PS/CJ 5000 Research Methods - Public Administration
Sources and Strategies for Finding Library Resources & Data
Two steps in beginning social science research are:
(1) Doing a literature review--finding what research has already been done on the topic before you even start gathering data or writing. A thorough search for scholarly articles within the Library's various article indexes and fulltext databases is key to fitting your research into the history of the topic to date.
(2) Collecting data to support one's thesis.
A great deal of data is collected on regional and local governement. Some data sources on the web are more reliable than others so be sure to take some care in determining the quality and accuracy of a website. Knowing how and where to access quality data can save a researcher wasted hours of searching. Guides such as this should serve to provide a starting place for directing researches to key resources but do not intend to be exhaustive. For more information and assistance visit the Library Reference Desk, contact a librarian online through Ask a Librarian service, or make an appointment to work at length with a librarian on your project in a RAP Session .
1. LITERATURE REVIEW-- See what research has already been done
BOOKS
- Check the ASU Library Catalog for books related to your research at ASU, UNCA, and Western Carolina Univ. (Books from UNCA and WCU are available via ABC Express van service within a couple of days)
[Note: U.S. & State Government Documents can be searched in the librayr catalog as you would search for books.]
- To search thousands of library catalogs of the world simultaneously (approx. 40 million records) , use the Library's WorldCat database.
Use the ASU Library online databases to find journal articles, newspaper article and other published information (accessible on & off campus). Some databases that include both scholalry & popular materials provide a check box for limiting a search only to scholarly works (also referred to as "refereed" or "peer-reviewed")
ASU Library has grouped related Articles, Databases and Electronic Resources together for your convenience by Title and by Subject in the Articles and More section of the Library Website.
ARTICLES
The following are library electronic resources that are especially useful to public admintration research:
- ABI/Inform Complete | Excellent source for articles related to public administration
- Business Source Elite | Excellent source for articles related to public administration
- Academic Search Premier | To limit your search to only scholarly articles check the box beside "to refereed publication"
- JSTOR | Full Text | From volume 1 excluding the latest 3-5 years .
Provides access to the complete back runs of over 100 scholarly journals in many academic disciplines--including some that have been published continuously for more than 100 years.
- LexisNexis Academic
- North Carolina Periodicals Index
- Sociological Abstracts | Covers many areas of criminal justice and political science. Includes all aspects of sociology, such as community development, culture and social structure, demography, environmental interactions, family and social welfare, law, group interactions, welfare services, and women's studies.
NEWSPAPERS
- LexisNexis Academic | Full text of newspapers from across the country
- Newspaper Source | Provides selected full text for 140 U.S. and international newspapers, and full text from major U.S. newspapers including: The Christian Science Monitor, The Chicago Tribune, The Miami Herald, and The San Jose Mercury News. Selected full text is available from four North Carolina papers.
Citing Sources
Explains how to cite web and internet sources using MLA, APA, and Chicago Manual of Style
2. COLLECTING DATA
General Statistics Sources
- ASU Library Databases - Statistics [From the ASU Library homepage, select Articles and Databases and scroll down By Subject to Statistics. ]
- Statistical Universe | provides indexing and abstracts of statistics compiled by the U.S. Government. Includes thousands of full text sources covering crime, demographics, economics, and health statistics, and much more. Indexing from U.S. federal and state government sources, international agencies, Statistical Abstract of the United States , and the American Statistical Index.]
- University of Michigan Documents Center Statistical Resources on the Web www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/stats.html [Links to numerous international, national and regional statistical sources. Easy to use breakdown by subjects & categories.] [Note link to Government Finances - State & Local below and at left]
National Data
- Statistical Abstract of the United States The National Data Book contains a collection of statistics on social and economic conditions in the United States. The Abstract is also your Guide to Sources of other data from the Census Bureau, other Federal agencies, and private organizations. [To search this online government document you must either search the Index or Tables.
- U.S. Census Bureau - [See Link to Government Stats in section on Business which includes State & Local Goverment Stats]
State, County & City Data
- County and City Data Book at Univ. of Virginia – http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/ccdb/
- County and City Data Book at Census.gov
- USA Counties --Over 5,000 pre-1999 data items for all counties
- State and Metropolitan Area Data Book --Comprehensive data for states and metropolitan areas
- State & County QuickFacts -- Quick, easy access to Census facts about people, business, and geography
- MapStats -- Statistical profiles from many Federal sources for states, counties, cities, Congressional Districts, and Federal judicial districts.
North Carolina Specific Data
- North Carolina State Data Center specializes in disseminating and assisting with interpretation of decennial census data. It adds value to census data products by displaying tables, graphics, and reports specific to North Carolina. Use this page as your starting point to locate North Carolina census information
- North Carolina Legislature
- Budget and Tax Survey-1994-95 through Current - Financial information on county budgeted expenditures and tax resources, including in-depth information on school appropriations.
- SouthNow Program Contains some of the the best online resources dealing with Southern politics, media and public life. Contains N. C. data packs including analysis of North Carolina voter trends, historical voting patterns, political geography by county, and campaign expenditures, with special focus on U.S. Senate and gubernatorial races.
- For more links to North Carolina information go to ASU Library " Subject Guide to North Carolina "
Compiled by Allan Scherlen ( scherlnag@appstate.edu ) Appalachian State University Libraries