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Political Science

This guide will introduce you to resources that you can use when studying and researching Political Science

Need Help? Ask a Librarian!

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Cece Lasley
she/her/hers
Contact:
Instruction and Student Success Librarian
Washington & Jefferson College
Clark Family Library
60 S. Lincoln Street
Washington, PA 15301
724-223-6504

Contact Us

Stop by the Research Services Desk for help from a librarian!

asklib@washjeff.edu

724-223-6070

Welcome

Welcome! The purpose of this guide is to offer research help with a focus on resources that will be particularly useful to you as you navigate your Political Science coursework and research. 

Remember throughout your time at W&J, the library is here to help! Some frequent ways that we help Political Science students are in helping them find resources for their research project (including datasets), refining search strategies, and figuring out the most appropriate way to cite their sources.

What does research look like in this discipline?

Research is more than just searching for an answer and reporting that answer. It's an iterative process of asking questions, understanding how others have approached similar questions, and eventually drawing your own conclusions on what you believe the answer to be. In Political Science, research can take a variety of forms from analyzing and engaging with data/observations collected by others to understanding the theory and context surrounding a particular event or phenomenon by engaging with the published scholarly conversation. If this feels overwhelming, don't be afraid to ask for help from a librarian or your professor!

an infographic of the research process. The graphic is a curve around a light bulb representing the cyclical nature of the process.

Curated Reference Resources

Gaining background information on a topic is a critical first step in the research process. Background information helps you learn more about your topic, identify important facts related to your topic (keywords, dates, events, history, and names and organizations), refine your topic, and find additional sources of information through bibliographies and works cited pages.

You might do this by conducting a Google search or going to Wikipedia and reading up on a subject. Below are some reference resources from the library that can also help you familiarize yourself with your topic.