Response to #1
There are so many different search tools that I use when trying to create reliable sources that help convey the point I am trying to make in a paper. There are two main ways that I search for articles. Through Google, or the SU library. I find the SU library search engine to be more useful when writing academic papers, as I can filter to the specific area of study that I want to focus on. With so many different sources available within the search engine, I find it beneficial to utilize the filter button.
Some of the filters I use include the publication date (to make sure it is still applicable to the real world), subject terms, and area of study. I believe that the subject terms filter is beneficial as I can focus on keywords that I would like to see explored further within the article. I have also found that area of study is helpful, as it can help create focus in a specific class. For example, an economics paper may focus more on the supply and demand of a subject, while a geography class may concentrate more on the distribution of people or the topic in question.
Along with using the filters, I always type keywords into the search engine. It is a decent place to start because I usually do not know the title that I am searching for. In my previous writing class, I did a paper on NCAA compensating athletes and used search words like athlete, compensation, college, pros, cons. This way I also had the opportunity to review different perspectives concerning the subject.
I am looking forward to using some new advanced filters for researching my topic, as it will be interesting to hear about different people’s experiences surrounding the subject.
Response to #2
I am looking forward to obtaining primary sources for the topic that I will be exploring. This could include blog posts or interviews from individuals who have been impacted by the topic that I will be exploring firsthand. For my research topic, I will be focusing on underrepresentation of women in finance. Along with focusing on this topic, I believe it to be critical to answer the question of “Why does this matter, and who is impacted by the lack of women in the industry?”. I am looking forward to reading about women who have been negatively impacted by the industry. It may also be interesting to see if there are any client perspectives surrounding the lack of representation and how they plan to advocate for change within the industry.
Although I believe that primary sources will be essential in helping answer my questions about underrepresentation in finance, I believe that the secondary sources that I utilize will be just as important. Hearing different people discuss their own ideas, as well as dissecting primary sources will be interesting, as the different sources may interpret different situations differently. So, my goal for secondary sources will to be to gather as many views as possible and analyze their significance to the question I posted above.
One of the main goals that I have surrounding this research project is just to be open to all views surrounding my topic. Very often, I develop an opinion about the subject before I even research it. Although I believe that women need to have more of a platform within the industry, I believe that it will be beneficial to read some other perspectives about the current and past state of the industry.
Hopefully, I can find some sources within the SU library database, and maybe talk to some professors or people currently in the industry, students who already have internships and have experienced this firsthand. Along with this, I will try to find some TED talks that speak about the subject, as I feel as though those help us reflect on certain topics well (Media sources will also be beneficial).
Being able to listen, read, or see different perspectives and viewpoints about underrepresentation in finance will be critical, not only for this study, but going into the future as well. I am not focused about the end-product of my research as much as I am about what I get out of it. I think that having the opportunity to just understand what people have had to go through within the industry is fantastic. I am looking forward to doing this study and hope I can learn a lot about not only the topic, but also how to properly conduct research.
Hi Julia,
I found it interesting when you said you tend to form an opinion before you research a topic. My work is going to be focused on unraveling pre-conceived biases and opinions, as well as understanding the intersectional aspects of discrimination and oppression. Although that is very different than an opinion being formed about a subject, it does make me realize that we form these opinions in so many aspects of our lives, whether that being for work, school, etc. An article I used for the notetaking exercise talked about bias and premeditated opinions, and the author said exactly what you said. It is crucial to educate and get other points of view, not only to teach others but to induce critical thinking skills for yourself. This way, you could realize so many things after the fact. Just thought that was interesting since this is what I am focused on! I am excited to see what you put together. 🙂
Our kneejerk reactions often take the shape of generalized opinions (like/don’t like; support/reject)–often unspoken and unconscious–and these early ideas tend to affect how we engage with a topic or a source. That’s not just a research challenge; as you point out, it’s a life challenge!
Good work, Julia–I’m pleased to see you thinking about how you can engage with a range of perspectives and source types, in order to build a more complete and complex understanding of the issues at hand. I look forward to seeing how this takes shape.