LibGuides: *Political Science Research Guide: Search for Information

The Search String Toolkit

The Boolean Operators: AND, OR, and NOT

AND
AND finds sources that mention both listed concepts.
Wikipedia AND accuracy

OR
OR finds sources that mention either of the two concepts.
Wikipedia AND (accuracy OR reliability)

NOT
NOT excludes sources that mention a certain concept.
Wikipedia AND (accuracy OR reliability) NOT “drug information”

Other Helpful Tools:

QUOTES
Quotes link phrases together. Putting the phrase “drug information” in quotes searches sources with that exact phrase, instead of searching sources with the word “drug” and “information” separately.

TRUNCATION
Truncation allows you to search a word in its varying forms. To use truncation, type the root of the word and place the truncation symbol (often an *) behind it.

Searching for accura* will include sources that use the term accurate and the term accuracy.
Wikipedia AND (accura* OR reliab*)

Search Library Resources: OneSearch

OneSearch is a great place to start your research, as it combines most of the library's books, journal articles, and digital resources into a single search. Search OneSearch from the library website.

Tutorial: One Search Basics OneSearch Basics
Tutorial: One Search Advanced OneSearch Advanced

Background Research

CQ Researcher This link opens in a new window
Collection of research reports on recent news topics and issues of broad interest in the public policy sphere.
Credo Reference This link opens in a new window
Database that provides access to thousands of articles from reference sources such as encyclopedias and dictionaries.
Encyclopedia Britannica Academic Edition This link opens in a new window
General encyclopedia with carefully edited articles on all major topics.

Useful Political Science Databases

Academic Search Complete This link opens in a new window
Academic Search Complete is EBSCO's comprehensive scholarly database, covering most subjects. It contains more than 10,000 full text peer reviewed journals and magazines. In addition to full text, this database offers indexing and abstracts for more than 15,000 journals.
Online Tutorial
Congressional Research Service Reports This link opens in a new window
Provides integrated, searchable access to many of the full-text CRS reports that have been available at a variety of different Web sites since 1990.
CQ Researcher This link opens in a new window
Comprehensive, non-biased reporting and analysis on issues shaping our world.
Military & Government Collection This link opens in a new window
Designed to offer current news pertaining to all branches of the military, this database offers a thorough collection of military titles, trade publications, and news weeklies. Military & Government Collection includes abstracts and indexing for nearly 400 titles providing cover to cover full text for nearly 350. The database also includes full text for 245 pamphlets.
Nexis Uni This link opens in a new window
NexisUni provides access to U.S. and World Newspapers, U.S. Court cases, and Corporate information
ProQuest Congressional This link opens in a new window
ProQuest Congressional is a major source of information about the members of Congress and their legislative activities and a primary resource for assessing the many publications of the U.S. Congress from 1969 to present. ProQuest Congressional provides coverage of Congressional publications including House and Senate Committee Reports, Committee Hearings, Committee Prints and Documents. ProQuest Congressional provides extensive legislative histories for acts passed from 1969 to present.
ProQuest Criminal Justice Database This link opens in a new window
ProQuest Criminal Justice Database is a comprehensive database of U.S.and international criminal justice journals. The database provides research support for students interested in careers in criminal justice, law enforcement, corrections administration, drug enforcement, rehabilitation, family law, and industrial security. The database includes abstract and indexing for 250 titles, with more than 100 available in full-text.
ProQuest Political Science Database This link opens in a new window
Political science and international relations journals, dissertations and working papers on topics such as comparative politics, political economy, international development, and environmental policy.

Ask A Librarian

Librarians are good resources for help with research, locating information, and citations. There are plenty of ways to get in touch!

Ask a librarian for help via:

Consultation appointment
24/7 chat
Online video room
email or phone

library.campbell.edu/ask

Meet Your Librarian

Ron Epps

He/Him

Email Me

Contact:

Office Phone: (910)893-1472

Research Assistance: (910) 893-1467

Fax: (910)893-1470

(910) 893-1472

Subjects: Criminal Justice, Cybersecurity, Geography, Government, History, Homeland Security, Information Technology & Security, Math and Computer Science, Military Science, Political Science