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Steps to A lit Search…

Steps to A lit Search…. A glimpse inside Jane’s head. How to follow along. The best way to follow this stream of consciousness tutorial is to get yourself into the UK library system and follow along. You’ll need to be in the same databases, etc. so stop and do that when the time comes.

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Steps to A lit Search…

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  1. Steps to A lit Search… A glimpse inside Jane’s head

  2. How to follow along • The best way to follow this stream of consciousness tutorial is to get yourself into the UK library system and follow along. • You’ll need to be in the same databases, etc. so stop and do that when the time comes. • Try the different key words and open the different files as I do and you’ll understand better.

  3. Decide on Key Words • Richard wants to write about inclusiveness and student organizations…particularly the issues around starting a GLBT student support group on a community and technical college campus. • What are the biggest key words? • Inclusiveness • College students • Student organizations

  4. I go to the online search engines • Choosing EBSCO Host (because I always do and don’t know any better) • Choosing Academic Search Premier, ERIC and the Sociological Database (because I always do and it works ok for me) • Entering key words: • Inclusiveness • College • Student organizations

  5. The first turn in the road • Only one article comes up and it looks promising: • It’s a 2004 piece, not too old • It’s empirical (research based) not an opinion essay (Actually, a synthesis literature review at this point in my search, but I’ll take it) • It’s full text online which makes me very happy • It’s about ethnicity which makes me remember that I have to review my knowledge of ethnic identity development (key words to search next)

  6. Checking out the goods • So I go to the article and read the abstract: • “Ethnic Enclaves and the Dynamics of Social Identity on the College Campus: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” • The effects of membership in ethnic organizations and fraternities and sororities on intergroup attitudes were examined using a 5-wave panel study at a major, multiethnic university. The results showed that these effects were similar for both minority and White students. Membership in ethnic student organizations for minorities and Greek organizations for Whites was anteceded by the degree of one's ethnic identity, and the effects of membership in these groups were similar, although not identical, for both White and minority students. These effects included an increased sense of ethnic victimization and a decreased sense of common identity and social inclusiveness. Consistent with social identity theory, at least a portion of these effects were mediated by social identity among both White and minority students.

  7. First Impressions • Ok…sounds like the authors have found that specialized student groups can increase divisions and reduce community. Not good for my position of wanting to create such a thing. • Reading the first paragraphs, I see that there is a debate here…such groups create divisions or such groups create safe havens. A debate is good for me because I can learn all the talking points. I read on…

  8. Getting into the thick of it… • Ok…I’m reading further and start to hear the author’s position…earlier research didn’t apply their theoretical position so they’re going to fix that by doing this research. • They’re using a inter-group theory called social identity theory from social psych (which is the journal audience I’m in too) • Their hypothesis is that ethnic student groups lead to increased tension rather than a more multicultural campus, but that it goes both ways…majority groups (primarily white) do the same thing. • In the meantime (first four paragraphs) I’ve learned a lot about what is commonly said about this subject in the literature: • There’s a bunch of research on this (and now I’ve got that bibliography) • Generally, students develop a better sense of their own identity when hanging out in a safe environment with people like themselves…especially if the general environment is not like them. • Students with a comfortable sense of identity are more likely to stay in school, eventually get involved outside their smaller group, and eventually contribute to the overall culture of campus. It’s this last point the authors disagree with.

  9. Moving on… • Ok, so that was a really good find. • I got an overview about ethnic student groups and their effects along with a good bibliography to follow up. • I got a glimpse at an alternative theory that doesn’t exactly refute the above literature, but gives a different slant (and provides a theoretical explanation for what I “hear” colloquially about student groups causing problems because of exclusivity) • But the research goes too far toward Greek life and 4 year context and I haven’t heard anything yet about GLBT issues.

  10. Back to the database • I change my first keyword to “identity” and try again. • Bullseye! I get 27 articles including pieces about GLBT student organizations. There should be plenty here to help me along. And, I’ve still got the reference list of the first piece to work from. • Scrolling down, I see a historical piece…I start there to gather a factoid or two. • And OMG! Check out the piece from AACC on campus climate and diversity. It’s a decade old, but GOLD…I should really be able to get some framing of my issue there.

  11. Taking a step back • Ok, so I’ve found my way to a reasonable set of articles to check out and it looks like I’ll have plenty of material to work on my issue. • But I also have to pause for a moment and think about how this is shaping up. • That first article raised the issue of identity development (safe place to figure out who you are as a minority) vs. campus climate (intergroup divisions). Is this an issue for me?

  12. Moving Forward • As I move forward, I’ll try to organize what I’m reading into this preliminary framework…good for the student vs. good for campus. I don’t want to get stuck in it, but as I read I know I’ll get sucked into lots of different directions and I need some kind of game plan. • I also know that identity development theory is something I’ll need to learn. This will be one of the conceptual frameworks I’ll use in my paper and I have to get my head around it.

  13. A few parting words • Starting a literature search is difficult because you don’t know the lay of the land. • Read articles for how they are framed relative to their disciplinary audiences as much as you do for their content. • Always be on the lookout for keywords and key debates in a particular area. You’ll need to include these in your work. • Use Endnote etc. to help save time later.

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