Scott a Frisch

Doing Archival Research in Political Science - Politics, Institutions, and Public Policy in America Scott a Frisch

Marc Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index. Publisher Marketing: Given the dearth of training in archival research, the editors envisioned a book that addresses the "how to" of archival research by involving the perspective of archivists. The editors identified chapter authors who demonstrate in their research-oriented essays how archival research influences and improves empirical political science research. They weave their scholarly contributions together with their practical experiences and "boots on the ground" advice to ease readers toward their first foray into the archives. Because archives were largely abandoned by political scientists in the 1950s, archivists' understanding of their collections and their archival practices is heavily influenced by the habits and methodological concerns of historians. The essays in this volume help archivists better understand the somewhat unique perspectives and habits political scientists bring to archival collections. This volume challenges archivists to think "outside the box" of the conventions of history and reconsider their collections from the perspective of the political scientist. This first-of-its-kind book-traversing political science and library and information science-challenges political scientists' reliance on "easy data" promising in return "better data." The editors propose that the archival record is replete with data that are often superior to current, available public data, both quantitative and qualitative. Substantive chapters in Doing Archival Research in Political Science illustrate how archival data improve understanding across the array of subfields in American politics. It also challenges archivists to rethink their collections through the prism of political science. Doing Archival Research in Political Science holds tremendous cross-disciplinary appeal. Students and faculty in political science are exposed to a fertile but underutilized source of empirical data. Political scientists will benefit from the methodological perspectives, the practical advice about doing archival work, and the concrete examples of archives-based research across the subfields in American politics (e.g., congressional studies, presidential studies, public opinion, national security, interest groups, and public policy). Students and faculty in library and archival studies will benefit greatly from the candid discussion of the unique theoretical and methodological concerns inherent in political science, improving their ability to reach out and promote their collections to political scientists. Examples of archives-based political science research will help library faculty better understand how their collections are being utilized by users. Contributor Bio:  Frisch, Scott A JONATHAN LILJEBLAD studies the connections between local and global phenomena using interdisciplinary methods in law, politics, and sociology. His focus is on the linkages between international legal instruments and local political, economic, social, and cultural contexts. His work uses quantitative and qualitative social science research methods to study the law. He holds a Ph. D. in Political Science and a J. D., both from the University of Southern California. He received his B. S. from the California Institute of Technology. He has taught courses in international law, international environmental policy, and international human rights at the University of California-Los Angeles, the University of Southern California, and Loyola Marymount University. He is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the School of Law of the University of New England in New South Wales, Australia. Contributor Bio:  Kelly, Sean Q Sean Q Kelly is Professor of Political Science at California State University, Channel Islands. He earned his BA in Political Science from Seattle University in 1986 and his PhD in Political Science from the University of Colorado, Boulder, in 1992. He is a former APSA Congressional Fellow serving as a policy analyst for the Senate Democratic Policy Committee.