Chapter 1: Formulating Your Research Question 4/17/2017 Public Policy Paper Chapter 1: Formulating Your Research Question “Welcome to my PowerPoint presentation on how to identify a research question and assemble a scholarly bibliography.” Info Lit #1: Topic & Bibliography

Analyze the Assignment 4/17/2017 Analyze the Assignment Identify a Research Question Produce a Bibliography Use One of the Approved Styles “The policy paper is a complex and difficult task. I’ve broken it down into manageable steps. Let’s get you off to a good start thinking about how you identify a research question and produce a bibliography using an approved style sheet.” Info Lit #1: Topic & Bibliography

How Do I Find a Topic? Consult your own interests. 4/17/2017 How Do I Find a Topic? Consult your own interests. Consider what issues might be most amenable to particular expertise that you already possess. Consult the table of contents of your textbook – or even the index. Info Lit #1: Topic & Bibliography

What’s a Good Topic? A good topic is… 4/17/2017 What’s a Good Topic? A good topic is… Consistent with assignment -- Your paper must deal with a consequential matter of public policy which is, or ought to be, on the agenda of American politics at the national level Interesting to you One that you can approach with an open mind – where you have not already developed an opinion that is likely to render you immune to facts. Narrow enough to allow relatively thorough research Info Lit #1: Topic & Bibliography

What’s Narrow Enough? Exactly how narrow more art than science. 4/17/2017 What’s Narrow Enough? Exactly how narrow more art than science. If your topic is too broad, your research will be unfocused and superficial. If your topic is too narrow, you won’t find the information you need to proceed. You need to strike a balance based on preliminary exploration of your topic. In this wired world, it is probably easier to be too broad than too narrow. On the next slide I’ll provide an example. Forgive me for using an old favorite from environmental politics. Info Lit #1: Topic & Bibliography

What’s Narrow Enough? Bad Each of these is too broad Good 4/17/2017 What’s Narrow Enough? Bad Endangered species Environmental protection National Park Policy Yellowstone National Park Federal wolf management Ranchers’ rights Threats to livestock Each of these is too broad Good Whether the Yellowstone wolves should be protected when they leave the park Here’s another difference. On the left we have “topics.” On the right we have a “research question.” Consult your course syllabus for a further elaboration on this distinction. Info Lit #1: Topic & Bibliography

Produce a Bibliography 4/17/2017 Produce a Bibliography Preface – thinking about… Primary v. Secondary Sources Scholarly v. Popular Sources Getting an Overview Digging Down Deep Using One of the Approved Styles Info Lit #1: Topic & Bibliography

Primary v. Secondary Sources 4/17/2017 Primary v. Secondary Sources Primary: An original, first-hand document; it has not been previously published, interpreted or translated. Secondary: Interprets and analyzes primary sources; information is “once removed.” Secondary sources are often based on primary sources. Info Lit #1: Topic & Bibliography

4/17/2017 Primary or Secondary? Historical records like birth certificates or deeds* Autobiographies* Reviews of plays, films, books, etc. Original published research reporting a lab experiment* Works of art and literature (paintings, poems, etc.)* Editorials in newspapers & magazines Correspondence, diaries and other personal papers* Textbooks, encyclopedias, etc. Transcripts or recordings of interviews or proceedings* Government documents like bills, laws, or court decisions* Published research reviewing the literature of a certain field * generally primary but see next slide Info Lit #1: Topic & Bibliography

4/17/2017 Primary or Secondary? The distinction between primary and secondary will sometimes depend upon the context of your research. The commentary of entertainers like Rush Limbaugh, Bill O’Reilly, or Stephen Colbert, who appear to differ only in the degree to which they take themselves seriously, would almost always be a secondary source – and a poor one at that. However, if your topic is the “political rhetoric of Stephen Colbert,” then (and only then) his commentaries are a primary source. Info Lit #1: Topic & Bibliography

Scholarly v. Popular Sources 4/17/2017 Scholarly v. Popular Sources Written by scholars for scholars Typically detailed and lengthy Always formally documented Example: American Political Science Review Written by journalists for a general audience Typically general and short Documentation informal or absent Example: CQ Weekly Report For more detail see: http://www.cornellcollege.edu/politics/courses/allin/262/pfinder-1.pdf Info Lit #1: Topic & Bibliography

Research Step #1 Getting an overview on your research question 4/17/2017 Research Step #1 Getting an overview on your research question Do you want Secondary or Primary resources? Do you want Scholarly or Popular resources? Info Lit #1: Topic & Bibliography

Research Step #1 Getting an overview on your research question 4/17/2017 Research Step #1 Getting an overview on your research question Do you want Secondary or Primary resources? Secondary resources will be more general and more accessible. Do you want Scholarly or Popular resources? Popular resources will be more general and more accessible. Info Lit #1: Topic & Bibliography

Research Step #1 Getting an overview on your research question 4/17/2017 Research Step #1 Getting an overview on your research question Google for the Web Google News for really recent stuff Lexis-Nexis News for a much longer time frame Info Lit #1: Topic & Bibliography

Research Step #2 Digging Down Deep 4/17/2017 Research Step #2 Digging Down Deep Do you want Secondary or Primary resources? Do you want Scholarly or Popular resources? Info Lit #1: Topic & Bibliography

Research Step #2 Digging Down Deep 4/17/2017 Research Step #2 Digging Down Deep Do you want Secondary or Primary resources? Primary resources are more reliable. You are not depending on someone else’s interpretation. Do you want Scholarly or Popular resources? Scholarly resources are going to be more detailed and reflect greater author expertise. Getting an overview and digging down deep are different tasks, and they require different tools. Different kinds of sources are appropriate for different purposes. Info Lit #1: Topic & Bibliography

Where Do I Find Primary Sources? 4/17/2017 Where Do I Find Primary Sources? Laws & Bills? Lexis-Nexis Thomas.loc.gov Court Cases? FindLaw.com Organization Opinions? Google search limited to “.org” domains Government Documents? First Search: GPO GPO Access Google search limited to “.gov” domains Info Lit #1: Topic & Bibliography

Where Do I Find Scholarly Sources? 4/17/2017 Where Do I Find Scholarly Sources? Lexis-Nexis Law Reviews EBSCO Host Academic Search Premier Social Science Abstracts Military & Government Collection First Search GPO PAIS Info Lit #1: Topic & Bibliography

Looking for Sources Generally 4/17/2017 Looking for Sources Generally The previous suggestions are quite generic. You want to search with a purpose. Ask yourself what you want to know, and think about where you are likely to find it. Ask Greg Cotton for help. Don’t be afraid to use Google and Wikipedia, but don’t stop there. And don’t assume that everything you read is correct. In the modern era, anybody can find information. The critical intellectual skill is to have the wisdom and tools to distinguish good sources from bad. Info Lit #1: Topic & Bibliography

Primary & Scholarly Source Portals 4/17/2017 Primary & Scholarly Source Portals Cole Library: Research by Topic Social Sciences Politics Department of Politics Internet Sources for Government, Politics & Law Info Lit #1: Topic & Bibliography

Use One of the Approved Styles 4/17/2017 Use One of the Approved Styles APSA Chicago/Turabian APA MLA Links to the Approved Styles Guidance on Documentation in Your On-Line Syllabus Cole Library: Politics Info Lit #1: Topic & Bibliography

Summary Find a Topic & Construct a Research Question 4/17/2017 Summary Find a Topic & Construct a Research Question Produce a Bibliography Preface Primary v. Secondary Sources Scholarly v. Popular Sources Getting an Overview Secondary & Popular Sources Digging Down Deep Primary and Scholarly Sources Use One of the Approved Styles Info Lit #1: Topic & Bibliography