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Research Methods with Human Diversity Focus (INFS 2007)
Total Credits:
3
Lecture Credits:
3
Description:
This course introduces information literacy and research skills with a focus on human diversity issues. You will learn how to organize a strategy for finding information, how to use digital and print resources to locate information, and how to analyze and evaluate information found. Your research will focus on increasing your understanding of individual and group differences (e.g. race, gender and class), and your knowledge of the traditions and values of various groups in the United States.
Topical Outline:
1. Introduction to issues and theories concerning the production, organization and dissemination of information in a diverse democratic society
2. Introduction to issues and theories in human diversity studies and human diversity research
3. Introduction to discipline based academic research and approaches with a focus on research in human diversity
4. Develop students' ability to employ appropriate search syntax to construct database searches to locate information related to human diversity research topics
5. Develop students' ability to critically evaluate and analyze information to support academic research needs
6. Explore the ethical uses of information, including: academic honesty, intellectual freedom, copyright and plagiarism
Learning Outcomes:
1. Identify and articulate how knowledge is produced, organized and distributed in a democratic society.
2. Identify and articulate how information and knowledge is affected by cultural, political and economic factors, including intellectual property rights and intellectual freedom.
3. Analyze how individual and group differences shape our knowledge of traditions and values of various groups in the United States.
4. Determine the proper tool needed to locate desired information and use an appropriate search strategy to locate the information.
5. Apply appropriate library-based research tools and classification systems.
6. Critically examine information and determine its authenticity, credibility, intellectual content, bias, and explain how the information supports one’s research topic.
Prerequisites:
Placement into
ENGL 1110 or completion of
ENGL 0900 or
ENGA 0900 or
ESOL 0051
MnTC: