Research Resources
& Tips: Econ 001

Simon Elichko  (selichk1)
Social Sciences & Data Librarian

 

What we'll go over:

• Doing research at Swarthmore
• Data & business resources
• Finding scholarly sources

Doing research at Swarthmore

Essential resources:

• Tripod • search library resources
• Research Guides • highlights
• Borrow Beyond TriCo • request PDFs, books

Accessing pay-walled articles

Scholarly / academic journal articles

1. Search Tripod for the article title. Look for a matching result and follow links to access. (e.g. Teaching South African History in a Digital Age)
    
2. Can't find it in Tripod? Apply the search filter "Include results without full text" to see more results. (see this example)
   
   Click on your article title if it appears in the results. Follow the prompt to login to Tripod, then click on Request via Interlibrary Loan.
    
3. Still not seeing your article? Go to Borrow Beyond TriCo, then choose the journal article request link. Fill out the form to request a PDF of the article.

Accessing pay-walled articles

News articles

1. Search Tripod for the publication title (e.g. New York Times, The Economist, New Yorker), not the article title. (example search)
    
2. Look for the publication in your results. Click on the best match to continue. Find access links under "View Online." (example with links)
   
   Feel free to use the chat button if you need help.
    
3. Can't find the publication in Tripod? Go to Borrow Beyond TriCo, then choose the journal article request link. Fill out the form to request a PDF of the article.

PolicyMap

Access US Census data at a range of geographic levels (national through Census tract)
 

Wider range of topics than Social Explorer including business and real estate

Data typically from 2000-present

Social Explorer

Access US Census data at a range of geographic levels (national through Census block)
 

Includes historical data back to 1790

Data Resources

Statista

Statistics, infographics, and reports covering a wide range of topics. Global in scope.

Includes company reports and market research

Business & Industry Resources

First Research

Industry profiles

Refinitiv Eikon

Use the Screener tool to identify companies and find company profiles.

 

Finding Scholarly Sources

• Databases for finding articles & books

  • Google Scholar - extensive, easy to use; difficult to filter your results
  • Tripod - shows you research available through library subscriptions
  • EconLit - focus on economics research, useful search filters
  • More options: see Database Finder (or ask a librarian)
     

• Searching more effectively

EconLit

Database for finding articles published in economics journals

• Also includes dissertations, articles in related fields
• Articles are tagged by geographic focus and subject
• Includes the FindIt button to search Tripod, which lets you access PDFs through library journal subscriptions

How to access EconLit:

• Economics Research Guide
• Search Tripod for EconLit

Searching Effectively

Include varying word endings

• You'll find more articles searching for automo*
  than automobile (includes automotive, automobiles)

In EconLit, use filters to narrow down your results

  • By geographic location: Subjects > More > u.s.

  • By date published

Research Help

Simon Elichko
Social Sciences & Data Librarian

• Schedule an appointment online
• Email: selichk1@swarthmore.edu

Quick Questions

• Tripod Chat
• McCabe Research & Info Desk 
  Staffed by RIAs and librarians
  McCabe main level, across from the front desk