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University of Iowa

University Libraries

TRIO Student Support Services

This guide contains resources specific to the needs of TRIO students enrolled in the CSI, Steps to Success curriculum

Introduction

This guide is for students working on the Policy Research Project.

Here you will find resources you need to help you conduct policy research for your project. Take a look through the page for databases, news, and web sources where you can find policies, congressional bills and legislation, articles, newspapers, and more. 

 

Research Steps

What is a policy?

Policies are a set of ideas or plans of what to do in particular situations that has been agreed to officially by a group of people, a business organization, a government, or a political party (Cambridge Dictionary).

Policies can be laws, regulations, procedures, or measures put in place to inform how a group or individuals should conduct themselves in public places. Policies should be meant to protect the public and places around them.  

Broadly, public policy is "what government, any public official who influences or determines public policy (politicians, city council members, school officials) does or does not do about a problem that comes before them for consideration and possible action" (Center for Civic Education "What is Public Policy")

Examples: CLAS Academic Policies Handbook; Undergraduate Student Government bylaws; Iowa City public transit rules

Think about your identity - who are you? What issues are you interested in or passionate about?

For example, if you identify as a First Generation College student, you might be interested in cost of college or graduation rates of first generation college students. 

Identify any groups or communities you are a member of (this can be your own family, your city or town, an organization you belong to, anything). 

  • First-generation (tuition funding, higher education opportunity)
  • TRIO student (financial support, mentorship, TRIO program funding)
  • writer or poet (funding for arts & humanities, school programming)

Identify the key issues or concerns within your group or community. What do you care about? What are others in your community concerned about? Create a list of keywords and key phrases to describe your identity or topic. 

TIP: Be creative and flexible. The words you use to describe your topic may be different than the words used by the person who created the information you need to find.

Begin with CQ Researcher and browse online newspapers (see list of Newspaper databases from the Libraries) to search for recent news and background information regarding the current state of affairs. You may find a report that connects with your identity and references relevant legislation or policies. 

Search GovInfo.gov by topic like higher education or first-generation student for hearings or bills.

Find your state legislator in Iowa. Find your US representative in Congress.

Resources