Month: July 2021

Discussions / Homework Week of 7/12

Response #1

I have used both the SU Library and Google. With Google I can type what is arguably a very narrow search criteria and still find reputable articles on the topic I am interested in. Whereas with the SU Library I need a little more finesse when searching. Despite that, I find that the ability to refine searches based on genre, ie. book, journal article, website, etc. is very helpful when using the library databases. I was able to find a scholarly article at the library site but did not find anything from within the last three months. When I googled using the same key words, I was able to find articles from late June 2021. I am pretty good at researching on Google so will probably find the majority of what I need there. Primarily because there has been more discussion about my topic (equity and inclusion for Black workers) in the last year due to the murder of George Floyd and ensuing worldwide protests.

Response #2

I am hoping to find articles on the best strategies for implementing meaningful and lasting equity and inclusion for Black workers. I would like to make sure first-hand accounts of Black workers’ experiences are included as well as works of scholars who study and come up with solutions to these issues. I would love to find cases about companies that have successfully tackled the issue of making their companies more inclusive for Black employees. I am thinking about including articles that provide context through data regarding the state of Black employment as a whole and the state of employment of Black professionals in particular. I may also provide background on how Black people’s status in America informs their status as employees. The scholarly articles I find will most likely come from the SU Library database and the primary sources will probably come from Google since I want the most up-to-date reflections from Black employees.

Discussion Questions Week of 7/12

Response to #1

This week, I tried a variety of research strategies with the goal of building a collection of sources related to how artificial intelligence might be used to shape organizational culture. First, I started by brainstorming for about 10 minutes to come up with as many words related to the general idea as I could. Then I tried the SU library database and used the keyword and advanced search functions and some filters. I tend to start over with new search terms if I don’t see promising articles in the first four or five pages of search results, but part of me is always thinking the perfect article is just one more page away. I noticed sometimes my keywords were too specific or narrow. I found better results when I used a term like “human resources” instead of a string of individual words like “hiring” or “recruitment.” I found several interesting scholarly articles, newspaper editorials, and blog links this way. By skimming the citations in these documents, I found some additional articles and started a side list of scholars and authors who seemed interested in the same topics. I also did the same types of searches in Google, which led me to some interesting reports and studies by companies like McKinsey and IBM. To find scholarly sources in Google, it helped when I added the search term “scholarly” or “cited by” to those searches.

Lastly, I found an infographic that I thought others would find interesting. It shows all the different startup companies working on technologies related to hiring and recruiting. Check it out here: Talent Acquisition Ecosystem 8.0.

Response to #2

After doing my first research session, I ended up with a broad selection of articles that are somewhat related, but I realize I will have to make some critical decisions to determine which of them will be most useful. I haven’t figured out a way to “enter the conversation” yet, but I expect to get more focused the more reading I do. Also, I plan to watch Persona, the documentary that Sherri included in her post, and I will take notes to see if people involved in the film would be good leads for more sources.

Based on my efforts so far, I don’t think I will have trouble finding several solid scholarly sources. As for primary sources, I would love to find some firsthand accounts of people who build AI systems for human resources, people who use these systems in their HR or management roles, and employees who may have been affected positively or negatively by them. I am considering coming up with some interview questions that I could send to a few people, but I think this might be very time-consuming. Along these lines, I will probably explore LinkedIn to see if any thought leaders are posting interesting articles about this topic.

Discussion Questions Week of 7/12

1) All my research papers involve the same fundamental process: I collect information, organize my ideas, and write. To accomplish this I start my research on any subject with Syracuse Library “Summons”…my favorite…It’s one of the few bookmarks on my computer.  It puts an initial “Search articles, books and other resources” at the tip of your fingers.

If it’s a topic that I’m not particularly familiar with I will then start with tertiary sources since they are the most general. Tertiary sources are encyclopedias, atlases, or other reference books (not Wikipedia 😊). These sources can give me basic background information, help me with keywords for additional research, and direct me to further sources. Since this information is very broad, tertiary sources are my starting point.

In my search engine, I typically start with filters, (if I’m not planning to be on campus)- full text online, peer reviewed (it’s my science background – we love peer reviewed), and then publication dates (usually within the last 5 years but I can be flexible depending on the topic). I may play with subject terms and area of study.

I may then move into an advanced search. If this leads me to results that I don’t want, then I can “exclude” certain results from a further search.

Interestingly, I sometimes put my search into “google” or “bing”. I can come up with results that were not initially in my Syracuse University search. Here’s a pro tip… put those results into Summons and you can have access to the information (which many times you are unable to – just with an internet search engine).

Another pro tip…our Syracuse University tuition pays for librarians and they’ll even “Live Chat” or email you back.  I was frustrated late one weekend and they came to my rescue (and at a late time). I even see a text number although I haven’t tried that yet.

2) As far as my research, I am intrigued by the concept of hiring individuals with disabilities and at what point should the disability be disclosed. Will this disclosure cause stigmatized populations to be discriminated against (even if it’s never obvious to the individual)? I think disclosing of disabilities to a potential employer is a really important topic in organizational culture so I’m going to explain this foundational idea of pre-employment disclosure and the effect on hiring of individuals with disabilities.

We know from the articles we’ve read and the expanding the canon research our classmates have done that the employment participation of people with disabilities is still lags when compared to their non-disabled, and comparably educated, counterparts.

A main reason for the underemployment of individuals with disabilities is that employers often hold negative views about the work-related abilities of these individuals.  What I’m interested in researching is an analysis of where in the employment relationship these negative views appear, and whether a disabled individual should disclose pre-employment of a disability. I’m referring to so-called invisible disabilities. Those struggling with invisible disabilities should be comfortable sharing information about their disability with their employer as well as requesting accommodation.  Unfortunately, that is not always the situation. The question of whether or not to inform employers as well as when to inform them is an interesting question.

The issue of invisible disabilities is becoming more common in the workplace. Invisible disabilities (as described by the Invisible Disabilities Association) indicates symptoms such as “debilitating pain, fatigue, dizziness, cognitive dysfunctions, brain injuries, learning differences and mental health disorders, as well as hearing and vision impairments.” Sometimes employees are undecided about disclosing their invisible disability to their employer or coworkers. In addition to not disclosing this during an interview, this lack of transparency means that accommodations for disabilities may not be requested or made. Accommodations made in the workplace for invisible disabilities can include flexible schedule, special software for assisting with scheduling or prioritizing tasks, or architectural changes such as a standing desk.

I plan to have my research include both primary and secondary resources. This may be a challenging topic to find research on but it is one that is of personal interest to me. I hope to find the viewpoints of both the employee and the employer. I hypothesize finding employers that will truthfully answer questions (particularly about pre-employment prejudice) might be a challenge. I will try to speak with agencies that help disabled people find employment.

Discussion Questions Wk 7/12

  1. Usually when I am in search of scholarly articles, I use either google scholar or the SU database .Personally when searching for a source to use, I find it helpful to begin by searching up key terms that I think would provide me with some starter information.This way I can find an article that has something to do with my topic, skim through it and find more key terms that I can search up so that it will help me narrow down the articles until I find some that are strictly about my topic. For instance when I was looking for information about Neurodiversity and the workplace, I began by searching up inclusion, which then lead me to search up the PARC which then finally lead to me finding and article about Neurodiversity in the workplace. I like this method because while I am searching for the perfect article, I am still learning about different aspects of my topic along the way if that makes sense. I also like to use the filters so that I can get the specific type of article I am in search of. For instance if I want an article that is psychologically based or if I want one that is more statistically based. Although I like this method, sometimes I do hit a few road blocks because I find that the more specific of an article you are looking for, the harder it will be to find it. For example I had a lot more of a hard time looking for articles about Neurodiveristy in the work place in comparison to articles just about Neurodiveristy in general.
  2. I will be focusing on which comes first :inclusion or diversity. In my research I hope that I am able to find first hand accounts from people who have noticed a difference in the environment they were in fo instance whether it felt welcoming or whether they felt like the odd one out since I feel like this will provide evidence to help come to a conclusion. I also want to find some articles that show statistics in it because I think that is also a good way to come to a conclusion since this would cover a lot more than just the experiences of a few people. I also hopefully want to find a ted talk to include because I really like how the speakers address their topics and it also provides a first hand account.

Discussion Questions Week of 7/12

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.

Discussion Questions Week of 7/12

Response to #1

When I am trying to find fulfilling sources, I first search for a keyword. Recently, in my other class, I wrote a paper on FGM and how to successfully dismantle the practice, in my opinion. I first searched “FGM”, and thousands of sources came upon the database. However, I would really need to sift through these to find the best articles of information. So, I then searched up “Ending FGM”. Here, I had about 15 sources standing. I made sure I filtered my results so that it would only show resources published within the last five years, which brought the number down to ten. This was perfect. I had a good number of resources that would have different points of view and opinions, which ended up perfectly complementing each other. It ended up being a very successful paper.

However, in the past, I have noticed that it is particularly hard to find an article that emphasizes a specific part of a subject. Usually, it is just the subject that is advertised. So, using other keywords alongside the subject you want to research has been proven very successful in my experience. I wanted to also see feministic points of view regarding FGM, so after I searched “ending FGM”, I searched “Feminism and FGM”. I used the same strategy as before and was given great results. Also, by making sure you filter the published dates of sources, you are able to more quickly find recent sources. Sometimes I find myself reading through an article that is very outdated, which ends up wasting some time if someone is not looking for an older source.

Response to #2

When it comes to creating research goals for myself, I really want to make sure that I include voices from all or most sides. This is the most successful way to get a point across, in my opinion. However, I am making sure that I certainly include the voices of those who are oppressed, and/or victims of discrimination and pre-conceived biases. For finding these voices, I will look through scholarly sources, however, I will really have to narrow down my search methods to find the first accounts and opinions of real people. I will try to use different keywords, generating a bigger result of sources. This way, if I do find personal accounts they may be able to complement each other, even if they are regarding completely different situations. This would make my research more successful because different scenarios would prove my point more.

I am focusing on the intersectional nature of oppression, and how unfair treatment towards those with disabilities, those who are minorities or are in the LGBTQ+ community, all are treated due to the same deep-rooted pre-conceived biases against those who are different. A lot of these circumstances work together, whether the majority of people know it or not. I really want to get to the bottom of how this social hierarchy all came to be and will do this by also finding sources that dive into the history of the mistreatment of power. When it comes to primary sources, the first idea that comes to mind is thinking of the conversations I have had in my Women and Gender Studies class. My professor is a part of the LGBTQ+ community and has told us many stories regarding their life and how they have been discriminated against since forever. They also have mentioned how it is all intersectional- that people for years have looked down upon anything that resonates with “other”. I am very excited to get started on this project and hope I am at a good start with brainstorming.

Discussion Questions Week of 7/12

1.

The search tools that I have been using to find my sources are using key words and filters to find ones that relate to what my ideas are and make sure that they are the type of sources that I am looking to use. In the case that this does not work or I do not like anything that came up, I go to one of the sources that is relevant to my idea and look through what contributed to it, look at other pieces that the author(s) worked on, and look at if it came from a bigger source and go through it if it did. In the case that I did not find a source I liked, I would try using different key words and even take a step back and look again later to see if something would catch my eye that did not the first time.

2.

I am planning to switch from discrimination among people with disabilities to discrimination against people in the LGBTQ+ community. In doing this, I hope to find sources that discuss examples and situations where people were discriminated against. I want to make sure that people who have experienced this type of discrimination and what they did in response, if anything. In order to find this I plan to start out the same way I found my article for my unit 1 expanding the canon as I explained above. I am hoping to make a point about how people being discriminated at all is unacceptable, people being discriminated against something they cannot control is cruel in every way.

Discussion prompts for Week of 7/12

This week’s work centers around focusing and surveying, and we’re going to stick with that theme in discussion. I’d like you to consider an analogy to photography here. When you’re getting ready to take a picture, you need to make a whole lot of decisions. That starts with deciding what your subject is going to be–what you’re going to focus on. In the course of making that decision, you’re also weighing what else is around that focal point, deciding what to include and exclude based on how you frame the image (whether and how much you zoom, how you refocus if you do zoom in, and deciding whether and how to overlay filters and other effects).

image that depicts a person focusing camera lens

That’s kind of how research works–figuring out what’s worth focusing on requires a lot of surveying the landscape to see what’s out there and what’s interesting, and then making a series of decisions about how to compose a final image that you think others will want to see.  We’re entering the surveying phase now–looking to see what’s out there and then deciding where to focus and how to frame the shot.

Please respond to both of the prompts below by the end of the day on Wednesday, 7/14, and then tune back in later in the week to respond to a couple of your classmates’ posts.

  1. What search tools have you tried, and what are you noticing about them–how they work, what kinds of sources you turn up with different tools, what specialized features (i.e. Advanced Search features) seem especially helpful? If you’re running into roadblocks, explain what you’ve tried, so we can offer suggestions to help you keep moving forward.
  2. Plot some research goals for yourself. As you can see in the unit 2 assignment sheet you will need to have at least 1 scholarly source, and at least 1 primary source (check out the post below for a rundown of what constitutes a primary source). You’re welcome to include a variety of sources beyond that, but will want to ensure that your sources represent a range of different viewpoints and contributions. What kinds of texts are you hoping to find? Which fields and voices do you want to make sure are represented? How will you work to find them?

As you’re preparing to answer these questions, be sure to read through this refresher on different source types.

Please categorize your post as “Discussions/Homework,” and tag it with “weekof7/12,” “unit2,” and [your name].

Overview for Week of 7/12

I’ll be getting you feedback on your recent posts and on your focusing flowchart within the next 48 hours, so please be on the lookout for that, and use that to get started on your research for sources for your research portfolio.

Read on for the particulars of what’s due this week, but first, let me give you a bit more of the Big Picture of Unit 2.

big picture

In this Unit, you will be assembling a set of sources–representing a mix of voices of various stakeholders, a variety of source types (including primary, scholarly, and others), and a range of perspectives. Your primary tasks in this unit will be making decisions about what sources to include and becoming conversant with those sources. In this unit, we’ll focus on these elements:

  • locating sources (working with the SU library databases and other tools)
  • evaluating sources (assessing their value, credibility, and utility to your project)
  • writing about your sources (in a couple of note-taking and discussion exercises, and in longer annotations that are part of your portfolio)

You’ll be building a research project with these and other sources down the road in Unit 3. This unit will let you take your time developing a strong foundation for that work, so that your research can be intentional, critical, and productive (and not just quote-dropping or patching together other people’s words and ideas). This will allow you to make something new, a valuable contribution to the world of knowledge on the subject you choose to explore.

Read on for this week’s tasks.

Reading:

  • “Can company culture survive Zoom?”
  • chapters 6 and 7 of TSIS
  • chapter 2 (“Forwarding”) of Rewriting
  • this overview of different types of sources

Writing and discussion work:

  • discussion posts (your posts due Wednesday, replies to classmates’ posts due Saturday). Here’s the link to the prompts.
  • 2 note-taking exercises (1 due Wednesday, and the other due Sunday)–this begins with you locating possible sources, and then working with 2 different techniques spelled out on this handout on notetaking techniques
WRT 205 notetaking techniquesDownload

Types of sources

As you see on the unit 2 assignment sheet you will need to have at least 1 primary source and 1 scholarly source in your research portfolio.

We’ve talked a bit about scholarly sources already–take a look back at this post for a refresher.

Now let’s talk about what a primary source is.

A primary source is typically one based on direct first-hand experience or observation of an event or issue. What constitutes a primary source will vary by discipline/research topic. For example, in history, a primary source might be a document or artifact that dates to the time period under consideration (a letter written by a soldier during the Civil War, for example, or a photograph taken at that moment in time).  In literature, a primary source might be the poem or other literary work that the author is analyzing. In the sciences (both social sciences and “hard” sciences), primary sources might be data from experiments conducted or field notes recording one’s observations or actual artifacts from that research process. 

There are certainly situations in which opinion polls/surveys constitute primary sources, as well, providing fresh, direct insight into attitudes on a topic. Similarly, narrative sources (blog posts, interviews, autobiographical writings) might constitute primary sources, too. The basic idea is that a primary source gets us as close as possible to a particular phenomenon or topic, providing us information that is as unfiltered and direct as can be had.

And let’s consider what a secondary source is.

By contrast, most of the sources you find yourself working with are secondary sources, which include primary sources among their evidence. Such sources provide you with commentary and analysis that is at least one step removed from the topic itself. Note that both types–primary and secondary–are valuable in any research inquiry. Primary sources, because they are so individualized, really don’t work in isolation. They need the context of additional analysis, such as is provided by secondary sources, to be meaningful. This is yet one more reason why an array of sources, serving different functions and representing different perspectives, is so critical to the success of researched writing.

We need a balanced diet of information.

And one more note on the subject of source types: it’s worth striving for a “balanced diet” of information. Scholarly sources are kind of like broccoli–maybe not as tasty and easy as some other types, but with a lot of valuable nutrients. They’re good for the overall health of our inquiry, even if they’re not our favorite go-to item. For more on this analogy, I encourage you to watch this really accessible and interesting TED talk by JP Rangaswami: