Research Guides: POLS 038: Designing and Doing Political Science Research (SC): Getting Ideas + Background Info

History + Topic Overviews

These sources offer overviews and introductions to the topics they discuss. You can use these sources for some basic historical background, and to identify relevant readings to explore your topic in greater depth.

Cambridge Histories Online
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Searchable collection of e-books; useful starting point for exploring topics in history
Very Short Introductions
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Launched by Oxford University Press in 1995, Very Short Introductions offer concise introductions to a diverse range of subject areas from Climate to Consciousness, Game Theory to Ancient Warfare, Privacy to Islamic History, Economics to Literary Theory.

Handbooks and companions [search in Tripod]
These books can offer historical information and other background on your topic.

In Tripod, look on the left for the Region limit. This lets you filter handbooks by country.

Oxford Reference
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Find background information on your topic from academic encyclopedias and other reference works published by Oxford University Press

Narrowing Your Focus

Mapping your research ideas
Walks you through the process of creating a simple map to generate, visualize, and clarify your research ideas. (another example concept map)

Language + Terminology

Keyword brainstorming tool
Follow the prompts to break down your topic idea into concepts and brainstorm keywords.

POLS 038: Designing and Doing Political Science Research (SC)

Connect to Resources

Select the shortcut for your school to access a library resource.

History + Topic Overviews

Narrowing Your Focus

Language + Terminology