Feminist Research MethodsStrategies & Resources

Susan C. Luévano, WGSS LibrarianWGSS 301

Research Review

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

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

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

• Step 4: Evaluate resources•Read and assess content

Research roadmap• Setp 5: Apply and use information•Synthesize information•WriteCreate your annotated bibliography using correct citation style

• Circular process – Repeat and Revise• Use the WGSS 301 Research Guide!!•http://csulb.libguides.com/wgss301

Background/Pre-Research/Oxford Reference Online

Creating a Search Strategy• Develop a thesis statement:

The battle for open accessibility of the emergency contraceptive pill under President Obama.

Creating a Search Strategy• Define the question • Ask why????

• What is the “morning after” pill and how does it work?• What are the government’s arguments

against the use of contraceptives by teens?• What are the specific arguments of the

courts in favor or access by teens?• Is the fight over?

Creating a Search Strategy

• Break down your thesis statement by concept• . The legal battle for accessibility of the Emergency Contraceptive Pill under President Obama.

Think of Other Keywords/Synonyms• Emergency contraceptives•Morning after pill• Plan B

Creating a Search Strategy

Creating a Search Strategy• Boolean Operators• AND• OR

teenager adolescent

Teenager OR

Adolescent

Emergency Contraceptives Obama

Creating a Search Strategy• Truncation•More results•Plurals

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

Creating a Search Strategy• Adjacency• Forced phrase search• Searches words in exact order• Closed quotation marks “----”

•EXAMPLES“Morning After Pill”“Emergency contraception”“People of color”

Periodicals

• 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

Research Databases

GenderWatch

• 100 international journals, magazines and newsletters, conference reports, books, book reviews

• Coverage: 1978 to present.

Academic Search Complete • General/Interdisciplinary• Popular & scholarly• Limit: Peer review box• Coverage: 1975 to present• Need the full-text?

Other Useful Databases

Academic Search Complete

Get it a@CSULB

Get it @ CSULB - BeachReach

BeachReach

Get it @ CSULB - Article Reach

COAST – CSULB Online Catalog

COAST – CSULB online catalog

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 Research & Info 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?