Political Science Subject Guide

A starting point for general political science research.

Literature Reviews, Explained!

Date: Thursday, September 12, 2024
Time: 1:00pm - 2:30pm
Time Zone: Eastern Time - US & Canada 
Campus: All Campuses

A review of scholarly literature is an essential component of any research project, but why? Join Librarian Charlene for an introductory webinar to help you begin your assignment with a clear understanding of its purpose. We’ll explore answers to questions like:

  1. What is scholarship and peer review?
  2. Why do researchers engage in the process of literature review?
  3. What types of literature reviews are commonly produced in coursework?
  4. How do we decide what literature to review, and by which criteria?
  5. What strategies can we use to ensure a thorough review of the literature?
  6. How can we use literature review assignments in our future research?

Ideal for students in the first year of a degree program, transfer students, and students returning to school.

Prior registration is required: https://pin.gsu.edu/event/10207076
This is an online webinar conducted va WebEx. You will receive an email containing instructions to access the webinar on the day prior to the session.
You will need speakers or headphones, or you can listen via phone. You do not need a microphone.

What is Political Science?

"Politics attained the status of a scientific discipline in the 20th century, due to the progress and the transformation of law studies and the growing influence of behaviourism in the social sciences" (Berg-Schlosser et al., 2020, p. 1). Politics aims "to organise and to assert the coexistence of individuals in the same community...Some social scientists have alternatively promoted an instrumentalist approach, which considers that the distinctive nature of politics has to be found not in the aims but in the instruments used for running the polity." (Berg-Schlosser et al., 2020, p. 2).
Berg-Schlosser, D., Badie, B., & Morlino, L. (2020). The SAGE handbook of political science (p. 2). SAGE Publications Ltd.

 

What Do Political Scientists Do?

Political scientists can work in a vast array of job settings, like in academia, public service, teaching, law, and nonprofit management. "Political scientists usually conduct research in one of the following areas: national politics, comparative politics, international relations, or political theory" (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022).
Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2022). What political scientists do. Occupational outlook handbook: Life, physical, and social sciences. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/political-scientists.htm#tab-2 

How to Become a Political Scientist

For more information about study and programs in political science at Georgia State University, see:

 

Open Count!

Are you using an openly accessible resource in your course? We want to hear about it! Please complete the short form, linked below.

Award-Winning Education at Georgia State University!

Are you a student at Georgia State University?

Ask your professors if they are using open educational resources in their courses!

Then, nominate a GSU educator for an OER Excellence Award. You can submit more than one nomination!

Are you an educator at Georgia State University?

Nominate a colleague who uses open educational resources in their courses for an OER Excellence Award!

Nominations for the OER Excellence Awards are due by March 14th, 2026. 

 

The OER Excellence Awards all-campus event is the sister event for the Open for Student Success Symposium at Georgia State University. The mission of the OER Excellence Awards is to facilitate a peer-nomination process where faculty are celebrated by their colleagues and students for their use of open educational resources in course instruction. This event is jointly coordinated between the University Library and GSU's Student Government Association and Student Public Interest Research Group.

Subjects: Political Science