GSU Library Research Guides: *Political Science Subject Guide: Home

Literature Reviews, Explained!

Date: Thursday, September 12, 2024
Time: 1:00pm - 2:30pm
Time Zone: Eastern Time - US & Canada (change)
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:

What is scholarship and peer review?
Why do researchers engage in the process of literature review?
What types of literature reviews are commonly produced in coursework?
How do we decide what literature to review, and by which criteria?
What strategies can we use to ensure a thorough review of the literature?
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://rooms.library.gsu.edu/calendar/workshops/literaturereviews
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.

Related LibGuide: *Research in the Social Sciences by Charlene Marton

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.

The Blackwell Dictionary of Political Science by Frank Bealey
Call Number: E-Book
ISBN: 0631206957
Publication Date: 1999-08-25
The Blackwell Dictionary of Political Science provides students and general readers with a clear and lively introduction to the terminology of political science.
The SAGE Handbook of Political Science by Dirk Berg-Schlosser (Editor); Bertrand Badie (Editor); Leonardo A. Morlino (Editor)
Call Number: E-Book
ISBN: 9781526459558
Publication Date: 2020-03-11
The SAGE Handbook of Political Science presents a major retrospective and prospective overview of the discipline. Comprising three volumes of contributions from expert authors from around the world, the handbook aims to frame, assess and synthesize research in the field, helping to define and identify its current and future developments. It does so from a truly global and cross-area perspective Chapters cover a broad range of aspects, from providing a general introduction to exploring important subfields within the discipline. Each chapter is designed to provide a state-of-the-art and comprehensive overview of the topic by incorporating cross-cutting global, interdisciplinary, and, where this applies, gender perspectives. The Handbook is arranged over seven core thematic sections: Part 1: Political Theory Part 2: Methods Part 3: Political Sociology Part 4: Comparative Politics Part 5: Public Policies and Administration Part 6: International Relations Part 7: Major Challenges for Politics and Political Science in the 21st Century
The SAGE Handbook of Research Methods in Political Science and International Relations by Luigi Curini (Editor); Robert Franzese (Editor)
Call Number: E-Book
ISBN: 9781526459930
Publication Date: 2020-10-23
The SAGE Handbook of Research Methods in Political Science and International Relations offers a comprehensive overview of research processes in social science -- from the ideation and design of research projects, through the construction of theoretical arguments, to conceptualization, measurement, & data collection, and quantitative & qualitative empirical analysis -- exposited through 65 major new contributions from leading international methodologists. Each chapter surveys, builds upon, and extends the modern state of the art in its area. Following through its six-part organization, undergraduate and graduate students, researchers and practicing academics will be guided through the design, methods, and analysis of issues in Political Science and International Relations: Part One: Formulating Good Research Questions & Designing Good Research Projects Part Two: Methods of Theoretical Argumentation Part Three: Conceptualization & Measurement Part Four: Large-Scale Data Collection & Representation Methods Part Five: Quantitative-Empirical Methods Part Six: Qualitative & "Mixed" Methods
Empirical Research and Writing: A Political Science Student's Practical Guide by Leanne C. Powner
Call Number: Atlanta Library North 4 ; JA86 .P69 2015
ISBN: 9781483369631
Publication Date: 2014-11-21
This book offers clear, detailed, and often entertaining instructions for formulating hypothesis, doing pre-research, selecting appropriate research designs, selecting cases, collecting and managing both qualitative and quantitative data, preparing data for analysis, writing up research findings, practicing peer review, and delivering findings in posters and presentations, and preparing work for publication. Each chapter contains interesting and useful examples (both hypothetical and real), exercises to help students apply what they've learned, and pedagogical features to inspire, instruct, and aid further research.

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

Great Jobs for Political Science Majors by Mark Rowh
Call Number: E-Book
ISBN: 9780844247243
Publication Date: 1998-11-01
Every college major gives students valuable skills and training, perfect for a wide range of careers. The Great Jobs series helps students: Assess talents and skills for a job Explore a wide range of career options Target the perfect career Present college majors as workplace assets Perfect their job search And much more!

How to Become a Political Scientist

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

Department of Political Science

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.

Open Count

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 (or more) for the Open Oscars.

The Open Oscars multi-campus event is the sister event for the Open for Student Success Symposium at Georgia State University. Taking place in the Fall academic semester, the mission of the Open Oscars is to facilitate a peer-review process where faculty are nominated and selected by their colleagues and students for their use of open educational resources in course instruction. This event is coordinated by GSU's Student Public Interest Research Group under the mentorship of GSU library information professionals.

Check back here in September for more information!

Librarian

Jessica Epstein