Open Web Resources - ENGL 100 - David Lau - Research Guides at College of San Mateo Library

Researching the open internet

Open web sources can be searched, typically using search engines such as Google, and are available on the internet without requiring authentication (such as user name & password, or a payment being made).

Because anyone can publish anything online, it is very important to take extra time evaluating resources you find when searching the open web.

Featured Government Documents Online

California Legislative Information (Official) Search bills and law codes from California.
California AB-375 Privacy: personal information: businesses (June 28, 2018) California Consumer Privacy Act (2018)
California AB-1202 Privacy: data brokers (February 22, 2019)
California SB-822 Communications: Broadband internet access service (September 30, 2018)

SB-822 Related Content

Justice Department Files Net Neutrality Lawsuit Against the State of California (via Justice Department Press Release 18-1274, September 30, 2018)
California’s Net Neutrality Law: What’s Happened, What’s Next (via EFF Deeplinks Blog, 10/1/2018)
Justice Department Sues California Over Net Neutrality Law (via NPR, October 1, 2018)
U.S. Justice Department
Congress.gov
Congress.gov is the official website for U.S. federal legislative information. From the Library of Congress.

Think Tanks & Grey Literature

Research, technical, and statistical reports that are not formally published as books, journal articles, or in a formal manner by commercial publishers fall into the category of "grey literature." They are sometimes hard to find, but think-tanks, lobbying groups, government agencies and inter-governmental organizations often post this type of report on their websites.

Brookings Institution The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, DC. Our mission is to conduct in-depth research that leads to new ideas for solving problems facing a society at the local, national and global level.
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is a unique global network of policy research centers in Russia, China, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States. Our mission, dating back more than a century, is to advance the cause of peace through analysis and development of fresh policy ideas and direct engagement and collaboration with decisionmakers in government, business, and civil society. Working together, our centers bring the inestimable benefit of multiple national viewpoints to bilateral, regional, and global issues.
Cato Institute The Cato Institute is a public policy research organization — a think tank – dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets and peace. Its scholars and analysts conduct independent, nonpartisan research on a wide range of policy issues.
Center for American Progress (CAP) The Center for American Progress is an independent nonpartisan policy institute that is dedicated to improving the lives of all Americans, through bold, progressive ideas, as well as strong leadership and concerted action. Our aim is not just to change the conversation, but to change the country.
Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) CSIS is a bipartisan, nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. The Center’s 220 full-time staff and large network of affiliated scholars conduct research and analysis and develop policy initiatives that look to the future and anticipate change.
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities We are a nonpartisan research and policy institute. We pursue federal and state policies designed both to reduce poverty and inequality and to restore fiscal responsibility in equitable and effective ways. We apply our deep expertise in budget and tax issues and in programs and policies that help low-income people, in order to help inform debates and achieve better policy outcomes.
Council on Foreign Relations The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is an independent, nonpartisan membership organization, think tank, and publisher.
Heritage Foundation Founded in 1973, The Heritage Foundation is a research and educational institution—a think tank—whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense.
Journalist's Resource Center Based at Harvard’s Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy, the Journalist’s Resource project examines news topics through a research lens. We surface scholarly materials that may be relevant to media practitioners, bloggers, educators, students and general readers.
Public Policy Institute of California The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank. We are dedicated to informing and improving public policy in California through independent, objective, nonpartisan research.
Rand Corporation The RAND Corporation is a research organization that develops solutions to public policy challenges to help make communities throughout the world safer and more secure, healthier and more prosperous.
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars The Wilson Center, chartered by Congress as the official memorial to President Woodrow Wilson, is the nation’s key non-partisan policy forum for tackling global issues through independent research and open dialogue to inform actionable ideas for the policy community.

What is a think tank?

"Think tanks are public-policy research analysis and engagement organizations that generate policy-oriented research, analysis, and advice on domestic and international issues, thereby enabling policymakers and the public to make informed decisions about public policy. Think tanks may be affiliated or independent institutions that are structured as permanent bodies, not ad hoc commissions. These institutions often act as a bridge between the academic and policymaking communities and between states and civil society, serving in the public interest as independent voices that translate applied and basic research into a language that is understandable, reliable, and accessible for policymakers and the public." -- Think Tanks & Civil Societies Program, Univiersity of Pennsylvania

2015 Global Go to Think Tank Report The TTCSP works with leading scholars and practitioners from think tanks and universities in a variety of collaborative efforts and programs, and produces the annual Global Go To Think Tank Index that ranks the world’s leading think tanks in a variety of categories.

Featured websites

Search Engines

Duck Duck Go (Search Engine) The search engine that doesn't track you. DuckDuckGo takes your privacy seriously.
Google Advanced Search
Google Scholar Google Scholar searches specifically for scholarly literature - peer-reviewed papers, theses, books, preprints, etc. Some of the search results are available in full-text but many display only links to pay-for-document delivery services. In many cases you may have access to the complete documents through the CSM library. When using Google Scholar on your own computer, make sure that "Library Links" in Scholar Preferences are set to "College of San Mateo - Full-Text @ CSM". Remember that you have more limiting options (date, source) in the Google Scholar "Advanced Search" option.

Websites

Building Knowledge Societies - UNESCO
UNESCO works to create inclusive knowledge societies and empower local communities by increasing access to and preservation and sharing of information and knowledge in all of UNESCO’s domains. Knowledge societies must build on four pillars: freedom of expression; universal access to information and knowledge; respect for cultural and linguistic diversity; and quality education for all.
Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) The Electronic Frontier Foundation is the leading nonprofit organization defending civil liberties in the digital world. Founded in 1990, EFF champions user privacy, free expression, and innovation through impact litigation, policy analysis, grassroots activism, and technology development. We work to ensure that rights and freedoms are enhanced and protected as our use of technology grows.
Pew Research Center - Internet & Technology
Journalist's Resource - Internet Category

Data and Polls

Polling fundamentals and concepts: An overview
Census.gov
Data.gov
Wow! An easy to use one stop shop for data sets- including geodata and tools- from the US government. Put that data to work!
Gallup
Daily snapshots of polling data for topics such as economy, politics, marketplace, and more.
General Social Survey
The GSS contains a standard 'core' of demographic, behavioral, and attitudinal questions, plus topics of special interest.... since 1972
HuffPost Pollster
HuffPost Pollster tracks thousands of public polls to give you the latest data on elections, political opinions and more.
Marist Poll
Marist College Institute for Public Opinion conducts its own polls and also partners with news organizations such as NBC and the McClatchy papers.
Pew Research
Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. They conduct public opinion polling, demographic research, content analysis and other data-driven social science research. They do not take policy positions.
Pew Research Center's Question Search
Search polling questions from Pew's body of research.
Pew Research Center - US Politics & Policy
The Pew Research Center for the People & the Press is an independent, non-partisan public opinion research organization that studies attitudes toward politics, the press and public policy issues.
Policy Agendas Project
The Policy Agendas Project collects and organizes data from various archived sources to trace changes in the national policy agenda and public policy outcomes since the Second World War.
Quinnipiac University Poll
The independent Quinnipiac University Poll regularly surveys residents in Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and nationwide about political races, state and national elections, and issues of public concern, such as schools, taxes, transportation, municipal services and the environment.
Social Science Research & Instructional Center
United Nations Data
Statistical data from the United Nations. Coverage includes areas such as gender, health, human development, trade, tourism, information communications technology, energy, education, and crime. Data is available by country as well as topic.
World Bank Data
Statistical data from over 200 countries. Topics include economics, health, energy, debt, infrastructure, development, poverty, labor, and social issues. Multiple formats available.

ENGL 100 - David Lau