Once you've picked a general topic for your research, you can look into how it impacts marginalized groups by adding keywords related to DEISJ topics. For example:

In addition to keywords, you can include subject headings in your search. Subject headings are part of a database's controlled vocabulary, which is a standardized sets of terms used to organize information in databases. They help maintain consistency by using predefined words or phrases, rather than allowing multiple synonymous terms. For example, articles about cars, buses, and trucks might all be given a subject heading of "automobiles."

Compare the keyword searches above with those below, where we've changed some phrases to subject headings (indicated by DE):

While controlled vocabularies make finding resources more efficient, they also reflect systemic biases. Keep in mind:

• Controlled vocabularies are slow to evolve, so they may contain outdated or offensive terminology.
• Many vocabularies assume professions are dominated by white cisgender men, using generic terms for those roles.
• Specialized subject headings do exist for resources about people with diverse identities, but they aren't always used. When they are, though, they can provide helpful cues to an individual's identity.

These limitations mean you should be aware of controlled vocabulary biases when searching. See the pages on DEISJ Concepts and Diverse Identities to for inspiration and subject headings for a variety of issues and identities.

How to Find Diverse Voices

Finding books and articles by diverse authors presents its own challenges. Author headings, which link works by the same author within a database, don't include information about the author's race, gender, ability status, sexuality, or other aspects of their identity. This means that you can't limit your search results just to authors who hold a relevant identity.

• Known author search: If you have the name of an author whose work you want to read, you can use field searching to find it.
  • On the Advanced Search page, type in the author's name and then use the "All fields" menu to select "Author - AU." Then click Search.
• Check subject headings: Works may (but won't necessarily) include subject headings related to the author's identity, like American literature -- African American authors or Authors with disabilities.
• Web search authors: If you are looking at an article, you will not be able to tell the author's background immediately. Research the authors of articles you've already found on your topic and see what you can uncover from their biographical information. Are they a part of the community they are discussing?
• Search for lists of authors from marginalized communities in your field, like:
  • Female Expert Sources: Leads to many subject-specific databases of women experts in that field.
  • Database of Diverse Databases from Editors of Color: 100+ databases featuring talent from underrepresented groups
• Search in databases specific to highlighting authors from marginalized communities in your field, like:
  • Cite Black Authors: Cite Black Authors is a curated list of research by black scholars.
  • The Journals Online Platforms: The Journals Online (JOLs) project aimed to provide increased the visibility, accessibility and quality of peer-reviewed journals published in developing countries so that the research outputs produced in these countries can be found, shared and used more effectively.
• Research diversity groups and resources:
  • Most professional associations have committees that address issues certain populations face within their field (like some of the American Psychological Association's Divisions) and will either provide resources or names of scholars who identify as members of the populations. Look for these groups are on your professional association’s website or contact the association directly.
  • Look to university departments that have always centered the identities and perspectives of racialized people and communities. For example, at the University of Minnesota, there is a Race, Indigeneity, Disability, Gender & Sexuality Studies (RIDGS) collective, and the page lists affiliated faculty experts.
  • Search Google for organizations that represent marginalized groups and search their websites for special interest groups, experts, publications, data, etc. For example, peruse the news available on the National Society of Black Engineers website to find leaders in the field.
  • Look for underrepresented speakers at conferences. One example is this interactive tool by Diversify STEM Conferences which has compiled a list of prominent underrepresented researchers across every field of STEM and medicine.
  • Search for biographies that are curated by non-profits run by minoritized people, like the SACNAS Biography Project, an online archive of first-person stories of Chicano/Hispanic and Native American scientists with advanced degrees in science.

Adapted from Finding Diverse Voices in the Diversifying Course Content guide by Gould Library, which is shared under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International License.