What is The CQ Researcher ?
The CQ Researcher, founded in 1923 as Editorial Research Reports, isyour complete source for in-depth, analytical reporting on the most current andcontroversial issues of the day. Published by Congressional Quarterly, with its tradition ofnonpartisan reporting and analysis, each CQ Researcher presents a balanced account of an issue on the public agenda. The objective, forward-looking reporting that characterizes these articles is designed to encourage discussion, to help readers think critically and to facilitate further research. Each CQ Researcher examines a single topic of public concern, such as parental rights or Middle East peace. It gives the reader a broad overview of the subject, including the historical background anda discussion of the current controversies and initiatives.
How is The CQ Researcher structured?
Every CQ Researcher contains the same elements. Each provides an overview of the topic, then posesseveral key questions, or "issue questions." Examples are: "Should youths whocommit adult crimes be tried as adults?" and "Is a liberal arts education thebest way to prepare for the workplace?" The answers to these questions arenever conclusive because the issues are so controversial. Instead, the answershighlight the range of opinions among experts.
Every CQ Researcher also incorporates a"Background" section, which provides a history of the issue, including importantgovernment actions and court decisions. Under the headings “Current Situation”and "Outlook," readers are given a snapshot of the issue at the time ofpublication and a sense of what might happen in the near future.
In the "Pro/Con" section of each CQ Researcher, there is a pro/con featureby two experts providing opposing answers to a relevant question.
Finally, each CQ Researcher has sidebars on matters related to the main issue, a chronology of key events,and an annotated bibliography that explains the usefulness of each source.
To achieve a well-rounded perspective, each selection also incorporates the voicesof participants in the thick of the policy process: lobby organizations,nonprofits, think tanks, academia and government.
How is a CQ Researcher created?
Each CQ Researcher is the creation of a singlestaff writer. The writer conceives of the idea, formulates the key questionsthat will provide the scope for the topic, reads background material,interviews relevant players in the policy and academic worlds, synthesizes allof the available information, and writes the report. Each CQ Researcher can be aslong as 11,000 words and is based on intensive research, drawing on informationfrom interest groups, universities, and the government. Each piece generallyuses at least 10 interviews, oftentimes more, and takes roughly five weeks tocomplete.
Are CQ Researchers ever updated?
An issue of The CQ Researcher, once published, is not updated. It stands as a cohesive,coherent expose on a particular topic at a given point in time. The CQ Researcher articles on this Web siteare reproduced as they appeared when first published. However, The CQ Researcher often revisits issues asdevelopments dictate. For example, tobacco has been the primary subject ofmultiple issues:
• Crackdown on Smoking" (December 4, 1992)
• Regulating Tobacco" (September 30, 1994)
• Teens and Tobacco" (December 1, 1995)
• Closing in on Tobacco" (November 12,1999)
Tobacco also has figured prominently in many CQ Researchers on related topics, such as "Advertising Under Attack,""Reforming the FDA," and"Indoor Air Pollution."
How do I find what I am looking for on The CQ Researcher Web site?
This Web site is designed to provide you with multiple points of access to the information thatyou want: You can search;browse by topic (similar to using the paper index); or browse by date
I have a report due soon and have no idea what to do it on. How can I find a topic to research?
If you need to write a report but have no idea on what topic to write, use the Find a Topic feature.
I read an article on The CQ Researcher Web page, and I want to use it as a reference in my term paper. How should I add the article to my bibliography?
Let us say that it was the April 11, 1997 article by Charles S. Clark, "The FBI Under Fire", volume 7, number 14, pages 315-322, and published by Congressional Quarterly Incorporated. The following provide examples of which information must be included in the bibliography. These examples were derived from standard APA and MLA styles. Other styles or standards may differ.
APA Style:
Author. (Year, month day). Title. Magazine Title [Type of medium], volume (if given), paging or indicator of length. Available Protocol (if applicable): site/path/file [Access date].
Author. (Year, month day). Title. Magazine Title [Type of medium], volume (if given), paging or indicator of length. Available: Supplier/Database name (Database identifier or number, if available) /Item or accession number [Access date].
So, my bibliography would look something like:
Clark, C.S. (1997, April 11). "The FBI under Fire." The CQ Researcher [Online], 7 (14), p.315-322. Available at [1997, July 19].
MLA Style:
Author. "Article Title." Magazine Title. Date: paging or indicator of length. Medium. Information supplier. Database Name. File identifier or number. Accession number. Access date.
Author. "Article Title." Magazine Title. Date: paging or indicator of length. Medium. Available Protocol (if applicable): Site/Path/File. Access date.
So, my bibliography would look something like:
Clark, Charles S. "The FBI Under Fire." The CQ Researcher. 11 April 1997:315-22. Online. Available at [1997, July 19].
How do I use the Search screen?
You can search for a word or phrase wherever it may appear on the Web site. Alternatively, you can limit your search for a word or phrase to:
• index terms (search only on the index terms assigned to the documents)
• titles (search only the titles of CQ Researchers
• date ranges
• issue vs. section (search for reports as a whole or for particular sections of the reports, for example, bibliographies)
How do I use the Browse by Topic and Browse by Date options?
Like a table of contents or index in a book, the Browse feature allows you to access documents through predefined lists (either by date or by topic).
The browse by topic provides you with a list of CQ Researchers as organized topically byCQ staff editors; here you will find grouped together all Researchers that relate to, for example, terrorism, or taxes, orTexas.
The browse by date provides you with a chronological list of CQ Researcher issues, with themost recent at the top
Should I browse or search?
It depends on what you are looking for. If you are lookingfor a common or broad topic—such as electric power or environmentalprotection—you might want to begin with a browse of the topical list. If you donot find what you want, then turn to the Search option.
On the other hand, if your interest is more esoteric—for example, a little known Supreme Court caserelated to employee drug testing or a particular endangered species, such asthe spotted owl--you might want to begin with a search.
Can I download text and illustrations?
The CQ Researcher is copyrighted by Congressional Quarterly, Inc. All rights reserved. The CQResearcher incorporates with permission photos, tables, charts, and othergraphical elements that are copyrighted by their providers.
No part of this site may be downloaded or redistributed in any form or by any means forcommercial purposes without permission in writing from the publisher.
Users may download small portions of copyrighted text for educational and scholarly research purposes aspermitted under the "fair use" provisions of U.S. copyright law.
What are the icons in the upper right hand corner of each report?
Takes you to the next instance of a keyword if one is being used in a search. If not, then the icon will appear gray.
Downloads color PDF. This icon will be "grayed out" if no color PDF is available. Most older CQ Researchers do not have color PDFs. You must have Adobe Acrobat installed to view the PDF.
Download B&W PDF. You must have Adobe Acrobat installed to view the PDF. Reports prior to 1996 dod not have any PDFs.
E-mails the entire CQ Researcher to the destination you enter.
E-mails the section of the Researcher that is in the browser window.
When you typically read through the report, you need to click on each section of the report to bring it up in the window. By pressing this icon, you can format the entire report (all the sections) in the one window.
What are the minimum computer requirements for using a CQ Press web site?
For optimum performance on CQ Electronic Library databases, a minimum of 56K modem connection is required. The faster the connection (DSL, Cable modem, TI and higher), the better the performance.
CQ Press supports the use of Internet Explorer 4.01 or higher and Netscape 4.5 or higher. Older versions of browsers will work for some features, but can be unstable. CQ Press cannot guarantee all features will work with older browsers.
Are there any reported problems with CQ Press web sites?
Subscribers should be advised that there have been some printing problems associated with use of some, but not all, Netscape 4.07 browsers. If your print job results in one line per page, you can disable style sheets on your browser, which will result in regular printing, although doing so could affect print jobs for other websites or electronic databases, and the preferred solution should be to update the browser used. If you encounter specific difficulties please contact our Technical Support Specialist, Damon Tucker, at (866) 427-7737.
How do I contact CQ Press technical support?
For technical assistance please either email or call (866) 427-7737.