POLITICAL STUDIES 112.3
LIBRARY RESEARCH SESSION
Today’s materials available at:
http://libguides.usask.ca/politicalstudies
Courses tab
January 29, 2013
Today we will ....





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
Political Studies Research Guide


http://libguides.usask.ca/politicalstudies
Great starting point for your research!!!
Research Resources

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:
 You
The Information Cycle (serious)
The Information Cycle (not-so serious)
should never use Wikipedia .... True or False?
Too Many Results? Not Enough?

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
Activity
Questions #1 and #2
Library Collections

Catalogue: For finding books & book chapters
(print & online)
 Sample

catalogue search
Journal Article Databases: for finding journal
articles, newspapers, etc.
Activity
Question #3
Journal Articles

What are journal articles?

How are articles different from books?

Popular & scholarly articles

Where can you search for articles?
Academic / Scholarly /
Popular
Peer-Reviewed

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
Activity
Question #4
Want to learn more? Check-out these
humorous videos:
• What is a Scholarly Article
• Scholarly vs. Popular
Searching for Journal Articles

Recommended databases:
 Academic
Search Complete
 IPSA (International Political Science Abstracts)
 CBCA Complete (Canadian content)


Many articles will be full-text, if not, select
Anatomy of a citation:
Activity
Questions #5 and #6
Google & Google Scholar

When to use Google & Google Scholar?
Same
functionality
as

Set your Scholar preferences
Evaluating Your Sources

Important to evaluate ALL sources of information

Does it pass the CRAAP Test?
 Currency
 Relevance
 Authority
 Accuracy
 Purpose
Activity
Question #7
Citing Your Sources


We didn’t discuss the importance of keeping track
of your sources and citing them properly.
For help with this, visit the Library’s Citation Style
Guides page
Need Help .....

Review Political Studies Research Guide

Check-out the Research Paper Planner

Contact:
 Angie.Gerrard@usask.ca
 Mon,
 Ask
7
Tues, Wed
Us (in-person, email, chat, phone)
days a week