Researching Africa: for GSR150 -- "Why is Africa struggling?"

Make an individual appointment with a librarian.

• This is the best way to get started on your research or help when you get stuck.
• We can help you:
  0. figure out words and topics to search
  0. help you determine which databases are best
  0. show you how to search the ALADIN system for books and articles
  0. help you decide which books, articles, and websites will work for you
• Who?
  0. Contact: Patrick Oberholtzer: patrick.oberholtzer@gallaudet.edu

Think about your country ...

• larger, more populous countries will be easier to research
• former English colonies and English-speaking countries will be easier
• countries that are in the news for whatever reason are also easier

Our sample topic

Debt relief : benefits or disadvantages for Kenya

Research

You can find information about your topic (and our sample topic) in:

• Reference books
• ALADIN catalog (books you can borrow)
• Articles from journals
• Web resources

Reference books

• EBO: Encyclopaedia Britannica Online
  0. an online encyclopedia provided by Gallaudet Library through ALADIN
  0. -- 30 page article on Kenya
• Lands and Peoples
  0. GA: UNIV Reference (Non-Circulating) 910 L36 v. 1
  0. -- a little old, but still useful background information
• Europa World Year book
  0. GA: UNIV Reference (Non-Circulating) 940.55 E8
  0. -- 15 page article on Kenya

ALADIN catalog (books you can borrow)

Here are three books available at the Gallaudet University Library:

• Culture and Customs of Kenya (2003)
• Kenya (from the series: Modern Nations of the World (2000)
• Kenya (from the series: Continent in the Balance (2005)

There are many more titles at other WRLC Libraries.

Articles from journals

• ProQuest Research Library
  and
• EBSCOhost Academic Search Premier
   
  
  These two are the easiest to use and to find full text
  
   
• LexisNexis© Academic
   
  
  This is harder to use but worth it -- ask a librarian for help!
  
   
  
  0. All of these are general databases that cover many subjects (multidisciplinary)
  0. Search for the terms: (your country) and (your issue)
  0. For example:
     
     kenya and "debt relief"
          or
     "sierra leone" and "economic development"

Websites

Government (.gov) and non-profit (.org) sites tend to have reliable information. Here are some to try:

• CIA World Factbook
  www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html
  0. Select a Country or Location
  0. Very current information!!!
  0. Mostly statistical, but good text description of economy (and several other categories)

• U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
  www.usaid.gov/index.html
  0. From drop-down menu labeled "Locations" in the blue bar, select "Sub-Saharan Africa"
          or
  0. In the "Country Locator" block on the right side of the page, select a specific country

• U.S. Department of State Background Notes
  www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/
• Select your country from the alphabetical list
• Gives a nice summary of the country, including history and sometimes a little about the culture of the people

• The World Bank
  www.worldbank.org
  0. Use the "Countries" tab to find information on specific countries.
  0. In addition to the other information, look at the "Country Brief" mentioned in the page for each country.

• International Monetary Fund (IMF) Country Information
  www.imf.org
  0. Use the "Country Info" link to find specific countries from their alphabetical list