a. Starting points

       b. Finding books

      c. Finding statistics and additional web sources

     d. Finding more journal articles

a. What's a good start for my research?

The two databases below are WONDERFUL resources to get some familiarity,  background, even statistics surrounding the controversies on the gap between rich and poor in America or corporate versus working class.

    CQ Researcher - This database is like an online periodical that devotes each of its issues on contemporary controversies.  A great source for in-depth, objective analysis! 
 

    Opposing Viewpoints - Another great resource for controversial social issues! Offers viewpoint articles, topic overviews, full-text magazine, academic journal, and newspaper articles, primary source documents, statistics, images and podcasts, and links to websites.

Here is one way to access these two wonderful databases (there are other places where these two databases are also listed on our library web site):  

• go to the Campus Library homepage
• under the heading, Articles & More: Databases, select  Encyclopedias and other sources
• find the link for the CQ Researcher and/or Opposing Viewpoints alphabetically 
• once in these web sites, note that you may either search or simply browse by topic
• in the CQ Researcher try a QUICK SEARCH using keywords such as "poverty", "CEO pay", "welfare" or "corporations"
• in Opposing Viewpoints, under "Or select from the popular topics below:" you may click on topics such as "Poverty", "Welfare reform", or "Minimum wage."  Alternatively, if you have a more focused topic try a Basic Search!
  
  Here is also an additional link from the LIB 127 course that shows you how to use of these two databases. 

b. How do I find books?

    COCC Catalog - use this catalog to find books in our local collection

    Summit - use this catalog to search for, find, and request books from a HUGE collection of titles owned by college and university libraries in the Northwest!

Here is how you may access and use these two catalogs:    

• go to the Campus Library homepage
• under the heading "Books and more: Library catalogs," select COCC Catalog or Summit
• when you do your searches, you may try the Keyword or Subject mode.  A great catalog search for your topic may be a Subject search using the phrase "Working poor." Under it,  I see a lot of great book titles to pick from, and even web sites you can visit!
• in Summit, use the REQUEST link to request any of these book titles.  They will arrive to our COCC library for you to pick up within 3-4 working days (we'll email you).  What a great service, uh?

c. How do I find statistics and additional web sources?

One of the main sources I want to point to you here is the Statistical Abstract of the United States, which I call the Bible of all statistics! This is a publication of the United States Census Bureau and includes a compilation of statistical tables from different government or other nonprofit organizations on social and economic conditions in the United States.

Here is how you may access this source over the web:

• go to the Campus Library homepage
• under the heading Quick facts: Encyclopedias, stats, etc., select Statistics & Polls.
• Section 12 in this publication has all kinds of statistical tables about "Labor Force, Employment, and Earnings"!
• a note of caution here.... make sure you read and understand statistical tables accurately!  Read the notations on the top and bottom of a table to figure out what these numbers represent!

As for additional, feely accessible, great web sites to use for statistical and other information on the demographics of American labor force visit:

U.S. Department of Labor  - note that you can search this web site (use the link "Search DOL / A to Z Index" to the upper right).

Economic Policy Institute - for example, scroll down to find a link for the report "Pulling Apart 2008" or other sections on the web site. A great link I found on this web site is the EPI's report,  Economy's Gains Fail to Reach Most Workers' Paychecks.

Economic Statistics Briefing Room - "The purpose of this service is to provide easy access to current Federal economic indicators. It provides links to information produced by a number of Federal agencies," including statistics about output, income, employment, production, transportation, and international matters. Part of the White House Web site.

d. Need to find more journal articles?

COCC has paid subscriptions to many periodical databases. 

Here is how you may access these databases:

• go to the Campus Library homepage (http://campuslibrary.cocc.edu/)
•  under the heading "Articles & more: Databases," select "All Databases" to see an alphabetical list of all databases or select by subject. A good academic database for most disciplines is Academic Search Premier. 
• for newspaper articles, use the LexisNexis database.

Search Hints
All databases are slightly different, but here are a few hints you should be able to apply in all.

• Start with keyword searching.  If you find a highly relevant article, look at its "subjects" and try those subjects.

• Use quotation marks for phrases, for example "minimum wage."

• Use or to link synonyms, for example, "wages or salaries"

• Use and to combine concepts, for example, wages and poverty

• Check out those dropdown boxes!  They can be very helpful.

• If possible and appropriate, limit searches to scholarly articles.

Note that a good number of databases give you the article in full text, right there from the screen.  To get to that full text, just click on the html or pdf full text link under the article in your results list.  You can also limit your search results to only full text.

If an article is not available full text, the database may give you the option to request it through Interlibrary loan.  Just look for the link that will allow you to place your request online!  Articles requested through interlibrary loan are usually delivered to you electronically (check your COCC email) within a week.