During Google101 I learned about how you are able to limit your searches by using the "search tools" option I never noticed before. It lets you limit by post date, location, site options. I never knew that existed. I also learned about the "more" tab. I had seen it and clicked on it before, but never really paid much attention to it after one glance over. Seeing the "more" option in the more tab is great, because it allows for different search options and specific fields as well.
I definitely have a new appreciation towards Google searches. I mean, I used to before all the time, but it was always for more "mundane" uses rather than academic or scholarly ones. It is cool to know that Google isn't such a bad option to use if looking for scholarly articles or government documents. I also really enjoy the "blog search" feature.
I definitely will be using the whole "Blog search" tool more often, to find blogs for academic purposes and personal reading interests. It is cool to know that I can limit my searches by post dates and types of sites as well, for both academic and personal reasons. I will be using Google for more school work that I have in the future as well as how I used it in my current papers and research assignments for the class.
Learning about search strings was very interesting as it has helped me focus and be better and finding articles relevant to my topics. I am able to use Academic Search Premier more confidently and efficiently.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Monday, April 16, 2012
Original Research
I'll first start out by saying that I much prefer doing Library research compared to Original Research. That being said, yes, I have indeed done my own original research. Mainly for some of my college research papers, It was mainly collecting quantitative data. The difference between Original research and Library research is that when doing Original research one goes out into the "field" so to say, and collects data and information on their own. They themselves in turn become the "expert." Library research can help original research in a few ways. One might be that it can be used as a guide for finding similar information, or to try and update some out of date quantitative data. It can also be used as a way to figure out what is currently missing, some sort of point of view or data that still needs to be collected to further examine or delve into a subject. Another way Library research can help original research is as an outline on how to format or present original research in an understandable and clear way.
Some pros to Library research is that, depending on the publishing date, the article one might be reading has been reviewed and commented on and perhaps even updated or revamped, expanded upon, et cetera, by scholarly peers. You assume that the author presenting the information is an "expert" and therefore the information can be trusted to a point; cross examination should always be done of course. The information is easily accessible and at your fingertips, you don't have to go find it.
Some cons to Library research is that, in fact, the person publishing an article could have very little experience with the topic and their information could be suspect. NOT all scholarly articles are created equal. Some really bad articles can somehow be published. You aren't out and collecting the information on your own and miss out on the "fun" experience. Certain information you might need may not be easy to find or it just hasn't be published or "found" yet.
For critical thinking skills involved in both types of research, probably all of them to be honest. They all would play a part on some level. Interpretation, Analysis, Inference, Evaluation, Explanation, and Self-Regulation all of them would be needed for these types of research. As for Original research, I think that Inference and Evaluation might be the most important in this research. You need to evaluate and access the credibility of the information that you have collected. With inference you need to draw reasonable conclusions with the "evaluated' information you have gathered, to form hypotheses and whatnot. So I would say those would be pretty key in Original Research. As for Library Research, I think that Interpretation would be a good one, as you need to comprehend and express the data you have found from others research, to be able to organize it and clarify it for whomever you are presenting to or having read your information.
Some pros to Library research is that, depending on the publishing date, the article one might be reading has been reviewed and commented on and perhaps even updated or revamped, expanded upon, et cetera, by scholarly peers. You assume that the author presenting the information is an "expert" and therefore the information can be trusted to a point; cross examination should always be done of course. The information is easily accessible and at your fingertips, you don't have to go find it.
Some cons to Library research is that, in fact, the person publishing an article could have very little experience with the topic and their information could be suspect. NOT all scholarly articles are created equal. Some really bad articles can somehow be published. You aren't out and collecting the information on your own and miss out on the "fun" experience. Certain information you might need may not be easy to find or it just hasn't be published or "found" yet.
For critical thinking skills involved in both types of research, probably all of them to be honest. They all would play a part on some level. Interpretation, Analysis, Inference, Evaluation, Explanation, and Self-Regulation all of them would be needed for these types of research. As for Original research, I think that Inference and Evaluation might be the most important in this research. You need to evaluate and access the credibility of the information that you have collected. With inference you need to draw reasonable conclusions with the "evaluated' information you have gathered, to form hypotheses and whatnot. So I would say those would be pretty key in Original Research. As for Library Research, I think that Interpretation would be a good one, as you need to comprehend and express the data you have found from others research, to be able to organize it and clarify it for whomever you are presenting to or having read your information.
Monday, April 9, 2012
Assignment # 19
Code of Federal
Regulations, (2008). Prostitution and commercialized vice (AE
2.106/3:22/). Retrieved from website:
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2008-title22-vol1/pdf/CFR-2008-title22-vol1-sec40-24.pdf
Weitzer, R. (2010). The Movement to Criminalize Sex Work
in the United States. Journal Of Law & Society, 37(1), 61-84.
doi:10.1111/j.1467-6478.2010.00495.x
Ok, so I had a really hard time with this blog assignment because finding a government document that was solely about Prostitution and not Sex-trafficking was rather hard. Actually, I don't even think I really managed with the one document that I was able to get. As I read through it, it was more centered on illegal aliens engaging in prostitution, or those who were coming to the country solely for prostitution work. It didn't seem to give me any real statistics, but I was desperate for any type of document that had to do with prostitution. It defined prostitution as this though: "The term prostitution means engaging in promiscuous sexual intercourse for hire. A finding that an alien has "engaged" in prostitution must be based on elements of continuity and regularity, indicating a patter of behavior or deliberate course of conduct entered into primarily for financial gain or for other considerations of material value as distinguished from the commission of casual or isolated acts." Wordy, lengthy and a bit hard to understand, the document also doesn't really mention why it is stating this information, though i think it was basically so that someone could read and go through the federal regulations, or have it accessible to those who would need it.
As for my article, it also has a lot to do with sex-trafficking, but it does focus more on prostitution and the criminalization/demonetization of such practices by moral crusades. It was an interesting perspective to read. The statistical information I got from it was that in November 2008, residents of San Fransisco, California voted on a ballot that would make the criminalization of prostitution in the city no more. It was interesting to note that while the ballot failed, it was endorsed by 42 percent of the voters. It doesn't really say how the data was collected, but I'm sure the percentages were public knowledge, available and accessible.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Urvashi Vaid Presentation
I know this is late, it was due last week, but I figured I should post something none the less. My expectations of the presentation were, well, not high. I myself had read your e-mail you sent to the class and decided I did not want to be part of the presentation. I think less than half the class read your e-mail or even knew anything about what they were voting on, just wanting to get out of class, just my opinion there. I don't support the equal marriage movement, and I wasn't all that keen on listening to someone who was pro for the movement. Call it selfish, call it close minded, call it whatever you want, but I know what I believe. I know where my world view starts and ends, so I didn't think it would be a fruitful presentation for myself. What I knew has a lot to do with where my faith lies, spiritually and theistically. I knew a little of the information that would be presented, or what I assumed would be presented.
I'll admit that the way the information was presented surprised me. I wasn't expecting it to be so mixed with other human rights issues, such as racism and woman's rights. How she mixed the equality movement with homosexuals in with the other social justice movements was unexpected. In a way it made it seem like if you were against one, you were against all. I wasn't surprised though of the condescending tone/vibe against those who didn't support the movement, projecting their insecurities upon the LGBT communities, it was a bit offensive actually. She was very adamant about trying to dismiss the legitimacy of non-supporters concerns.
Something new that I learned while listening to the presentation, I did not know that people who are against the LBGT communities marriage amendment are just projecting their insecurities about heterosexual relationships upon the LGBT. Who knew?! I found that rather enlightening. Something else I learned that I didn't know was that the same sex marriage movement, and the equality movement doesn't infringe upon religious freedom after all. Which I found rather odd, since it is now illegal for tax exempt churches to speak out and have an opinion about same-sex attractions/marriages. It could be considered a hate crime to speak out against such practices. That doesn't seem to infringe upon freedom to practice your religion at all.
As for the professional background of the speaker. Urvashi Vaid is an expert in her field. After all, she devoted her whole life to this equality movement. Her study, in field action, lifestyle, it all adds up that she could be considered an authority on this subject.
I'm not really sure what I can take away from this presentation and add to my alternative viewpoints paper, as in fact this presentation upset me and frustrated me. Plus it really had nothing to do with my particular subject of the alternative viewpoints paper anyways.
I'll admit that the way the information was presented surprised me. I wasn't expecting it to be so mixed with other human rights issues, such as racism and woman's rights. How she mixed the equality movement with homosexuals in with the other social justice movements was unexpected. In a way it made it seem like if you were against one, you were against all. I wasn't surprised though of the condescending tone/vibe against those who didn't support the movement, projecting their insecurities upon the LGBT communities, it was a bit offensive actually. She was very adamant about trying to dismiss the legitimacy of non-supporters concerns.
Something new that I learned while listening to the presentation, I did not know that people who are against the LBGT communities marriage amendment are just projecting their insecurities about heterosexual relationships upon the LGBT. Who knew?! I found that rather enlightening. Something else I learned that I didn't know was that the same sex marriage movement, and the equality movement doesn't infringe upon religious freedom after all. Which I found rather odd, since it is now illegal for tax exempt churches to speak out and have an opinion about same-sex attractions/marriages. It could be considered a hate crime to speak out against such practices. That doesn't seem to infringe upon freedom to practice your religion at all.
As for the professional background of the speaker. Urvashi Vaid is an expert in her field. After all, she devoted her whole life to this equality movement. Her study, in field action, lifestyle, it all adds up that she could be considered an authority on this subject.
I'm not really sure what I can take away from this presentation and add to my alternative viewpoints paper, as in fact this presentation upset me and frustrated me. Plus it really had nothing to do with my particular subject of the alternative viewpoints paper anyways.
Checking In Time
For the semester research project I have been having a little success and few setbacks. I feel like the sources that I have been able to gain thus far have proven to be fruitful. The information is well presented and clear, easy(ish) to understand and interesting. I think that my ability to answer the questions I have been presented with is pretty good as well. Some of the setbacks I have been having on this particular research project is finding the motivation to continue finding research sources from those different areas. The government document and the newspaper article, those are the ones that may be giving me the most trouble. I have to keep pushing through my senioritus, while juggling a job, classes, internship, and somewhere in there trying to fit a social life, haha.
As for my other classes, I think I have been having pretty good success with them, Native American Literature has always been an enjoyable type of literature to read, so that class has been pretty easy to go along with, plus Professor Crow is really passionate about the field, so that helps as well. My chemistry course is a bit harder, chemistry is not my strong point at all, so I have to work really hard to understand some of the concepts presented, so hopefully I'll keep up with that at least. And yep, there you have it, my check in.
As for my other classes, I think I have been having pretty good success with them, Native American Literature has always been an enjoyable type of literature to read, so that class has been pretty easy to go along with, plus Professor Crow is really passionate about the field, so that helps as well. My chemistry course is a bit harder, chemistry is not my strong point at all, so I have to work really hard to understand some of the concepts presented, so hopefully I'll keep up with that at least. And yep, there you have it, my check in.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Semester Research Question Review
As previously stated this particular project hasn't been my current focus but I did look over my questions and will answer the questions that I can with as much detail as I currently can. These of course will be refined, fixed up, and reviewed.
1. The population that I chose to do research on was women in prostitution. The reason I chose this population group was that I found I had a lot of conceptions of women who are currently in prostitution.
2. My initial assumptions about women who were in prostitution were harder/more unfair that I realized. I found that I was disdainful of them, that they were dirty. I had to take a step back and figure out why I had these particular negative viewpoints of them. I am not really sure where these assumptions came from, I can only assume that it was media, TV/Movie representation of prostitutes, as a child I learned that men who used prostitutes were bad/wrong so that naturally meant those women were too. Social acceptance of these women, or more likely, lack of social acceptance, disdain.
3. I did find that women who are in poorer city blocks and other area do happen to have a higher chance of contracting/spreading sexually transmitted diseases. But there are also women who are very "clean" to say that they use every preventative measure, get regular check ups, so the conception that all prostitutes are unclean and dirty doesn't have a lot of legitimacy.
4. Acceptance, criticism, condescending interactions with other people, cultural acceptance, legality of profession, initial dangers of meeting with strangers, spousal abuse, client abuse, poverty, poor living conditions. These are just some preliminary problems that women who are in prostitution face on a day to day basis.
5-8 and even my current questions definitely need to be increased and gone into deeper depth, larger information, to be cited and sourced, that sort of thing. But as a preliminary review, this is what I am mainly able to cover for the questions as of now. I think the question I might have the hardest time/need help with is number 8. As I haven't done any research yet to find out if there are activist groups or groups that go about informing people about prostitution. So I am able to answer 4 out of 8 in the most basic way possible, but I think that as I continue to find more research sources these questions will be easier to answer and I will be able to form a stronger argument and answer the questions more fully.
1. The population that I chose to do research on was women in prostitution. The reason I chose this population group was that I found I had a lot of conceptions of women who are currently in prostitution.
2. My initial assumptions about women who were in prostitution were harder/more unfair that I realized. I found that I was disdainful of them, that they were dirty. I had to take a step back and figure out why I had these particular negative viewpoints of them. I am not really sure where these assumptions came from, I can only assume that it was media, TV/Movie representation of prostitutes, as a child I learned that men who used prostitutes were bad/wrong so that naturally meant those women were too. Social acceptance of these women, or more likely, lack of social acceptance, disdain.
3. I did find that women who are in poorer city blocks and other area do happen to have a higher chance of contracting/spreading sexually transmitted diseases. But there are also women who are very "clean" to say that they use every preventative measure, get regular check ups, so the conception that all prostitutes are unclean and dirty doesn't have a lot of legitimacy.
4. Acceptance, criticism, condescending interactions with other people, cultural acceptance, legality of profession, initial dangers of meeting with strangers, spousal abuse, client abuse, poverty, poor living conditions. These are just some preliminary problems that women who are in prostitution face on a day to day basis.
5-8 and even my current questions definitely need to be increased and gone into deeper depth, larger information, to be cited and sourced, that sort of thing. But as a preliminary review, this is what I am mainly able to cover for the questions as of now. I think the question I might have the hardest time/need help with is number 8. As I haven't done any research yet to find out if there are activist groups or groups that go about informing people about prostitution. So I am able to answer 4 out of 8 in the most basic way possible, but I think that as I continue to find more research sources these questions will be easier to answer and I will be able to form a stronger argument and answer the questions more fully.
The Legitimacy of Blog Posts
Before I ever used blogs as a source of legitimate data I would have scoffed at the idea that any type of blog could be used in the academics. It would have been absurd, even now, after finding one I find might legitimize blogs, I am still disbelieving. As for why it is so hard for me to accept blogs is that as an English Major I was trained to use specific search engines and databases. A blog would have been a serious "no-no" if it was used as an academic source. Its hard to let go of old trainings, plus, previously, my experiences of blogs were just those silly blogs where people try to make their lives seem more interesting or hysterical by over exaggerating events and adding poorly drawn comics to illustrate the hilarity/misadventures of their lives. Useless/purposeless might have been my original though of blogs. This particular blog has changed my initial assumptions about blogs. Link to blog used Misconceptions Regarding Prostitution
While it is a blog that is no longer active, this particular user made use of the blog as a way to present clear, coherent information regarding the common misconceptions about prostitution. Something that I would never have expected to find on a blog. It uses reliable information, which is sourced, to present their opinions. Yes, it is biased, but the data in the charts they have is good. This particular type of blog I think illustrates that people shouldn't' just scoff at the idea that blogs are legitimate, like I did. They may just hold valuable information that would help them with their research. It might even be ok to say that you can get a good idea of cultural trends by reading popular blog posts, so maybe sociologists do use them. Who knows?
APA Work Cited
Misconceptions regarding prostitution [Web log message]. (2010, April 20). Retrieved from http://blog.lib.umn.edu/ander422/myblog/2010/04/misconceptions-regarding-prostitution.html
While it is a blog that is no longer active, this particular user made use of the blog as a way to present clear, coherent information regarding the common misconceptions about prostitution. Something that I would never have expected to find on a blog. It uses reliable information, which is sourced, to present their opinions. Yes, it is biased, but the data in the charts they have is good. This particular type of blog I think illustrates that people shouldn't' just scoff at the idea that blogs are legitimate, like I did. They may just hold valuable information that would help them with their research. It might even be ok to say that you can get a good idea of cultural trends by reading popular blog posts, so maybe sociologists do use them. Who knows?
APA Work Cited
Misconceptions regarding prostitution [Web log message]. (2010, April 20). Retrieved from http://blog.lib.umn.edu/ander422/myblog/2010/04/misconceptions-regarding-prostitution.html
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