Research Strategies & Sources for WGSS 301

1. RESEARCH STRATEGIES
& SOURCES
WGSS 301
Susan Luévano,
Ethnic Studies Librarian

2. Research steps
•Part 1
• Seek approval for your research topic
• Do pre-research or background check
• Part 2
• Create a general thesis statement
• Create research questions
• Create search strategy
• Keywords
• Boolean operators
• Truncation
• Adjacency

3. Research assignment
• Part 3
• Find journals and/or books
• Part 4
• Synthesize collected data
• Create a research proposal
• Circular process

4. Part 1: Select a research topic
Do pre-research in reference books and databases such as
• Databases
• Oxford Reference Online
• Gale Virtual Reference Library
• Reference Books, 1st floor west
• Latinas in the United States : a historical encyclopedia
REF E184.S75 L35 2006

5. Part 2: Create a search strategy
• Sandra Cisneros’s feminist novels and short
stories have significantly impacted the world
view of Chicanas.
• Break down your thesis statement by concept

6. Part 2: Create a search strategy
•Develop research question(s)
• Who is Sandra Cisneros?
• Why is Cisneros’ work important to Mexican Americans women
& US literature, in general?
• What feminist epistemologies can be found in Cisneros’
“House on Mango Street”?
• What has been the long range impact of her work or
philosophy, if any?

7. Part 2: Boolean Operators: AND & OR
Computer
Commands

8. Truncation
• Asterisk *
• More results
• Plurals
• Examples
• Educat*
• Educate
• Educates
• Educated
• Education
• Educationally

9. Adjacency
• Searches word next to each other in order listed
• Symbol: quotation marks “xx”
• i.e. “Chicana feminist theory”
• i.e. “environmental justice”
• i.e. “people of color”

10. Finding Critical Analysis in Research
Databases
• Articles, books & book chapters
• GenderWatch (Women’s Studies)
• MLA International Bibliography (Literature)
• Chicano Database (CHLS)
• Academic Search Complete (General)
• Sociological Abstracts (Sociology)
• COAST (General- books, media & gov
documents)

11. How do I find scholarly articles?

12. Use pull down menu to find databases by topic, i.e. Women & Gender Studies,
Literature, Chicano & Latino Studies, etc.

15. Coast – CSULB online catalog

16. Coast – Advanced Keyword Search

17. Need Material not at CSULB
Link +
• Consortium of academic and public libraries that have an
agreement to share our book resources
• Books only
• Average 2-5 days
• You will receive email notification when your items can be picked
at the Circulation Desk (1st Floor) or if your iem cannot be
supplied through LINK+.
BeachReach
• Materials not currently available (checked out, temporarily
unavailable, we don't own it, etc.)
• Journal articles, books, book chapters, etc

18. Library Password

19. Still Need a Little Help?
• Research & Info Desk, 1st floor
• Chat service - Ask a Librarian
• WGSS Librarian
• Susan.luevano@csulb.edu
• Office hours: Wed., 2:30-4:30 PM
• U Library, 4th floor, room 416

20. QUESTIONS????