s battle over birth control in developing nations.

THINK OF OTHER KEYWORDS/SYNONYMS

• Condoms or “morning after pill” or “birth control pills” or “reproductive rights”• Africa or a specific country (Nigeria)

BOOLEAN OPERATORS

BOOLEAN OPERATORS

• AND

• OR

South Africa Nigeria

South AfricaOR

Nigeria

Contraceptive

Catholic ChurchAfrica

• Contracept*

• Contraceptive

• Contraception

• More results• Plurals

•Asterisk * • Feminis*• Feminist• Feminism• Feminisms

TRUNCATION *

ADJACENCY

• Enclosed a phrase by double quotations marks

• The exact phrase is searched

• “Catholic Church”

• “morning after pill”

PEER REVIEWED JOURNALS

• Based on research & written for other scholars• Content & research model are reviewed by other

scholars• In-depth• Extensive bibliography

FINDING PEER-REVIEWED ARTICLES• Http://www.csulb.edu/library

• 1) Test or preliminary search for journal articles, books & more

• 2) Databases by topic or title

RESEARCH DATABASES

GENDERWATCH

• 100 international journals,

• Coverage: 1978 to present.

ACADEMIC SEARCH COMPLETE • General/Interdisciplinary• Popular & scholarly• Limit: Peer review box• Coverage: 1975 to present• Need the full-text?

ACADEMIC SEARCH COMPLETE

GET IT @CSULB

BEACHREACH

BEACHREACH

BEACHREACH

RESEARCH DATABASES• Academic Search Complete

• Sociological Abstracts

• SocIndex

• Medline

• Depends on your topic

NEED INFORMATION NOT AT CSULB• BeachReach

• Anything

• 3 days

• If longer- You will be notified

• Link+

• Books & some media ONLY

• 3 days

• Other CSU Libraries

STILL NEED A LITTLE HELP?

• Ask at the Reference Desk, 1st West

• Consultations

• Susan Luévano

• Office hours:

• U Library, room 416, 4th floor

• Wednesday, 2:30 pm -4:30 pm

• Susan.Luevano@csulb.edu

QUESTIONS?