Fall 2013
Today’s materials available at: http://libguides.usask.ca/politicalstudies
Courses tab

• Explore the Political Studies Research Guide
• Discuss the information cycle & types of information sources
• Overcome potential researching roadblocks
• Introduce journal articles & demonstrate where & how to find them
• Discuss the importance of evaluation of information

Are you asking yourself any of these questions?
• How do I search for books in the library catalogue and then find them on the shelf?
• What is a journal article and how do I find them?
• Is there something that can search the catalogue and journal article databases at the same time?
• I’m getting too many / not enough results? What can I do?
• Why can’t I just use Google?
• Why do I have to reference / cite the sources I use in my research?
• How much time do I need to give myself to research and write my research paper?
• Is writing at the university level different than at a high school level? Can I get help with this?

• http://libguides.usask.ca/politicalstudies
• Great starting point for your research!!!

• Variety of research resources, ex: web sites, books, journal articles, encyclopaedias, etc.
• Each type of information resource is a valid source in the research process.
• Videos: The Information Cycle (serious)
The Information Cycle (not-so serious)

▫ You should never use Wikipedia .... True or
False?
▫ Using Wikipedia for Academic Research
(video)
▫ The Office ( Wikipedia )
(video)

• When to use Google & Google Scholar?
Same functionality as
• Set your Scholar preferences

1.
Research Paper Planner

• Too many results?
▫ Narrow / focus your topic, ex:
 Time period
 Location
 Specific issue
• Not enough results?
▫ Brainstorm synonyms, ex:
 “compulsory voting” = mandatory voting, obligatory voting , etc.
▫ Expand scope of your topic

Scenario: You are writing a research paper on regulating the use of cell phones while driving and you are having some problems finding relevant articles on the topic.
Question #1:Brainstorm some keywords / synonyms you could use to search this topic.
Question#2: Say you were getting too many results, how might you narrow-down your results?

1.
Research Paper Planner
2.
Thinking Tool: Choosing a Topic &
Search Terms

• Catalogue: For finding books & book chapters
(print & online)
▫ Sample catalogue search
• Journal Article Databases: for finding journal articles, newspapers, etc.
• USearch: for finding books, articles, government publications, etc.

What is the call number & locations for these books:
1.
The European Union and the Arab Spring: Promoting democracy and human rights in the Middle East
2.
The democratic dilemma : reforming the Canadian
Senate
3.
Hot spots : American foreign policy in a post-humanrights world
Need help deciphering a call number
(video)
?

• What are journal articles?
• How are articles different from books?
• Popular & scholarly articles
• Where can you search for articles?

Academic / Scholarly /
Peer-Reviewed
Popular
• Written by academics / experts in the field
• Author’s credentials are listed
• Bibliography is provided
• Reviewed by other experts /peers in the field
• Intended audience is professionals, researchers, or students in the field
• Authored by journalists / staff writers
• Written for the general public
• Bibliographies are rarely included
• May include advertisements

Which characteristics apply to each type of journal?

• Recommended databases:
▫ Academic Search Complete
▫ IPSA (International Political Science Abstracts)
▫ CBCA Complete (Canadian content)
• Many articles will be full-text, if not, select

Journal Article Author(s) Journal Article Title
Smets, Kaat. “A Widening Generational
Divide? The Age Gap in Voter Turnout Through
Time and Space.” Journal of Elections, Public
Opinion and Parties 22, no.4 (2012): 407-430.
Journal Name
Volume, Issue, Year, & Page Range

• Single search option for books, articles, etc.
• Not comprehensive but a good starting point
• Good tool for finding a citation
• Search tips:
Use the Advanced Search
Use quotations marks around phrases “voter turnout”
Limiters on the results page can narrow results

Using USearch ....
1.
Find one article on “voter turnout” AND “low income”. Limit to peer-reviewed articles, published after 2005.
2.
Verify if the University Library has online / fulltext access to this article:
Richmond, Ted and John Shields. "NGO-Government Relations and
Immigrant Services: Contradictions and Challenges." Journal of
International Migration and Integration 6, no. 3-4 (2005): 513-
526.

• Important to evaluate ALL sources of information
• Does it pass the CRAAP Test?
▫ Currency
▫ Relevance
▫ Authority
▫ Accuracy
▫ Purpose
• It is not usually black / white (OR good / bad )

• It is important to keep track of your sources and citing them properly.
• For help with this, visit the Library’s Citation
Style Guides page

1.
Research Paper Planner
2.
Thinking Tool: Choosing a Topic & Search
Terms
3.
Library PALs
4.
ULC Writing Help

• Review Political Studies Research Guide
• Check-out the tools in your toolkit
• Contact:
▫ Angie.Gerrard@usask.ca
 Mon, Tues, Wed
▫ Ask Us (in-person, email, chat, phone)
 7 days a week