Research Skills for Chicano & Latino Studies 104 Ms. Susan Luévano Anthropology, Ethnic & Women’s Studies Librarian University Library California State University, Long Beach 2006/2007

What are we doing today? To present basic  Research strategies  Resources for Chicano & Latino Studies  Finding and locating journal or magazine articles  Library PASSWORD  Answer your library questions

Research Strategies Develop a clear research statement or question. Keep it simple and direct.

Need a topic? Chicano & Latino Studies Web page:  Hot Topics  Suggested Paper Topics  Maricopa College 

Sample Research Statement The Dream Act should be passed so that undocumented students can receive college financial aid.

Identify concepts Dream Act The Dream Act should be passed so undocumented students can receive college financial aid. Financial aid Undocumented Students

Critical Thinking Identify concepts & synonyms The Dream Act should be passed so undocumented students can receive college financial aid. A B C Dream Actfinancial aidundocumented residents student aid illegal aliens out-of-status

Boolean Operators AND narrows a search  both variables must appear in same citation  terms are different in meaning  example: “Bilingual Education AND California” OR broadens a search  terms are similar in meaning  either term may appear in the record  example: “Hispanics OR Latinos”

Truncation Truncation symbols  Tell the computer to search for variant endings  * or +  Example: Mexic* Mexico Mexican Mexicans Mexicanos

Develop a Research Strategy Dream Act Dream Act AND financial aid OR student aid Dream Act AND undocumented OR illegal

Choose Resources/Databases Reference Collection Articles=Research Databases WEB=Research Subject Guides

Reference Sources General  Book, 1 st floor West  Electronic - Research Guides  Specialized  Chicano Studies  Public Policy  Education

Need articles? Use the Research Databases  Provide a subject approach  Current research findings  Concise

Magazines vs Journals Journals  Written for a scholarly audience  Report on research  In-depth  “peer reviewed”  Extensive bibliography Magazines  General audience  Short  Little detail

Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center Provides pro and con for controversial topics Uses magazines, newspapers, gov docs & reviewed web sites Full-text

Academic Search Elite  Covers many different general topics/Interdisciplinary  Mainstream journals, magazines & newspapers  Lots of full-text  Use SXF to link to full-text

Ethnic Studies Databases Ethnic NewsWatch  Provides an ethnic point of view  Magazines and Newspapers only  Full-text Chicano Database  Provides an ethnic point of view  Magazines, Journals, Book Chapters  Not current  SFX links you to full-text

COAST - Online Catalog Library Password  Remote access  Interlibrary Loan  Renew books  Check library records  Use Information Commons

Remote Access Screen

MLA Style Manual Style Manual Guide   Citation Generator 

Still Need Help? Ask at the Reference Desk, 2 nd floor Research & Writing Workshops  /7 Reference  Consultations  Susan Luévano   Office Hours: Tuesday, 2:00-5:00