The Basics
This is a guide to the most basic resources for finding reputable information on political science topics. For much more information see the Political Science Research guide.
Many of the resources listed in the sections below are marked Restricted Access. You should have
no problem connecting to these from any networked computer on campus. However in order to use these from off-campus you must log in with your Rutgers NetID. For
instructions see the Libraries' Remote Access to Library Resources.
If you are not on-campus, use these links to connect to Rutgers' library resources. If you haven't already logged in with your NetID
[your pegasus username and password] these links will take you to the login page.
To get to readings that your instructor has placed on Reserve in the Library, click here. Once you get to the Lookup box, the easiest way to get to the right list is to search
by the Instructor's name.
If a book that you need is not available (not owned/checked out) at the Dana Library, but is available from another Rutgers Library,
you can request delivery of that book to Dana by bringing up the record for the book in IRIS and clicking on tbe
Deliver/Recall button. Show Me
Book Not Available/Not Owned by the Rutgers Libraries?
The fastest way to get a copy of a book that is not owned or not available (checked out/on Reserve/missing etc.) at
the Rutgers Libraries is to request it through E-Z Borrow. E-Z Borrow books are normally received within about five working days.
Tell Me More
If a book is not owned by the Rutgers Libraries and is not available via E-Z Borrow, you can place an Interlibrary Loan request.
Tell Me More
Want to maximize your use of Library resources? Check out Searchpath, the Libraries' interactive tutorial.
Researchers in the social sciences would most likely be asked to use APA (American Psychological Association) style when citing sources used in a research paper. The APA Publication Manual
is available at the Dana Library Reference Desk. The Writing Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison also has an excellent
introduction to APA Documentation that will give you the basic information you
need to create APA citations and reference lists.
Not sure when you need to cite something? Check out the Plagiarism Guide
Remember that plagerism is a violation of the Rutgers University Policy on Academic Integrity for Undergraduate and Graduate Students and could result
in your dismissal from the University!
Finding Books: Library Catalogs
IRIS is the online catalog for all the Rutgers University Libraries except the Newark and Camden Law Libraries. Use IRIS to find out if the Rutgers
Libraries have the specific books or journals that you need, or to locate books on topics that you're researching. Show Me How
Newark Law
Camden Law
Rutgers Law library materials are not listed in IRIS. So if your project is in some way law-related, be sure and use the Law library catalogs.
Finding Articles plus: Indexes
Social Sciences Full Text
The basic index for finding articles in the social sciences. Indexes over 550 of the core, English language journals in social science disciplines including public administration, political science, public welfare, urban studies, sociology and social work, and women's studies. Indexes many journals back to 1982 and, beginning with 1995, includes many full-text articles.
Off-Campus Link Restricted Access
Need More?
While Social Sciences Full Text will usually give you what you need for a basic research paper, indexes that focus on specific disciplines
may considerably expand your research base.
Worldwide Political Science Abstracts
1975-
The main index for political science. Indexes over 1,300 journals in political science, international relations, public policy and related fields.
Off-Campus Link
Restricted Access
The Media
Getting the News
Many newspapers allow you to register and receive free access to at least a portion of that day's published articles.
The New York Times
The Washington Post
The Star-Ledger
It Happened in the Last Ten Years or So
Access World News
Access to the full text of over 600 U.S. and over 700 international newspapers.
Off-Campus Link Restricted Access
Old News
Historical New York Times
Allows you to search and display the full image of articles published in the New York Times back to 1851. The two+ most recent years are not
included, use Access World News.
Off-Campus Link
Restricted Access.
CQ Researcher
Extensive collection of weekly reports from Congressional Quarterly. Each report offers data, a variety of opinion, and a bibliography on a specific 'hot' issue.
Off-Campus Link
Restricted Access
Finding Statistics
Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2006
The basic annual U.S. statistical compilation. You can also link to tables from the 2001-2005 editions.
Print copies of latest edition of the Statistical Abstract are also available at the Dana Reference Desk.
U.S. Census Information
American FactFinder
Select query elements to create maps and view data tables based on Census 2000, the 1990 Census, the American Community
Survey, and the Economic Census. See definitions of the major geographic units for which census data is available.
Corrections?
Natalie Borisovets (natalieb@andromeda.rutgers.edu)
John Cotton Dana Library
June 12, 2006
Your Poli Sci Paper: Finding Scholarly Sources