Diversity Research

Research from a diversity perspective can be on a wide variety of subjects and in a wide variety of disciplines. Its defining characteristic is an emphasis on including a wide range of voices, viewpoints, and experiences. Diversity-centered research may seek to address identities of ethnicity, culture, sexuality, gender, age, disability, or a wide range of other perspectives.

This kind of research often requires flexibility, as well as a broad understanding of research strategies and the ways in which information is organized in the Library and in the rest of the world. Often this type of research is interdisciplinary: it doesn't fall neatly into any particular discipline, and requires the researcher to master several tools and combine results from several searches in order to produce the desired information. Diversity-based and interdisciplinary research are becoming increasingly important as people ask new and different questions about what we already know.

• How are feature films marketed to minority groups in the United States? How are movie scripts written and pitched, and how are minority characters represented in films marketed this way?
  • Possible fields: ethnic studies, sociology, women's studies, film studies, business, and other fields.
• How does environmental racism and classism play out in the Southeastern United States? For instance, how many SuperFund sites are situated in or near low-income or minority neighbourhoods? What kinds of industry are located in White and Black areas? Have any lawsuits been launched that mention environmental racism or classism as factors?
  • Possible fields: ethnic studies, environmental science, sociology, geography, law, business, and other fields.
• How should parks be managed in developing countries? Should indigenous peoples be allowed to do what they have always done with the land? How has the use of the land changed over time? How has the global economy changed what the land is used for?
  • Possible fields: ethnic studies, ecology, geography, anthropology, law, political science and other fields.