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:
  • figure out words and topics to search
  • help you determine which databases are best
  • show you how to search the ALADIN system for books and articles
  • help you decide which books, articles, and websites will workfor you
• Who?
  • 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

• Reference books that give overview of countries
  • EBO: Encyclopaedia Britannica Online

-- Online encyclopedia provided by Gallaudet Library through ALADIN
-- 30 page article on Kenya

•  

  • Lands and Peoples -- a little old, but still useful background information

GA: UNIV Reference (Non-Circulating)
910 L36
v. 1

•  
  • Europa World Year book

GA: UNIV Reference (Non-Circulating)
940.55 E8
-- 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
  -- easiest to use and to find full text
• LexisNexis© Academic
  Harder to use but worth it -- ask a librarian for help!

   

  • All of these are general databases that cover many subjects (multidisciplinary)
  • Search for the terms: (your country) and (your issue)
  • 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
  • Select a Country or Location
  • Very current information!!!
  • Mostly statistical, but good text description of economy (and several other categories)

• U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
  www.usaid.gov/index.html
  • From drop-down menu labeled "Locations" in the blue bar, select "Sub-Saharan Africa"
         or
    
  • 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
  • Use the "Countries" tab to find information on specific countries.
  • 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
  • Use the "Country Info" link to find specific countries from their alphabetical list