Research Guides Home: Arkansas Governor's School: Social Change Project

Research for Social Change

Below are some optional research resources to help you identify, understand, and create solutions for social problems in your community, state, or the world. Some of these include academic resources only available to you on campus at Arkansas Tech University, while others will be available to you freely from anywhere in the state or world. These sources have been curated by librarians and experts in their field or they may be comprised of government data, verified and used by agencies to make policy decisions. As with any resource, however, use your critical thinking skills to help you identify the most relevant, timely, and accurate materials for your project.

Academic Search Complete
Multi-disciplinary database with full text journals, indexing /abstracts, monographs, reports, conference proceedings, and more.
Opposing Viewpoints (Gale in Context)
A one-stop-shop for social issues in the United States, providing viewpoints, articles, images, statistics videos, and basic background information on hundreds of controversial and timely topics.
America’s News
America’s News provides full text content from thousands of local, regional, and national U.S. newspapers, news video, and news blogs. Find information on business and economics, international events, political issues, social issues, STEM, and other topics.
Included in America’s News is the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Little Rock), The Courier (Russellville), Times Record (Fort Smith), Log Cabin Democrat (Conway), the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, and 56 more Arkansas newspapers.
Global Issues (Gale in Context)
This database offers resources analyzing viewpoints from outside of the United States on a broad spectrum of global issues, topics, and current events.
SIRS Issues Researcher
Background and analysis on 350+ leading issues, providing pros and cons on social, scientific, health, historic, economic, political, and global issues. AVAILABLE FREELY IN ARKANSAS
Databases provided by the Arkansas State Library [ASL] Traveler project are funded by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (Grant LS-00-14-0004-14) and the Arkansas Department of Education.
Environmental Studies (Gale In Context)
Database focused on the physical and social aspects of environmental issues.
Education Source
Articles, ebooks, and conference papers covering early childhood to higher education.

Arkansas Statistics and Information

Most statistical information about Arkansas can also be found in the general statistical sources for the nation. The links below are often summaries from federally collected statistics that can include tools for data visualization and mapping.

Aspire Arkansas
Includes easy-to-use charts, tables, and graphs displaying current data on Arkansas issues relating to health, education, racial equity, demographics, and more. A project of the Arkansas Community Foundation.
Discover Arkansas
Find fast facts about Arkansas unemployment rate, labor statistics, wages, and publications on the Arkansas labor market.
Arkansas Economic Development Institute
Provides data and data mapping based on census data and the American Community Survey (ACS). Also publishes economic forecasting and Arkansas-focused economic research.
Arkansas Crime Information Center
Includes UCR information for Arkansas. While this information comes from law enforcement and includes the number of arrests and incidents known and reported by law enforcement agencies, it does not include any data relating to prosecution, adjudication or corrections. Includes data back to 1998.
Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture
Free source of information about Arkansas history and culture.
Arkansas Code
Laws that govern the state of Arkansas
Vital Statistics of Arkansas
Arkansas Department of Health's statistical report of births, deaths, marriages, divorces, fetal deaths, and induced termination of pregnancies.
Transparency.Arkansas.gov
Arkansas's clearinghouse for information related to government expenditures, revenues, salaries, and more.
LEA Insights
An up-to-date overview of the state's Local Education Agencies (LEA) data for the state's enrollment, demographics, graduation rates, and more information concerning elementary and secondary education in Arkansas. Information is arranged in charts but can also be downloaded as tables.
My School Info
An interactive tool to analyze and compare elementary and secondary education schools in Arkansas. Includes information on enrollment, free lunches, english learners, discipline, and more.
Arkansas Elections Information
Arkansas Secretary of State's website on historic and most recent election results, information for voting, ballot issues, and how to find your elected official.
Enviroview
An interactive map viewer of Arkansas's environment. Locate and visualize different aspects of Arkansas's environment including sensitive waterways, fish populations, waterways, and more.

Economic & Labor Statistics

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Valuable source of labor statistics including economic outlook, labor force statistics, wages, unemployment, and more. Freely available through the federal government.
Occupational Outlook Handbook
The Occupational Outlook Handbook contains information about hundreds of different types of jobs, including the training & education needed, earnings, expected job prospects, what workers do on the job and working conditions. A subsection of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
FRED Economic Research
Download, graph, and track 509,000 US and international time series from 87 sources. Including GDP, CPI, Unemployment Rate, and more.
U.S. Economic Census
The Economic Census is the U.S. Government's official five-year measure of American business and the economy. For reports, visualizations, and other useful products of the data, see the link for "Library."
FDIC State Profiles
Use for quick facts by state on current banking and economic information like employment growth rates, banking trends, capital and earnings. Most recent available quarter only. Easy to use--just click a state.

Mergent Online
Covers company SEC filings and business executive information. Contains a wide variety of information about public and private companies, industries, countries and more. ONLY AVAILABLE AT ATU

Public Opinion

American National Election Studies (ANES)
Oldest continuous series of survey data investigating electoral behavior and attitudes in the United States (since 1948). The focus of the survey includes voter perceptions of the major political parties, the candidates, national and international issues, and of the importance of the election.
General Social Survey
Since 1972, the General Social Survey (GSS) has provided politicians, policymakers, and scholars with a clear and unbiased perspective on what Americans think and feel about such issues as national spending priorities, crime and punishment, intergroup relations, and confidence in institutions.
Pew Research Center
Includes datasets and publications on a variety of public opinion surveys ranging in topics from social trends, technology, science, religion, and more.
World Values Survey (WVS)
Surveys over 100 countries using a common questionnaire about human beliefs and values. Began in 1981, this survey is used to help scientists understand changes int he beliefs, values, and motivations of people throughout the world.
Gallup Poll
Gallup employs many of the world's leading scientists in management, economics, psychology, and sociology, and our consultants assist leaders in identifying and monitoring behavioral economic indicators worldwide.

Arkansas Governor's School

Tools at Ross Pendergraft Library

Ideas for Community Projects

Research Companion

Research for Social Change

Arkansas Statistics and Information

Economic & Labor Statistics

Public Opinion