Ask Your Subject Librarian
ACT UP - Assess Your Sources
As you find relevant information about your topic, begin assessing it critically by using the ACT UP framework. Consider the following questions:
A - Author
Who wrote the resource? Can you identify the author? Does the author's background lend credibility to this topic?
C - Currency
When was it written? Is it current enough for your topic?
T - Truth
How accurate is the information? Are all claims and external sources cited? Are there typos and spelling mistakes?
U - Unbiased
Consider how the implicit bias of the author may be influencing the way information is presented. If strong personal bias is present, it should be acknowledged and made explicit.
P - Privilege and Positionality
Consider the privilege and social positionality of the author. Are they transparent and reflexive about their positionality? Who is missing from the conversation? Whose knowledge or perspective should also be valued? Consider marginalized knowledge(s) and perspectives from sources that are excluded from academic publishing networks.
Adapted from Dawn Stahura, “ACT UP for Evaluating Sources” in C&RL News, Vol.79, No.10 (2018).
Critical Issues in Autism and Neurodiversity
Welcome to the Critical Issues in Autism and Neurodiversity Podcast Guide!
Here you will find recommended books, journal articles and podcast resources to help you get started with your assignment.
Refer to the "Podcasting Resources" page through the left side navigation menu for tips and tricks on planning your podcast.
Explore the Context
A good first step in the research process is to explore the context of your subject area. Course readings and discussions will help inform where you start. Treat this phase as an open-ended exploration where you follow your curiosity to understand what has been researched in this subject area and where there are gaps or new questions to be posed.
Tips:
- Use the library databases, journals and books to generally explore ideas, approaches and concepts around neurodiversity and autism
- As you explore, start noting down key case studies, cultural objects, important people, events or places that interest you
- Note down key words or phrases that are commonly used in the subject area
- Refine and narrow your searches as you go
- Try multiple searches! Combine different keywords or phrases to find a variety of approaches to the subject area
Research questions
Research questions allow us to organize our thinking around what we do not know.
Approach your research with curiosity. What did you find curious when conducting your contextual research?
Write down as many questions as possible when you start reading your articles, books and research findings.
Review your research questions and ask yourself:
- Does my curiosity circle around a specific concept, idea, object, or theoretical perspective?
- What is it about this phenomenon that I find curious?
- What do I want to know more about?
Use the answers to these questions to draft your research topic.
Revise your research topic as you continue to explore and conduct research.
Organizing thoughts and ideas
If you'd like use a tool to help organize and keep track of your research questions, key concepts, thoughts, and ideas as you conduct research, Kurzweil 3000 is available to all Douglas College Students.
Kurzweil converts text to speech to assist with reading, and has many other helpful tools such as the "brainstorm" and "outline" tool to help you.
To use Kurzweil:
- Note: Use College email, leave"External ID" field blank ; You will be sent a link to your Douglas e-mail to change your password.
Log on to Web App: Access Kurzweil
Or Download Software for Windows or Mac