Introduction to LGBTQ+ Studies A Cross-Disciplinary Approach A Practical Guide for LGBTQ+ Studies

Part Research 12 A Practical Guide for Studies Rachel and Phillips INTRODUCTION With a simple search , people can now access a wealth of online tion about topics , especially if they are English speakers . And yet searching for information online , out what to ask , and choosing how to word questions can still be frustrating . When conducting research on an topic , people will have to use different search strategies and critical thinking skills to locate resources appropriate for academic purposes . We wrote this chapter to help people search for and resources in an effective , mindful manner . ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR RESEARCH When preparing to do research , it is important to learn about the munity ( or communities ) that you have chosen to study . Awareness of terminology , identity development , and the living conditions of people will provide necessary context . Before you locate and evaluate information sources , consider the following points Many communities , one Remember that the encompasses many diverse individuals and experiences . In fact , there are multiple formulations of it ( and letters sometimes serve more than one function ( eg , for queer or questioning ) Using the first letters of words to create an abbreviation , for instance , 461

462 Introduction to Studies In this chapter , we use to refer to a large spectrum of identities . When speaking about a particular population , however , more terms ( gay , lesbian ) may be more appropriate to use than an inclusive because of the differences in experience among groups . Remember also that an individual might identify in multiple ways ( a bisexual transgender person ) identities The concept of ( a theory of Crenshaw ) focuses on how interlocking systems of oppression affect marginalized individuals member to consider how other aspects of an individual identity ( race , ethnicity , class , country of origin , religion , ability status , etc . interact with their identity . Avoid treating the different aspects of a person identity separately , and instead engage in a holistic examination of the systems of privilege and that act on them . Pronouns and Be careful not to make assumptions about the individuals that you study . Use caution when plying modern labels to a historical subject . If an individual refers to themselves using particular pronouns , use those they use , do not substitute their , for example . Be wary of . Do not erase bisexuality or pansexuality by insisting on a binary . Do not erase intersex or individuals by insisting on a binary . Be mindful of emergent terminology , the explicit of individuals , and the various experiences within the community . Careful consideration of these topics will help you in later stages of your research as you begin to develop your question , form a search strategy , and synthesize the information that you into a paper , presentation , or other form of scholarship . GETTING READY FOR RESEARCH Constructing Research Questions and Generating Keywords To begin , write down the research questions that you have about your topic . Writing research questions also helps you generate keywords for searching . When constructing research questions , pay attention to the following

A Practical Guide for Studies 463 YES OR NO QUESTIONS Often , the first attempt to write down a research question results in a yes or no question , like this Can lesbians become parents ?

The keywords in this question are lesbians and ' which could potentially retrieve a broad range of information resources about lesbian parents , or lesbians and how they raise children , or parents of lesbian children . The fact that resources exist about lesbian parents implies a positive response to this question , so the question answers itself . Here are some questions that you would need to answer with evidence from research , however How do lesbians become parents ?

How do lesbians parent their children ?

What laws affect the ability of lesbians to have children or become parents ?

APPROPRIATE USE OF TERMINOLOGY In research , language is everything . Whether searching for about a historical or current topic , familiarize yourself with the terminology used for ( or by ) people in that time , culture , and Figure . Start your research with a research question . Photo by Emily on .

464 Introduction to Studies truncation A method using the root of a word within a title or keyword search regardless of the word ending . An asterisk ( in many databases that the search should include multiple word endings . place , in addition to current terminology . This will help you locate resources and artifacts from that time period , perhaps produced by that culture , as well as resources written by modern researchers . There is also terminology that is out of date or that is now considered clinical language used by medical researchers or biologists to describe nonhuman animals and their behavior . Review the chapters and their Research Resources sections in this book for the most used in different disciplines . OR COMPARATIVE LANGUAGE It may seem intuitive to include terms like good , bad , negative , problem , Challenge , and so on in research questions . Here is an example Are there negative impacts of lesbian parenting on children ?

Including negative in our keyword search will lead to biased results that keep us from retrieving information that will allow us to interpret the range of complexities on a topic for ourselves . To remove this bias , you can revise the question to read more neutrally What is the impact of lesbian parenting on children ?

QUESTIONS THAT ARE TOO SPECIFIC OR TOO BROAD Scale your topic to the size of the project that you are undertaking . A research paper of ten pages or fewer , for example , should cover a narrow , focused topic . It sounds tricky to scope your question so that it broad enough to be included in multiple resources but narrow enough not to be overwhelming , but you will be able to do it with some planning and initial research . Let start with a broad topic and try to narrow it appropriately What support systems exist for people ?

the asterisk is used for truncation searches ) is an abbreviation applying to many diverse individuals , each with their own experience . The phrase support systems is also vague . It might refer to personal support systems , governmental programs , or community , or online resources and communities . Entire handbooks and

A Practical Guide for Studies 465 encyclopedias are needed to answer such a broad question . For a smaller project , narrow the question to focus on a particular population , location , or type of service . It is also possible to narrow down the topic too much What community organizations exist to support lesbian Somali refugee youth in Minnesota ?

Although this is an excellent question , there may not be enough about this specific population in this location . It is worth a try , but may retrieve too few search results ( or none at all ) You might have to broaden the search terms to retrieve results that may answer the question or remove some search terms , like so What organizations exist to support lesbian Somali refugee youth ?

Removing the aspect may help the researcher locate more general information that would still apply to the population of interest in Minnesota . Removing community but including organizations might also generalize your search and reduce the number of results about community organizations outside your area of interest . If this search still retrieved too few results , you might alter it to be slightly broader What organizations exist to support lesbian Somali youth ?

Removing refugee as a keyword in this search increases the possibility of locating information about Somali youth and their coming out process in general , which has the potential to include the coming out process for Somali refugee youth , immigrant youth , or Somali youth who were born in the country where they currently reside . After doing some research , you may need to revisit the scope of your topic because it is still too broad or too narrow . Do be is part of the research process ! Information Availability When you have your keywords test them out by deciding where you want to search . Researching a historical event will likely involve sources such as books , journal articles , or primary sources from online or physical archives . Writing about a current event , however , may require locating primary sources Firsthand records and documents or original artifacts that are analyzed , studied , and interpreted . They include poems , legal documents , recordings , and any other direct evidence of a historical person , event , or topic .

466 Introduction to Studies recent developments in the news or social media in addition to materials that inform the historical context . Thinking about the types of sources that you expect to and consult will help you decide whether you need to search in a database , a library catalog , a search engine , or all these sources . It is also important to consider what sources might not be available . You might not be able to explicitly sources created in a repressive context . people in English with strict sodomy law enforcement and witch trials probably did not write openly about themselves , if they could write at all . People would not have used the terminology that we might use today to describe their sexual orientation or gender identity . Secondary sources such as books and articles present information about the lives of people in such based on the authors research using primary documents . Sometimes these sources can guide you to the primary documents , which you might be able to consult for yourself . See the later section From the Archives Historical Primary Source Material for more tion about archival sources . Once you ve thought about what kind of information you expect to , start using the keywords that you generated when creating your research question . For tips on translating research questions into that databases can understand , consult Walden University guide on keyword searching and connecting keywords ?

SAFETY FIRST ONLINE PRIVACY Not all people enjoy the same level of freedom or privacy in online searching . Public computer terminals may have internet on them to prevent people from searching for content . rations may collect personal data from researchers in the attempt to sell products or promote content . If someone lives in a country where identities are criminalized , online research on may put them at risk , even if they use their own mobile device . Active military may also have their online activities monitored . In cases such as these , where concerns about surveillance and exist , it is important to take precautions before searching for information or connecting with communities online . Review Online Privacy Using the Internet Safely , a guide from the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse , before doing online research to preserve your privacy and security ( safely )

A Practical Guide for Studies 467 SEARCHING FOR INFORMATION Library Resources Colleges and universities offer a wealth of information through their print book collections , databases , and other research materials . Your public library may have access to some databases and research materials as well . In the United States , libraries have pledged to uphold the secrecy of patron borrowing records . The American Library Association has a Library Bill of Rights and associated If you are in a history of information in libraries , the Wikipedia page Libraries and the Community has more information ?

studies is highly . This means that you may relevant resources from several academic disciplines that adopt theories and research methods or that study , cultures , histories , and issues . Your library catalog is a good place to search for a wide range of information sources in various disciplines . The online library catalog allows people to look for books , media , online resources , and other content that the library owns or to which it has access . Visit your library website or consult with your librarian to learn about your particular library catalogs features and interface . Physical items are organized by call number . call numbers exist in the two major systems . Kristine and Amy Mitchell identify and challenge the Library of Congress call numbers , and Doreen Sullivan and the Dewey decimal call numbers . Because studies crosses disciplines , you will likely books on your topic in different call number sections . Libraries such as Ohio University Libraries often use Library of Congress subject headings to classify their materials . Searching simultaneously for materials in the library catalog according to the subject headings with keyword searching may retrieve more relevant results than keyword searching alone . The librarians at Indiana have generated a helpful list of the Library of Congress subject headings that currently exist this list will continue to evolve over time ( Students and faculty at academic institutions have access to databases . Databases include collections , journal articles or their abstracts , streaming media ( videos or audio ) and data sets . These resources are curated , organized , and described so that they can be searched with precision . These databases are often not accessible to anyone without an user ID and password issued by the academic

468 Introduction to Studies Figure . Some of Indiana University Library of Congress subject headings . bars contests lifestyle assistance to gays assistance to transgender people activists actresses anthropologists institution . Public libraries may provide access to some databases , and some ( but not all ) academic institutions offer access to online resources for those who visit in person . Not all libraries have research databases exclusively on subjects , but almost all academic libraries have general databases that index materials that support studies . We recommend the databases available for studies research listed in table . Table . Databases General academic Academic Search Premier ( studies Archives of Sexuality and Gender Life Full Text ( Thought and Culture Alternative Press Archive Alternative Press Index SAGE Full Text Sociological Abstracts Social Sciences Full Text Women Studies International

A Practical Guide for Studies 469 Like library catalogs , databases often also use subject headings . Some databases have their own preferred subject headings for topics , so it is best to use those preferred search terms and subject headings even if they may not be familiar or the most acceptable . Some databases still prefer the search term and subject ing homosexual to gay , for example , so you will need to include those problematic terms when searching those databases . The Directory of Open Access , which makes scholarly journal articles in tiple languages freely available , is particularly problematic in its ing , because it has no subject headings or preferred keywords specific to Using this directory will involve multiple searches using different keywords . You can often a link to the list of subject headings used by a particular database on the search page by looking for a Thesaurus link . A librarian can help you with this if you get stuck . Most college and university libraries make available respected , journals , although library access to these journals varies . Notable examples of journals appropriate for academic research include the journal , the journal of Youth , and A of Lesbian and Gay Studies . The ) established in 1976 , features articles that explore gender and sexual identities and communities from a of disciplinary perspectives ( The journal Youth , established in 2008 , is a forum for improving the lives of youth . It contains by young people , practitioner reports , and ship ( A of Lesbian and Gay Studies , established in 1991 , publishes articles focused on sex and sexuality ( Databases usually provide an abstract , or summary , of an journal article , but not all provide the full text of the articles . Many libraries have systems that either link to the full text or direct you to request it through interlibrary loan , but every library does this a little bit differently . If you are having trouble accessing the full text of an article , contact your librarian for help . Although the authors of books and journal articles analyze and write about the impact of laws , culture , religion , or other elements of civilization on how people themselves affect those is important to read and interpret those laws , policies , and original documents yourself . For this reason , let move ahead to talk about government documents and primary sources .

470 Introduction to Studies ) Check or Special Issue Article Who can turn to ?

Social networks and the housing , care and ! support preferences of older lesbian and gay people in the UK University of Surrey , UK and Andrew King Abstract What happens when lesbian and gay people , who are more likely to be childless and single than their heterosexual peers , get older and need support and care ?

Who can they turn In addressing this question , this article draws on data collected as part of a wider project concerning the housing preferences , experiences and concerns of older people in the United Kingdom . The article explores the social networks that older lesbian and gay people expect to utilise later in life if they require different forms of care . It uses social capital theory and considers the role of families of choice in older lesbian and gay people lives , questioning whether such bonds may or may not be useful for different forms of care and support older lesbian and gay people may require late in life . Keywords Care . housing . social networks . families of choice . homosexuality Figure . An article from an issue of the academic journal . University of Surrey , Centre for Research on Ageing and Gender , UK . Andrew , emu , Sage . Laws , Reports , and Health Information Governments , nongovernmental organizations ( the United Nations ( UN ) and advocacy groups all publish information related to populations . This information includes laws from different countries NGO , UN , and reports about conditions for people or

A Practical Guide for Studies 471 how particular laws affect these populations and information related to health issues , including , women health issues , and transgender health issues . We often learn about laws or policies that affect populations through popular media . and bloggers often give a law or policy a short , catchy name , but the actual name of the law may be much longer . For example , the Russian gay propaganda law that people refer to in the media is actually a section of Russian Federation Federal Law no . of , on Protection of Children from Information Harmful to Their Health and Development , titled For the Purpose of Protecting Children from Information Advocating for a Denial of Traditional Family Values . You can find this out by conducting a search in Google or other search engines , asking , What is the real name of the gay propaganda law ?

If you use the official name of the law in your search , the results will be more likely to come from official government or NGO reports . Because of unique methods of organizing information in tal and legal , sources such as governmental publications , bills , or court cases may require the assistance of a librarian . For more information about different types of government documents , consult the Government Publications subject guide from St . Cloud State University developed by the research librarian Michael You might also see if your library has its own guide on this topic . Governments often provide health information to the public , ing health information for or about people . In the United States , the federal government is the country largest publisher . To search for congressional recordings , Supreme Court opinions , congressional bills , and other documents on how the federal government refers to populations and topics , visit . To search across different government websites , go to . The easiest way to locate laws and government information from other countries is to use a search engine . A Northwestern University government information librarian , Anne , also created an excellent list of foreign government If you are interested in government health information for or about people in other countries , you can try adding the name of the country to the search string . If you are unable to locate anything that way , search within the government official website for more information . The UN provides statistics and reports about demographics , health , laws , and human rights abuses . The search string united nations retrieves information from the UN about resolutions and reports on issues worldwide . Other and advocacy groups may also provide similar reports . Sometimes people seek out legal or medical advice for matters from library resources . Although the library can assist

472 Introduction to Studies people in locating information on laws , policies , and health , only lawyers or doctors can provide counsel for legal or medical decisions . Consult with a lawyer , medical professional , NGO , or advocacy group friendly to people for help with personal legal or medical issues . From the Archives Historical Primary Source Material Sometimes you need to primary sources for your studies research depends on primary sources to see how people existed in the past and exist in the present . Primary sources can be in physical and digital formats . Archives are curated collections of primary sources that are preserved for their historic or cultural . Archives are organized , curated , and described by and other archival workers . Archival content is important for several reasons It often provides historical perspective on the topic you are studying and informs your research to prevent claims from sneaking into your argument . Archival material provides firsthand accounts , photographs , audiovisual material , contemporary reactions to people and ideas , and ephemera ( buttons , posters , and other objects ) Archives are important for research also because they collect materials that are based on some shared characteristic ( they all belonged to one person , or they document a particular event , time period , movement , or tion ) This allows the researcher to encounter multiple archival objects alongside related objects and thereby gain some historical or thematic perspective . Objects from archives to issues may also expose you to content in individuals own voices , which can add another dimension to your knowledge about a topic . Watch One of the oldest archives of material in the United States is held in Los Angeles . Watch this video about the ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives to get an idea of what archives do and what they collect ( Do you think it is important to collect and curate historical artifacts ?

Explain . What is the most interesting thing you learned about history from watching this video ?

If you had unlimited time and resources , what chive would you work to create ?

Why ?

A Practical Guide for Studies Archives dedicated to material exist around the world . To such archives , Heritage of Amsterdam maintains an extensive list of links to worldwide Sometimes archives without an focus will create special exhibits related to individuals and content in their collections as well . Archives are often collections of physical materials , digital content , or both . Often , a researcher will visit a physical archive in person to review materials . Many archives make information about their materials available online so that you can decide whether the content is likely to be relevant to your project . If you are a student at a college or university , check with your library your institution may have archival collections of its own . Digital archives offer more access , but keep in mind that the digital collection might not include everything from the physical collection . The following resources are good places to begin searching for digital primary source materials Library of Congress Digital Collections . Studies A Resource Guide . Heritage . The primary source materials from organizations on this website have a focus on Eastern Europe and the former Soviet . Created by pioneering historian Ned , this website is an online digital archive of primary source A Note on Search Engines Databases and library catalogs collect and organize a set of resources for research purposes that can be accessed through browsing or searching . Search engines do not curate or organize information at all . Instead , a search engine such as Google uses the keywords that you enter to search publicly accessible internet content . This is why a search in Google will result in hundreds of thousands of results on a topic , including shopping sites , blogs , and news sites , of inconsistent quality , whereas your database search will generally return a smaller set of more specific results . When discussing search , it is impossible to ignore the role of Google and Google Scholar . See the later section Biases and Information Availability for more information about algorithmic bias at work when you search for information . Remember also that data is collected about you when you interact with most online platforms and that your data is valuable Google is the only offender , but as a company it has an

474 Introduction to Studies enormous reach . You have a choice of search engines , and some have better privacy practices and take user privacy and safety into With those in mind , know that Google remains the most frequently used search engine in the world . To keep up to date on Google search strategies , tools , and features , refer to the Google Support Center , as well as the Google Advanced Search page . Helpful articles from online magazines and Mag also provide great Google Google Scholar is a popular and accessible search engine for retrieving abstracts , scholarly journal articles , and government and NGO reports . For a complete rundown on Google Scholar features and how to use the tool , visit the Google Scholar Search Tips Social Media for Studies Research For topics , social media may be a good source of information . You might be surprised to learn that researchers , scholars , activists , and others that you might encounter during your research may also be active on social media . Blogs , Twitter , or YouTube can help you find emerging research in the field . Researchers and scholars may post presentation materials from academic conferences , scholarly journal articles , book , or critiques of other people research . Social media can help students and people new to an academic or professional get to know other researchers and relevant organizations in their . These researcher and organization accounts might also point you toward job postings , graduate programs , or conferences . Social media can also have its dark side harassment and algorithmic bias are problems that you should be aware of if you decide to work with social media for research Researchers can conduct basic keyword searches or tag and hashtag searches on most social media platforms . Twitter in particular has advanced search Because of the many terms and abbreviations that are used , it may be necessary to repeat the hashtag search for the most comprehensive results . Conducting academic research using social media brings a unique set of challenges . Although these conversations are happening in , they are not necessarily public statements . Think about any random conversation you have had that occurred in a public place . Would you want a researcher to quote you without your knowledge ?

Consider the following when using social media for research . What is the source of the content ?

The researcher should be mindful of whether they quoting an individual , a A Practical Guide for Studies 475 organization , a organization , a news agency , a government source , or some other source . As with any source , the researcher must evaluate the source in terms of its authority on the issue at hand , potential bias , and other questions such as those found in the later Evaluating formation Sources section and associated resources ( such as the guide from Pennsylvania State University ) How can I use this content ?

Researchers should remember that not all social media networks are public . A post that pears in one researcher social media feeds may be viewable by only certain accounts . Even users with public social media presence may have some expectation that their posts will not be without their If your research will be published in a public forum where others could see this content , it is good practice to contact the creator , inform them of your research project , and ask permission to use their content . content may also be protected by copyright . The University of Michigan Library provides information on what types of videos are appropriate to use for openly published research projects , as well as where to those In addition to these more socially focused platforms , another platform with a highly social infrastructure is designed for information creation and research Wikipedia . Wikipedia for Studies Research Wikipedia can serve as a starting point for research on . It is also a major source of information for many people , including researchers who do not have access to databases or research libraries . Let examine how to use Wikipedia to research topics . An efficient way to search for content on Wikipedia is to visit the Portal . The portal compiles news related to issues and has a section for daily featured content ( To evaluate the content of a Wikipedia article , you must stand how knowledge production works on Wikipedia . Wikipedia does not publish original content . Instead , creators summarize and synthesize content already published in another venue . Wikipedia editors strive to meet certain expectations for an Reviewers identify articles that need editing or that they believe should be deleted , and creators can then defend the article or help improve it so that it can remain in Wikipedia .

476 Introduction to Studies Main page The Portal A Things you can do Introduction rainbow representing the community in is an that stands for lesbian , gay , bisexual , and transgender . In use since the 19905 , the , as well as some oi its common variants , as an umbrella term for sexuality and gender identity . It may refer to anyone who is or , instead of exclusively to people who are lesbian , gay , bisexual , or transgender . To recognize this Inclusion , a popular variant , adds the letter those who identify as queer or are questioning their sexual or gender identity or adds intersex ( and other gender variants ) to the definition . Full article ) Figure . The Portal on Wikipedia at . Wikipedia . org . This process has its shortcomings , however . For example , articles about important yet individuals or topics ( including articles about people of color and people from speaking countries ) may be marked for deletion because of the lack of published information about them , despite their importance to the community or the world . For more on bias in Wikipedia ( and the world ) see Wikipedia page on systemic When a relevant article exists and is , you must review several parts of the article to determine whether the content is appropriate for academic research . One of us , Rachel , developed a subject guide on how to evaluate Wikipedia articles for When you instances of bias or underrepresentation on , remember that you can participate in the process ! Wikipedia is a living resource that depends on global community participation and , and thus students and professors can put their ies research skills to good use by adding information to existing articles , creating articles , and improving articles that are partial starts , or stubs . EVALUATING INFORMATION SOURCES Carefully consider each source that you find while researching to mine whether it adds useful , accurate information to your research . See the Penn State University Libraries guide on evaluating information and

A Practical Guide for Studies 477 the associated rubric for more good questions to ask to determine the quality of a Some questions may shape your evaluation of sources focused on topics Is the source authoritative ?

Authority can derive from the author having studied the topic , but it can also come from having experience with the topic . Academic authors , even those who identify as , may offer insights that are different from individuals writing in other venues . A consideration of authority will also help weed out actors and insufficiently informed perspectives . Is the source biased ?

Although all authors are by their perspectives , sometimes the strength of that viewpoint can lead to an incomplete , misleading , or untrue presentation of information . For example , information presented by the group Focus on the Family or the group the Human Rights Campaign may have a political da . When evaluating information related to issues , be sure to pay extra attention to questions related to point of view or Is the terminology used in the source appropriate for your research ?

Sometimes a source will use terminology and information that is not current . Consider the scope of your topic . If you are conducting historical research , different terminology may have been in use . There is also a history of reclamation of derogatory terms by marginalized . Then consider whether the source was one that was likely to have been written in good faith . Is it by members of the community writing about themselves or by allies ?

Or is it by a group or individual that is hostile toward individuals ?

Historical sources require an evaluation process similar to more current es , but you may need to conduct a little research about the particular time period before you are able to fully evaluate a historical or archival source . All these questions will give you some idea of the relative trustworthiness of a source , although further scrutiny may of course be necessary . You may also need to go back and reevaluate your determination of accuracy as you learn more about your topic .

478 Introduction to Studies BIASES AND INFORMATION AVAILABILITY Depending on your research topic , you may retrieve multiple results that seem good enough . At the same time , you may not be able to construct a complete picture from your findings because of the overrepresentation of certain types of information and the underrepresentation of others . This will affect the information available to you , and it may result in rendering particular people , histories , cultures , or events invisible . A wealth of studies scholarship is published in speaking countries , composed by people ( predominantly white , and able bodied ) from those countries . These scholars have more often had the freedom , institutional support , and access to publishing forms necessary to disseminate their research than have scholars in some other countries . Although studies is emerging as a discipline in other countries , research conducted in languages other than English often remains local . This means that the experiences of people in countries often do not get heard , and tion about cultures may be more difficult to find . This bias is in other places as well or perpetuated by Wikipedia practices . COMPILING AND ORGANIZING CONTENT RETRIEVED FROM LIBRARY CATALOGS AND DATABASES After locating helpful resources for your research , you need to store the content somewhere . You also need to organize the content so that you can transform it into a bibliography or page for your research assignment . Using a citation manager is the safest , most way to save and manage research resources . Mel of the University of Maine Raymond Library has produced a clear subject guide on how to select and use a citation manager ( Search engines such as Google can be powerful tools in your search process , but the processes underlying searching online require some . How Google search algorithm works is a closely guarded secret , because Google is a company designed to create through services such as search . Remember that algorithms are created by people and not therefore be neutral instead , they human biases , which can

A Practical Guide for Studies 479 creep into your information retrieval process . Because you do not know how the algorithm works , why an item appears higher on the results page than another is hidden from you . This is why simply looking at the first result returned by Google or by a database is not a reliable way of the most appropriate sources for your research . This chapter can fully delve into the politics of search to learn more , read Farhad article about bias in Google searches or consult Noble Algorithms of To reduce some of this bias in search results , make sure to do enough background research so that you can use several appropriate search terms and can identify results that you retrieve that are not relevant or are problematic . Use the technique of iterative searching by trying multiple searches on different platforms and perhaps even in different disciplinary databases . Finally , make sure to periodically check the assumptions that you are making about your subject matter to try to ascertain some of your own preconceptions and biases as a researcher . CONCLUSION The overview in this chapter will help you begin your research project . Through your topic , gathering research materials from various sources , and evaluating different pieces of information , you can begin answering the questions you developed at the beginning of your search . Researching subjects related to issues presents some unique challenges because of the fraught nature of certain topics and requires certain ethical and privacy considerations . The other chapters in this book should give you an idea of different ways that you might approach research , in addition to providing you with deeper knowledge about the topics covered . GLOSSARY . Using the first letters of words to create an abbreviation , for instance , primary sources . Firsthand records and documents or original artifacts that are analyzed , studied , and interpreted . They include poems , legal documents , recordings , and any other direct evidence of a historical person , event , or topic . truncation . A method using the root of a word within a title or keyword search regardless of the word ending . An asterisk (

480 Introduction to Studies in many databases that the search should include multiple word endings . NOTES . National Association of Independent Schools , Crenshaw What Is ?

une 22 , 2018 , MIT Libraries , Database Search Tips Truncation , accessed une , 2021 , Walden University Library , Keyword Searching Finding Articles on Your Topic Connect Keywords , 2020 , American Library Association , Library Bill of Rights , American Library Association , Privacy An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights , Wikipedia , Libraries and the Community , last modified May 19 , 2021 , community . Kristine and Amy Jo Mitchell , Classifying Identity Organizing an Library , Library Philosophy and Practice , 2016 , Doreen Sullivan , A Brief History of in Dewey Decimal Classification , Overland , July 23 , 2015 , Ohio University , Resources for Students , updated June 22 , 2020 , Indiana University , Library of Congress Subject Headings for bian , Gay , Bisexual , Transgender , Queer and Intersex ( Topics , February , 2016 , Directory of Open Access , 2020 , Michael , Government Publications , St . Cloud State University , 2013 , publications . 10 . Anne , List of Foreign Governments , updated May 25 , 2021 , 11 . University of Libraries , What Are Primary Sources ?

2021 , 12 . Heritage , Archives , 2021 , archives . 115 . Meg , Studies A Resource Guide , Library of Congress Digital Collections , updated April 10 , 2020 , 14 . Heritage , Open Up ! 2021 , 15 . 16 . Ben , Google Sells the Future , Powered by Your Personal Data , News , May 10 , 2018 ,

A Practical Guide for Studies 481 Christian Stewart , The Best Private Search to Google , February , 2018 , 17 . Google , How to Search on Google , 2021 , Google , Advanced Search , accessed June , 2021 , 20 Google Search Tips to Use Google More , accessed June , 2021 , Cohen , 21 Google Search Tips You Want to Learn , updated January 24 , 2002 , 18 . Google Scholar , accessed une , 2021 , Search Tips , Google Scholar , accessed June , 2021 , 19 . Monique , Twitter Has a Serious Harassment and Abuse Problem but Does Seem to Want to Cure It , The Root , October 30 , 2017 , Chris , Algorithms Wo Fix What Wrong with YouTube , New York Times , une 14 , 2019 , 20 . Twitter , How to Use Advanced Search , 2021 , 21 . Penn State University Libraries , Evaluating Information Rubric , 2021 , 22 . Maureen , Scientists Propose Tactics for Ethical Use of Twitter Data in Research Studies , Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University , une 10 , 2014 , 23 . University of Michigan Library , Copyright and Using Video , Research Guides , updated March , 2021 , 24 . Wikipedia , Portal , updated May 13 , 2021 , 25 . Wikipedia , Wikipedia The Perfect Article , updated April , 2021 , 26 . Wikipedia , Wikipedia Systemic Bias , updated May 28 , 2021 , 27 . St . Cloud State University , Wikipedia How to Evaluate Articles , 2013 , 28 . Penn State University Libraries , Evaluating Information , 2021 , Penn State Libraries , Evaluating Information Rubric . 29 . Penn State University Libraries , Evaluating Information Rubric , Point of view ( bias ) 30 . Farhad , Here the Conversation We Really Need to Have about Bias at Google , New York , 2018 , Noble , Oppression Data Discrimination in the Age of Google ( New York New York University Press , 2018 )

482 Contributors is professor of anthropology at . He has a BA and an MA from Trent University and a from University . An archaeologist specializing in ancient Maya pottery and architecture , he edited Ancient Maya , Analysis , and tion ( 2012 ) and has taught a variety of courses , including Gender and Sexuality in Latin America , Men and , and Archaeology of Sex and Sexuality . Deborah is professor of social science at Empire State College . She holds a from Stanford University in anthropology , and a BA from Yale University in African studies . Her early work focused on relations on the coast of East Africa and on lesbian identity in the United States . She has served in academic and has been energized by the open education movement , in relation to developing online open educational resource courses and textbooks , including Introduction to Anthropology , Sex and Gender in Global Perspective , and Introduction to Studies . Robert has a in gender , sexuality , and women studies from Simon University and also received an MA from the dren literature program at the University of British Columbia School of Information in Vancouver , British Columbia . He studies and writes about a wide range of literature but particularly enjoys stories with diverse and intersectional depictions of gender and sexuality . His research has been supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada . Marquis Bey is assistant professor of African American studies and English and faculty affiliate in critical theory and in gender and sexuality studies at Northwestern University . Their work focuses on Black feminist theory , transgender studies , continental philosophy , and abolition . The author of multiple books , their most recent publications include Black Trans Feminism and Failure Essays on Blackness and . Allison Brown is digital publishing services manager at Hall Library . She oversees the library publishing program , which

Contributors includes supporting student journals such as Dancer and the GREAT Day , and manages the editorial and production of the Authors and Open Textbooks imprints . She provides education and guidance to the community in digital publishing , open access , open educational resources , and copyright . She studied for her in poetry at Emerson College , where she also became interested in design and digital publishing . Cathy Corder earned her in history from Graduate in California and her MA and BA in English from Texas Christian University . She teaches for the Department of English at the University of Texas at Arlington . Her classes focus on book history and print ture , and she challenges her students to examine not only the traditional examples of printing and literature but also the great variety of popular writing available in different print formats and genres comics , pulp fiction , cookbooks , and travel guides . Christa Craven is a professor and whose research focuses on lesbian , gay , bisexual , trans , and queer reproduction midwifery ism and reproductive justice . Her have appeared in the Post and the Feminist Wire , and she is the author of several books , ing Reproductive Losses Challenges to ( 2019 ) She is professor of anthropology and women , gender , and sexuality studies at the College of in Ohio , where she teaches the classes Global Politics of Reproduction , Queer Lives , Transnational , Doing Feminist Research Theory and Practice , Ethnographic Research , Feminist Pedagogy in Action , and Health . Her professional website is . David Frost , is associate professor of social psychology at College London . His research interests sit at the intersections of close relationships , stress , stigma , and health . His primary line of research focuses on how stigma , prejudice , and discrimination constitute minority stress and , as a result , affect the health and of marginalized individuals . He also studies how couples psychologically experience macy within romantic relationships and how their experience of intimacy affects their health . These two lines of research combine within recent projects examining couples experiences of stigmatization and the resulting impact on their relational , sexual , and mental health . Kimberly Fuller , is associate professor at Cleveland State University in the School of Social Work , a licensed independent social worker , and a sex therapist . Her area of research is in youth

484 Contributors ment , supportive relationships , and institutional inequities . Additionally , she provides therapy to adolescents and adults in private tice . She is a researcher with THRiVE Research Collaborative intent on developing a sex education curriculum . Hernandez is the collections and research services librarian at Fort Lewis College in , Colorado . She earned a BA in classical civilizations from College and a master of library and information science from the University of Pittsburgh . Her primary research and pedagogical interests connect , critical race theory , and feminist theory with prominent concerns in librarianship ing to information literacy , collections , and student success . Thomas Lawrence Long is professor in residence in the University of Connecticut School of Nursing , where he is curator of the Nursing History Archive and on the affiliate faculty of the university women , gender , and sexuality studies program . He is the author of AIDS and American The Cultural Semiotics of an Epidemic ( Press , 2005 ) coeditor of The Meaning Management Sense of Health , Illness and Disease ( 2010 ) and thor of Writing in Nursing A Brief Guide ( 2017 ) His journal articles and book chapters have examined representations of , the history of nursing , sexuality , and medical humanities . Sean is associate professor of women , gender , and sexuality studies at University and with the ton University Human Lab . He received his in social personality psychology from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York . His research focuses on the study of sexuality , gender , prejudice , attitudes toward parenting , racial bias in educational and law enforcement , and the relationship between social science and social change . Ann is a developmental psychologist at with the Department of Psychology . She earned her BA , MA , and from Penn State , all in psychology . She does research in adolescent and emergent adult development and has particular interests in sexual socialization and reproductive health attitudes . She is also interested in the impact of media discourse messages on body image development in adolescents and emergent adults . Miller earned a in cultural studies from George Mason University and an MA in literary and cultural studies from Carnegie lon University . She is an independent scholar and high school teacher .

Contributors 485 Her research focuses on children literature and culture , digital culture , and sexual . Her books include The Potential of Children Picture Books ( 2022 ) and The Dialectic ) Culture ( 2019 ) which she with David . Her scholarship appears in the journal of Homosexuality , the European nal of American Studies , Fast Capitalism , and other journals and edited collections . Montague is a faculty member and the library and tion science program coordinator at Chicago State University . She is past chair of the American Library Association Rainbow Round Table and past convener of the Special Interest Group of the International of Library Associations and Institutions . She has been involved in libraries and provided leadership in library education and community initiatives for over twenty years . Rita is language professor in the School of Studies at College . She received her in Latin American literature from the University of . She specializes in contemporary Maya cultural production ( literature and art ) from . She Unwriting Maya Literature 7371 ' as Recorded Knowledge ( 2019 ) and has published articles on Maya literature , performance , and art . Her research interests include Indigenous , issues of gender and queerness in Latin American literature and culture , and postwar literature . Phillips is the digital scholarship librarian at the University Library System of the University of Pittsburgh . She received her from the University of Pittsburgh in 2015 , and her MA in literary and cultural studies from Carnegie Mellon University in 2012 . She works on initiatives related to digital humanities , programming and creative code , research data management , copyright , and information literacy . Carrie ( is the social sciences librarian at , where she has responsibility for information literacy instruction and research assistance across multiple departments . In addition to her liaison responsibilities , she works closely with partners across the to support a range of digital scholarship projects . She is of the diversity , equity , and inclusion council for the Library and Information Technology Department and passionate about working on DEI issues and accessibility in libraries . She holds a master of liberal studies in womens studies from Eastern Michigan University and an and MEd from the University of Illinois . She can be contacted at .

486 Contributors Clark is associate professor in the University of North Texas History Department who also serves on the womens and gender studies and studies advisory boards . His book Women Feminist Education against Sexism , Classism , and Racism ( 2013 ) and scholarly essays historicize feminist diversity education , feminist views on sexuality , and praxis . He also writes poetry about queer aesthetic , transformative agency , memory , place , and nature . His poetry book is Every Day , Became Part Him ( coming ) He published his chapbook Better Living through Cats in 2021 . Prescott ( is a senior policy and legislative analyst at the Campaign for Our Shared Future , where they work to preserve access , inclusion , and meaningful content in schools . Previously , she researched and wrote about inclusive education for the Education Policy program at New America , a nonpartisan think tank . They worked to bridge areas of open licensing , culturally responsive pedagogy , and digital technology in broad support of progressive and inclusive education . She holds a BA from the University of Mary Washington and an from George Washington University . Christine Rodriguez ( MA , is a family nurse practitioner with a strong commitment to providing inclusive , care for the community . Her research interests are hormone therapy for , ing surgeries , sexual health , the of religion and and identities , and education to enhance cultural humility . She serves as lecturer and director of the Simulation Unit at Yale School of Nursing and is affiliate faculty for the Yale Institute of Global Health . She has lectured , both locally and nationally , regarding the importance of health care content within health care ula , has conducted numerous sensitivity trainings with clinical partners , and has developed simulation scenarios for health care professionals on health care . has worked in education and awareness , especially transgender , intersex , asexual , and education , since 2013 . His research focuses on gender and sexuality in historical , ological , and literary and emphasizes transgender studies . He is currently involved in multiple independent research projects studying historical figures . is the Shiva Associate Professor of der , Sexuality , and Studies at Connecticut College . They

Contributors 487 are an scholar committed to bridging theoretical and practical engagements of identity and social justice issues . They hold a BA for an independent program of study ( Intersections of Racial , Sexual and Gender Identities ) from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a doctorate in women and gender studies from Rutgers University . Russo is an ethnographer of the South and visiting assistant professor of anthropology at University . They received their in anthropology from the University of Texas at Austin in 2018 and also hold an MA in English ( Brooklyn College ) and an in cultural studies ( Goldsmiths College ) Their research focuses on rural social ecology and storytelling forms , queer rurality , affect studies , and medical anthropology . earned her in English literature at Cornell . Her research and teaching focuses on contemporary American and on gender , cultural , and ethnic studies . She teaches at Capital Community College in , Connecticut . Melody is the outreach librarian at Public Library . She a former American Library Association Emerging Leader , former Over the Rainbow Book List selection committee member , and current Alex Award selection committee member . At home , she a mom to her toddler , who teaches her new things every day a partner to her husband , who supports her in everything she does and a loving caretaker to her two cats , who mostly cause trouble . In her free time , she enjoys cooking , reading , and playing lots of video games . Dara . is research associate professor of the Women , Gender and Sexuality Studies Program at University . She received her from Buffalo in 1985 and is a licensed attorney . She received her in labor history from Cornell University in 1995 . Throughout her career she has focused on social justice issues , particularly the way laws operate to marginalize women and members of communities . Her early research on employment and labor laws dealt with the historical impact of employment laws on women family and reproductive lives . She is currently working on a project that looks at the plight of Muslim refugees during their resettlement . Maddison Lauren Simmons ( received an honors BA in English from the University of Texas at Arlington with a minor in en and gender studies . Their undergraduate thesis focused on within lesbian young adult literature from 1976 to 2019 . They remain

488 Contributors interested in queer literature and spend time reviewing books on their blog , Musings . Marianne Snyder , is assistant professor at the of Connecticut School of Nursing , director of Undergraduate Nursing Programs , and a registered nurse with more than years of combined experience in clinical practice and higher education . She is the chair of the Nursing Section and serves on the Future of Nursing Campaign for Action Equity , Diversity , and Inclusion Steering Committee . She is passionate about educating students to provide culturally , individualized care and to understand their role in shaping health policy . Her research has included understanding the health care experiences of individuals and educating health care providers on creating better care environments for populations . is the humanities librarian at West Virginia University . She earned her in English at Cornell University and her from Emporia State University . Her work has appeared in publications such as Library and Information Science Research , The Velvet Light Trap , Popular Culture , Cinema Teaching Dossier , and the journal of the Medical Library Association . Her current research lies at the intersection of , gender studies , affect theory , and critical information studies . She is an advocate for open education models and has created two open teaching analysis tutorial and a reader guide to Alison graphic memoir Fun Home . Steve is librarian emeritus at California State University nel Islands ( He lives with his husband in an old fire station in Michigan . He is the author of two editions of the Encyclopedia of HIV and AIDS . He the American Library Association Roundtable from 2001 to 2005 . He currently serves as a member of the International Federation of Library Associations Indigenous Matters standing tee . In addition to his library work , he taught the studies course at for a number of years , sharing his love of history and literature with students . is faculty librarian at the University of South Florida , campus . She received her BA ( English literature ) and from the University of South Florida , where she is currently pursuing her doctorate in education , focusing on educational innovation . In addition to her instructional roles , She serves as a campus Safe Zone trainer , faculty mentor for student initiatives ,

Contributors 489 and sponsor of Virtual Book Club . Her research interests stem from her passionate belief in the essential roles academic librarians can play in fostering student success , enhancing student engagement , and porting retention efforts within the classroom and through experiences . van , is professor of religion and African studies at the University of Leeds . He serves as director of the Leeds University Center for African Studies and of the Leeds University Center for Religion and Public Life . He also is Extraordinary Professor in the Desmond Tutu Center for Religion and Social , University of the Western Cape , South Africa . His research focuses on religion , gender , and sexuality in contemporary Africa . His books include , Queer , and Arts of Resistance in ca ( 2019 ) He st ' and Sexual in ( 2021 ) and Sacred Queer Stories Lives and the Bible ( 2021 ) Ryan Watson is associate professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences at the University of Connecticut . He explores protective factors for vulnerable adolescents , with a focus on interpersonal relationships . He himself as a disciplinary family scientist and draws from life course and developmental . To further advance the scholarship of interpersonal ships and sexual minority youth , he has used both and data sets from the United States , Norway , and Canada to examine how social support ( friends , teachers , and parents ) may the impact of risk factors such as victimization , homophobia , and stigma on . In addition , He has led a qualitative study that explores the motivations and outcomes for hooking up among sexual minority populations . Rachel is institutional education supervisor at Minnesota Department of Corrections . She received her from San ose State University in 2004 and is currently working on her doctorate in higher education administration . She has worked in multiple library types and archives and has taught for over twenty years . Her areas of library include library resources and services , open access , scholarly communication , Wikipedia , and Creative Commons . Olivia Wood is a candidate in English at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York , focusing on rhetoric and studies , specifically bisexuality . Her work has appeared in the journal

490 Contributors , a Miscellany , Peer Review , and The Handbook of Queer Rhetoric . She teaches composition at University and works as a digital pedagogy fellow at the New York City College of . She has an MA in English and a BA in English and anthropology from the University of North Carolina at . Susan Wood is an instruction librarian at Suffolk County Community College on Long Island . She is the chairperson of the Task Force and the creator and administrator of the Braver Spaces Ally Training Program for employees . Her research interests include critical information literacy pedagogy diversity equity , and inclusion lection analysis and open educational resource implementation . Sarah Young is an assistant professor in the Department of Social Work at University . She earned her from the of Michigan and her from the University of Alabama . Her two tracks of research are ( supporting sexual and gender minorities in the of their families and schools and ( investigating interventions for chronic pain ( particularly for people living with or people prescribed opioid therapy ) She is cofounder and former gram manager of the Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition , is a former Point Foundation Scholar , and was selected by the Barack Obama White House as an emerging leader . Since 2017 , she has been a coprincipal investigator and research mentor for the Undergraduate Human Sexuality Lab at University .