What is Diversity in the Workplace?

The concept of diversity in the workplace, at its most broad, includes differences derived from ethnicity or geographic (or national) origin, gender or sexual orientation, age, economic status, religion, ability, lifestyle and tenure (or position) with an organization. Diversity is concerned not only with differences but also with acknowledging these differences through actions. Globalization and urbanization, as well as technological advances, strongly influence the perception and practices of diversity management.

Getting Started

Before beginning your research, spend some time thinking about the topic at hand and how to develop a search strategy. Consider the following:

• Are you looking at current practices and theories, or do you need an historical perspective?
• What’s the scope of your research: global practices, developed countries, United States, a particular industry or profession?
• Will you be limiting your research to one specific area of diversity, such as gender or age, or looking across the broad range of diversity issues?
• Are you interested more in social or in economic causes and implications?

Finding General or Background Information on Diversity in the Workplace

To get acquainted with concepts like diversity or employment discrimination, use diverse sources of business ethics information. Consider starting with these titles:

• The Blackwell Guide to Business Ethics - HF5387 .B55 2002
• Understanding Diversity: An Introduction to Class, Race, Gender, and Sexual Orientation - HM1271 .P56 2006
• Discrimination at Work: The Psychological and Organizational Bases - [electronic resource]
• U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission - [electronic resource]
• Racial and Ethnic Diversity: Asians, Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Whites - R E184.A1 R317 2006
• Affirmative Action Around the World : An Empirical Study - HF5549.5.A34 S684 2004

Finding Information about Diversity in the Workplace in Books

Searching ROSIE Using Keywords

Search by keyword using terms related to your topic of interest: combine “work*” or “employ*” with keywords like “diversity,” “discrimination,” “sexual orientation," "minorit*” and the like. The asterisk (*) allows you to search for words with different endings. Remember that you are searching book titles, subjects assigned to books, and (in some cases only) tables of contents – and not the contents of books. Leave the very specific, detailed search for periodical databases; in ROSIE, search for a single term or combination of two.

Searching ROSIE by Subject

Searching by Library of Congress Subject Headings allows you to do a more focused search for your topic; nonetheless, remember to explore the “related subjects” links. Some subject headings that may be useful include:

• Diversity in the workplace
• Discrimination in employment
• Affirmative action programs
• Multiculturalism
• Corporate culture cross-cultural studies
• Minorities employment
• Personnel management

Browsing Call Numbers

Because books are arranged on the Library’s shelves by subject, browsing the library stacks in the call number areas suggested below can also be useful. You can get additional ideas from a book's table of contents or index. You can browse book records online through ROSIE, but remember that only records of recently published books list tables of contents and none lists an index.

HD 6060
HF 5549.5.M5
HF 5549.5A34

Finding Articles Using Research Databases

Bowman Library subscribes to many Web-based databases where you will find newspaper, magazine and scholarly journal articles. Ones that are particularly useful for researching diversity are listed below. See Searching Electronic Resources Effectively for guidelines on making the most of your search.

ProQuest
Search ProQuest for articles about diversity in the workplace published in scholarly, trade and general interest periodicals. Explore the drop-down menus and “More Search Options” to broaden or narrow your search. Note, in particular, the limit to “Full text documents only.” On the results page, limit your search to scholarly (or trade) journals and magazines.

Wilson Select Plus
Search Wilson for articles published in academic and professional publications. The best strategy is to use search capabilities from the Advanced Search: use the top menu tab to get there and then explore the drop-down menus. Limit your search to full text.

Business and Company Resource Center
Start by choosing the “Articles” icon and then searching “Subject Guide” for “employment discrimination” or “workplace multiculturalism” (rather than searching by keywords).

Congressional Quarterly Researcher (CQ Researcher)
You will find here reports about issues widely discussed in the media. While these topics are not presented strictly from a workplace diversity perspective, the reports can provide a broad context for your research. Rather than searching by keywords, use the “Browse by Topics” menu, and follow “Employment, Labor, and Pensions” to “Equal Employment Opportunity & Discrimination.”

The Conference Board
The Conference Board (TCB) is a non-partisan, non-profit business network that attempts “to bring leaders together to find solutions to common problems and objectively examine major issues having an impact on business and society.” TCB has reports and in-depth interviews on diversity. Select topics (browse) from the drop down “topic” menu, or simply search for terms like "diversity" or "discrimination".

Selected Free Web Sites

The following Web sites have been selected by Bowman Librarians as examples of sites appropriate for college research. Keep in mind, however, that free Web resources are rarely filtered, often making it difficult to determine the content's accuracy. Use our guide Evaluating Web Resources to help you review the authority, currency, and objectivity or bias of every site you use.

Workplace Diversity Network
http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/wdn/resources/
The Workplace Diversity Network is a joint project of The National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ), a leading human relations organization founded in 1927 to fight bias, bigotry and racism in America, and Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations. Follow the menu choices "Publications" and "Current Resources." In the former note, in particular, the "Resources for Workplace Diversity: A Practitioner's Guide to Information," an annotated bibliography of readings and resources on diversity.

U.S. Census Bureau – American Factfinder
http://factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/main.html?_lang=en
Diversity in the workplace reflects, among others, demographic changes in society. Use the Census’ FactFinder, “People” section, to find statistics on gender, ethnicity, race and socio-economic status.

Bureau of Labor Statistics – Demographics
http://www.bls.gov/bls/demographics.htm
Follow the “Demographic Characteristics of the Labor Force (Current Population Survey)” link for access to reports like “Women in the Labor Force: A Databook” or “Worker Displacement,” as well as comprehensive data on the labor force. “Longitudinal Studies (National Longitudinal Surveys)” have data on employment by sex, age, race or ethnicity.

Equal Opportunity Commission
http://www.eeoc.gov
Federal agency Web site containing facts, statistics and legal documents on equal employment.

Diversity World
http://www.diversityworld.com/
This easy to navigate site has lists of links to Web sites dealing with various aspects of the diversity issue.

European Union – Anti-discrimination
http://www.stop-discrimination.info/index.php?english
This site presents information about discrimination beyond the workplace - and beyond the United States. It is a part of the European Commission's five-year pan-European information campaign on combating discrimination on the grounds of racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, age, disability and sexual orientation.

Citing Your Sources

Be sure to check with your professor on which citation style is required. Bowman Library provides the following resources to assist with citation format:

For online resources, see How to Cite Your Research for links to MLA, APA and Chicago citation styles.

MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers - LB2369 .G53 2003 (Located in Library Permanent Reserves).

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association - BF76.7 .P83 2001 (Located in Library Permanent Reserves).

The Chicago Manual of Style - Z253 .U69 2003 (Located in Library Permanent Reserves).

Have Questions?

• Explore WOODIE for help with Research.
• The following guides include related information that may assist your research:
  • Business Ethics Research Guide
  • Introduction to Law Research Guide
• Ask a Librarian. We are here to help!