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Asian American and Pacific Islander Anti-Discrimination Resources

Mardigian Search

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Search for Information on Anti-Asian American Hate in Our General Mardigian Search

These tips are specific for our general Mardigian Search, however, you can apply these same keyword search strategies to anywhere you're doing research. Just remember to think critically about your sources and follow the TRAAP method in the following box.

Keyword Searches

  • Keywords are the important themes and words you're interested in researching
  • Try getting inspiration from tags on various articles. These are words or phrases that the author/publisher/editor have determined to be major themes or concepts in the piece. Search algorithms match your initial keyword searches with these tags.
  • Don't use filler words like effect, impact, or connection as these will muck up the search.
  • You may have to look for synonyms to your original search word(s) and variations. For example, anti-racism appears both as anti-racism and antiracism. Depending on the database you're using, you may have to search for both. 

Narrowing Down Results

  • In Mardigian Search (linked above), use Refine Your Search on the left hand side
  • Select Discipline and Subjects that interest you
    • Example of Disciplines: sociology & social history, social sciences, psychology ...
    • Example of Subjects: anti-racism, anti-Asian, Asian, activism, activists, civil rights, education, history and criticism, human rights, Pacific Islander, prejudice, political activistsrace, racism, racial bias, racial discrimination, ...
  • Select the publication date you find most useful by moving the yellow slide scale

Select Content Type

  • Choose what format you'd prefer
  • Examples: Book Chapter, Book/eBook, Journal Article, Magazine Article, Streaming Video, Web Resources, ...

Evaluate Your Sources

TRAAP is a simple acronym that can be used as a tool for evaluating information and determining if you're heading toward a fake news trap. Each letter in TRAAP represents a criteria by which to measure the reliability and relevance of sources.

Timeliness: The currency of the information 

  • When was the information published or posted?
  • Has it been updated?
  • Do you need the most current, up-to-date information on your topic? Sometimes older material is still relevant today.

Relevance: The information meets your needs 

  • Does the information directly relate to the topic you were interested in?
  • Does it help you answer questions?
  • Have you looked at other sources to find the best one?

Authority: The source of the information 

  • Who is the author or publisher?
  • What is there relationship with this topic and why have they chosen to write about it?

Accuracy: The reliability and correctness of the information 

  • Can you verify the information with another source?
  • Is the information supported by citations or other evidence?

Purpose: The reason the information exists

  • What is the purpose of the information? To educate, sell, persuade, or entertain?
  • Is the information given as fact or opinion?

Related Subject Guides

The Mardigian Library has great related subject guides:

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