Using the CQ Researcher Database to Initiate Presearch

Presented by Ann WestrickFunded by a grant from the Jerome Library

Bowling Green State UniversityBowling Green, Ohio, USA

First, go to the library website

Libraries

www.bgsu.edu

Once at the library, click on “All Databases.”

All Databases

We’re looking for “CQ Researcher.”Click on “C,”

C

Then scroll down and click on “CQ Researcher,”

CQ Researcher

And connect.

Connect

IMPORTANT!

Before going any further, ask your instructor if s/he has any banned topics. For example, many GSW

instructors will not allow students to write about abortion or gun

control.

Why?Banning over-used issues requires

students to discover new and interesting arguments to which they

can add something new. So your goal when finding a topic should be to find something that is interesting and significant whose conversation

you can add to.

Back to CQ Researcher . . . First, look through the “Hot Topics.”

I’m an education major. Maybe there will be an education

issue I can write about?

Hot Topics

This article is informative enough, but it’s really not interesting to

me.

No problem; that’s why this is called presearch. We’ll just keep searching until we find a topic what is significant and interesting and to which you can add

something new.

Let’s go back to the “Hot Topics” list.I wonder what’s under

“Science and Technology?”

Check it out—nothing ventured,

nothing gained.

Now this is interesting; but I don’t know if I’ll be able to argue this issue. Maybe I should see if there are other

options.

Another place you can look for a topic is “Browse Topics” on the home page.

BrowseTopics

You can also look under “Browse Reports” and click on “Pro/Con.”

Browse Reports

“Pro/Con” offers a detailed look at a more specific issue. For example, under “Environmental Protection” there is an

interesting, significant debate about carbon taxation.

This article gives a brief, clear look at two sides of the carbon tax debate.

Oh, wow, this is interesting and significant, but I

don’t know anything about this topic.

This sounds like a good topic for you to research. If you already know a lot about a topic, that’s OK,

but learning about something new and cool

—THAT’S the crux of academic argument and

research.

Remember: Presearch does NOT take the place of research.

Presearch allows you to:

• begin to understand the issues involved in your research question

• understand multiple sides of an argument

• get an overview of theories related to the topic

• see possible answers to your research question

• decide what issues/information you need to continue researching.

Continue presearching until you find an issue that is significant,

relevant and arguable.

If you need to stop and start over or backtrack—THAT’S FINE.

Keep in mind that presearch is supposed to pique your interest

and get the research process started.

Once you have found your interesting, significant, debatable issue then the search for current,

credible, academic sources begins.