The next step is locating the problem.
Finding topics on public problems will depend on the problem extent of the issue. First, you have to decide on its reach: is it local, national, international (a specific country), global (multiple countries).
Second, you will need to decide if you want primary sources (such as case studies) or secondary sources (articles discussing specific problems).
This page should get you started with locating the problems and asking the big questions.
Relevant Research Databases |
Generalized sources:
Public & Policy Sources
Compilation of the most important historical documents and legislation related to immigration in the United States as well as current hearings, debates and recent developments in immigration law. This first comprehensive database includes Board of Immigration Appeals, Precedent Decisions, legislative histories, law and policy titles, extradition titles, scholarly articles, an extensive bibliography, and other related works.
A U.S. national data and mapping tool and analytics platform with multidisciplinary applications. Useful for social sciences, urban studies, real estate and housing analysis, community and economic development, public administration, public health, policy and political science, education, business, economics, statistics, and geography, among others. Includes thousands of U.S. data indicators for demographic and socioeconomic analysis, from a neighborhood census block group in many cases, up to a national level.
Looking for Data?
Interdisciplinary datasets with mapping, graphing, and report-generating capability. Includes tons of datasets for business, industry, labor, energy, population, income, health, politics, and more.
Access data on social, behavioral, humanistic, and natural sciences including history, economics, government, finance, sociology, demography, education, law, natural resources, climate, religion, international migration, and trade - quantitative facts of American History. ca. 1790-present.
iPoll is a comprehensive, up-to-date source for US nationwide public opinion. A full-text retrieval system, the iPoll online database is organized at the question level, providing the tools to sift through nearly a half million questions asked on national public opinion surveys, 1935 to present. Surveys archived in the Roper Catalog were originally gathered by academic, commercial and media survey organizations such as Gallup Organization, Harris Interactive, Pew Research Associates, and many more.
Specialized Sources |
More than 270 African American newspapers published in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Full text of 7 major 19th century African American newspapers from 1827-1870.
National Sources:
Search or browse resources on the American government, current affairs, history, politics, public policy, and data analysis for the social sciences. CMU does not have access to every collection in CQ Press.
1923-present. Unbiased research reports on timely topics. Each report provides an introduction, overview, background, current situation, outlook chronology, pro/con, bibliography, etc. Keyword search for additional reports also show links to other relevant reports. Database Guide.
International Sources:
Contains unique and extremely rare eighteenth century periodicals between 1685 and 1835. Subjects include class and social structure, domestic and foreign affairs, colonialism & empire, literature, drama, theater, music, economics, the industrial revolution, slavery, and much more.
An interdisciplinary, international, full-text database of over 18,000 sources including newspapers, journals, wire services, newsletters, company reports and SEC filings, case law, government documents, transcripts of broadcasts, and selected reference works.
Locating Case Studies |
A general search strategy:
Finding case studies and other primary documents can be tricky, particularly from private businesses or companies. Often you will need to contact the source directly to ask if they will share their case study.
That said, there are several places you can look and search strategies to follow:
Try finding the information in the databases suggested in this guide.