Henry Buhl Library: POLS 277: Research Methods: Tips for Choosing a Topic

ANES

Review the ANES

Scanning through the Questionnaires and Variables can be a great way to see what topics you have to choose from.

ANES 2020 Time Series Study

Browse the Shelves

The library has some great collections of essays on American politics. Scanning the table of contents can be great for finding a research topic. Highlighted examples are listed below.

The 21st-Century Voter: Who Votes, How they Vote, and Why they Vote

Call Number: Ref JK 1967 .A17 2016 v.1-2

Minority Voting in the United States

Call Number: JK 1967 .M57 2016 v.1-2

Voting and Political Representation in America

Call Number: Ref KF 4891 .V68 2020 v.1-2

Voting in America

Call Number: JK 1976 .V69 2008 v.1-3

Idea Generators

Encyclopedias are another great option.

Thumbing through the Table of Contents of encyclopedias in print and online can help you find a topic of interest too. Check out the titles below online or some of these titles in print in the library.

The Encyclopedia of Political Science
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Call Number: Call Number: Ref JA 61 .E513 2011 v.1-5
Includes information on a wide-variety of political science topics, including American and international politics, political ethics, public policy, religion and politics, terrorism, and more.
The Oxford Companion to American Politics
Includes over 275 entries for detailed, in-depth coverage of all aspects of American politics.

Congress and the Nation This link opens in a new window
Authoritative series on the US Congress that documents trends, actions, and controversies over the years. Includes informative summaries of legislative activities.