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.
Dylan,
I think that starting with a list of words relating to your topic is such a smart way to begin your research. I have also found that the words that I am using in my advanced search are too specific and have actually found that using too many at once can make it harder to find sources. I also think that looking at the citations are a great way to go deeper into your search which is something I have also been doing. I have also looked at the authors of the sources and looked them up to see what else they have published which might be helpful for you!
I think that interviewing people, however you choose to do it, is a very interesting and unique way to add to your argument and research. I also think that linked in is a great place to start to potentially find people to question. If you find that that is not the right path to follow to continue your research, I do believe that you will be able to find other sources to help support your argument!
Agreed–developing a list of keywords can help to spur your thinking as you’re playing around with search tools. Keep in mind the value of subject searching, as well. When you find a source that seems on point with what you’re looking for, take a look at the “subjects” that are named in the full bibliographic citation. That tells you the language that this particular search engine uses to catalog similar materials. You can then fold those subject terms into your own search terms.
Hey Dylan,
I definitely know how you feel in reference to looking through search results because whenever I can’t find that perfect article the relates to my argument I never know when to quit looking. I hate going farther back into the results because usually the best options pop up first, but I always have that “what if” question right when I start to think about stopping.
I am also really happy that you have decided watch Sherri’s documentary recommendation because I was very interested in it as well and am thinking about watching but can’t incorporate it into my blog post. So I am glad that you are thinking about using it in your research.
LinkedIn can be another useful tool–there are conversations happening there, and people sharing resources, so you may well find some valuable material.
Research is necessarily recursive work. It involves working back over the same ground multiple times, i.e. trying out different combinations of search terms. Each of those retreads moves us a little bit forward, though, kind of like writing a string of cursive letters–each looping stroke back moves us a little farther forward: https://www.showme.com/sh/?h=TfhCiem