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Political Science Research Guide

This guide can assist you in locating informational material for your research assignments. Explore by clicking on the tabs and resources listed within each page of the guide.

Web Search Strategies

Your instructor may also allow you to use websites as sources in your research.

The video below shows how to apply research techniques for more relevant results.  Ask yourself, Who? What? Where? When? and Why? to evaluate the websites for

  • Purpose: Why was it created?
  • Authority: What are the author’s credentials?
  • Scope/Coverage: What does it include and leave out?
  • Accuracy: Is the information provided correct?
  • Currency: When was it created or last updated?
  • Objectivity: What is the author’s or sponsor’s point of view?

Check out the CRAAP Test from CSU Chico Meriam Library that looks at Currrency, Relevancy, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose of websites. 

Sources of Information

information cycle timeline
Image source: https://www.library.illinois.edu/ugl/howdoi/informationcycle.html

Short video explaining how information and information sources change over time.
(source: University of Illinois Library) 

Subjects: Political Science