RESEARCH GUIDE: Public Administration
Reference Desk: 415-442-7244
E-mail: askalibrarian
When beginning a project in Public Administration, such as analyzing a public policy issue, begin by making a list of the different areas you will need information about. Your list may look something like this:
Issue background: Is the issue a current news item? Does the issue deal with government, non-profit, or private industry?
Policy Information: What current or pending policies affect your issue? Also, when were these policies created? Have there been changes made to the policies? Who are the people responsible for each of the policies? Who do the policies affect?
History: Has the issue been dealt with in other geographic areas or industries that I can learn from?
Statistics: What kind of data will I need? Will statistics be an important part of my argument?
This guide has some useful suggestions, but it can also be more helpful to talk to a librarian before beginning your research to map out a strategy and choose which type of information source is best for your research. You can call (415) 442-7244, e-mail askalibrarian@ggu.edu or stop by the Reference Desk at the University Library.
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| NEWS, ARTICLES, AND REPORTS | |
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| Public Affairs Information Service (PAIS) | This Public Affairs Information Service database contains over 500,000 citations and references in the areas of public affairs, public and social policies, and international relations from 1972 to the present day. Also included in this database is the PAIS Archive which covers the years 1915 to 1976, providing historical perspective on the social and public policies that shaped our present world. |
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Business Source Completeo
(via EBSCO) | To find information on a specific issue, type in a keyword and click the search button. It helps if you already have a list of search terms that you can try in order to get the best results. For example, if you are searching for pollution, you can also try air quality. From the result list, you can click on the links at the top of the list for magazines, academic journals. |
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| Proquesto | Proquest is very similar to Business Source Complete, but it covers different publications, so it is a good idea to use both. Once you've entered a keyword and clicked the Search button, you will see a results list. The results page will suggest more narrow topics for you in the 'Suggested Topics' box above the actual results. You can also narrow you're results by clicking the links for scholarly journals, magazines or newspapers. |
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| Catalog of Nonprofit Literature | This database contains the citations, and in some cases descriptive abstracts, of articles concerning non-profits. To find information on your issue, use the subject index or enter a keyword in the search form. If you find an article you need, request a copy using our Interlibrary Loan form online available at http://www.ggu.edu/forms/library_document_request.jsp. |
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| Lexis-Nexis Academico | Lexis Nexis is a great resource to find newspaper articles. Use the quick search to enter specific keywords that will help locate articles about your issue. If you get too many results, try using the guided news search. |
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| Social Science Research Network (SSRN) | Social Science Research Network (SSRN) is an online open access database of working papers on a variety of topics related to the social sciences, including psychology, public administration, and health services management. The SSRN eLibrary contains over 183,900 abstracts for scholarly working papers and over 147,500 full text documents in pdf format. |
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| POLICY DOCUMENTATION AND LEGAL INFORMATION | |
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| Google Uncle Sam | Search for items that are in government websites. You can search for keywords or if you know the name of the policy you need, search for the policy name with quotation marks around it. This is a good place to find actual policy text or to find out what sectors may be involved in a specific issue or policy. |
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| Specific Government Libraries | Some government institutions collect policies in online libraries. If you are working on an environmental policy, for instance, you will find the EPA Online Library very helpful (http://www.epa.gov/natlibra/ols.htm). Other government libraries can be found here http://www.firstgov.gov/Topics/Reference_Shelf/Libraries.shtml. |
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LegalTraco
(via Infotrac) | Legal Trac has articles from legal publications. This is a good place to go for any policies that have government or legal issues associated with them. To search by keyword, click on Basic Search in the upper left hand corner of the search screen. In the results page, use the yellow column on the left hand side titled Subject Terms to narrow your search. |
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| Lexis-Nexis Academico | You can use Lexis Nexis to find legal cases pertaining to you issue or policy. Select the Legal button in the upper left corner of the screen. Search by keyword in Secondary Literature, Case Law, and Code & Regulations if applicable to your issue. |
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| ANALYSIS, OVERVIEWS OR STUDIES OF SIMILAR TOPICS | |
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| Dekker Encyclopedia of Public Administration and Public Policy | Over 300 encyclopedia entries related to Public Administration and Public Policy. This is a great place to get the histroy and overview of policy issues. To search this electronic encyclopedia, click on the Search link in the red banner on the upper right side of the screen. |
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Business Source Completeo
(via EBSCO) and Proquesto | Search for articles that may be realted to your issue, but not directly about your issue. For instance, if you are researching afterschool program legislation in California, search Business Source Complete for articles about Afterschool programs or legislation in other states or even countries. |
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| Opposing Viewpointso | Search for current articles on controversial topics. Use the tabs above the results list to find viewpoint (opinion) articles, reference materials, statistics, and more. |
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| Social Science Research Network (SSRN) | Social Science Research Network (SSRN) is an online open access database of working papers on a variety of topics related to the social sciences, including psychology, public administration, and health services management. The SSRN eLibrary contains over 183,900 abstracts for scholarly working papers and over 147,500 full text documents in pdf format. |
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| STATISTICS AND DEMOGRAPHICS | |
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| Lexis-Nexis Statisticalo | Find abstracts to statistics produced by the U.S. Government, major international intergovernmental organizations, professional and trade organizations, commercial publishers, independent research organizations, state government agencies and universities. Click on Search Abstracts and enter a keyword and other search criteria. |
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| Census.gov | Find social, demographic, and economic data about the U.S. population. Browse data by clicking the Subjects A-Z link in the upper right hand corner or enter keywords in the search box. |
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| ABAG | The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) is one of more than 560 regional planning agencies across the nation working to help solve problems in areas such as land use, housing, environmental quality, and economic development. Find links, reports, and other regional information. |
Databases marked with an o are available to Law Students for remote access.
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Prospective Students
