Frequently Asked Questions
The CQ Researcher
What is CQ Researcher?
How is a CQ Researcher report created?
How is CQ Researcher structured?
When are CQ Researcher reports published?
How do I leave comments on a report?
Are CQ Researchers reports ever updated?
How do I stay current on CQ Researcher reports?
How do I find what I am looking for on CQ Researcher Online?
What is an RSS feed and how do I use this feature?
What is the difference between Browse by Topic and Issue Tracker?
What happened to the alphabetical browse by topic list?
How do I cite the CQ Researcher Online?
What do the Your Profile, Document History, Favorite Documents, and Saved Searches features do?
How do I print and email Researcher articles?
Something I saw in the print edition of The CQ Researcher is not in CQ Researcher Online. Where can I find it?
How do I contact CQ Press technical support?
The CQ Researcher Plus Archives
What is the CQ Researcher Plus Archive?
What are the Editorial Research Reports?
How are the ERR reports different from the reports being published today?
Why can't I see content from the Archive?
Who do I contact if I see an error on the site?
CQ Global Researcher
What is CQ Global Researcher?
How is a CQ Global Researcher report created?
How is CQ Global Researcher structured?
When are CQ Global Researcher reports published?
Are CQ Global Researcher reports ever updated?
How do I stay current on CQ Global Researcher reports?
How do I find CQ Global Research Reports in my Researcher database?
How do I cite the CQ Global Researcher Online?
What do the features in the Global Researcher document window do?
The CQ Researcher is the choice of researchers seeking original, comprehensive reporting and analysis on issues in the news. Published in print and online 44 times a year, the single-themed CQ Researcher report offers in-depth, non-biased coverage of political and social issues, with regular reports on topics in health, international affairs, education, the environment, technology and the U.S. economy. Each 12,000-word CQ Researcher report is a unique work, investigated and written by a seasoned journalist.
How is a CQ Researcher report created?
First the CQ Researcher's editors identify the topic to be investigated, then the writer conceives its content, formulating the key questions that it will seek to answer; reads background material; interviews a range of sources; synthesizes available information; and writes the report. The average time to complete a report is five weeks.
How is CQ Researcher structured?
Each CQ Researcher report is based on a common structure. The opening section, or "Overview," introduces the issue under consideration and poses one or more questions such as, "Should minors who commit adult crimes be tried as adults?" or "Is a liberal arts education the best way to prepare for the workplace?" The report then offers a "Background," which provides a history of the issue, including pertinent policy and legal decisions.
Under the heading "Current Situation," the report provides a snapshot of the issue at the time of publication and, in "Outlook," the report's writer offers a projection of what the future may bring. The "Pro/Con" section brings together statements from representatives of opposing positions on the issue. To offer yet other perspectives, the report includes a "Special Focus" sidebar on other dimensions of the issue. The "Chronology" section offers a list of key events in the issue's history.
To achieve a well-rounded perspective, the report's writer quotes a range of sources, including lawmakers, academics, interest group representatives, government officials as well as citizens involved in the issue. The report concludes with a "Bibliography," containing an annotated list of key sources, and "Next Step," an additional bibliography providing sources related to particular questions considered in the report. "Contacts" are also provided.
When are CQ Researcher reports published?
CQ Researcher is published, in print and online, 44 times a year. The week's report appears in the publication's online version, The CQ Researcher Online, one day before print publication.
How do I leave comments on a Researcher report?
A new feature on the site allows users to leave comments on a report much like a newspaper editorial page. Once inside a report page, locate the "Reader Comments" box on the right navigational bar. From there you can read other user's comments and leave your own by clicking on the "Comment on this Report" button. While you are required to include an email address, this will not be publicly posted. Although it is not mandatory for submission, any name and affiliation that you provide will be included with your comment. Your comment will be submitted to the Researcher editorial staff who will review it and post it to the website. CQ Press reserves the right to edit content for length and reject comments that are offensive or may be objectionable in nature. To access reader's comments for past issues, either open that report and consult the left navigation bar or click on the "Reader's Comments" button on the homepage for a list of reports with comments.
Are CQ Researcher reports ever updated?
Once published, a CQ Researcher report is not updated. It stands as a cohesive evaluation of a particular issue at a given point in time. However, The CQ Researcher often revisits issues as developments dictate. For example, tobacco has been the primary subject of multiple reports:
Tobacco also has figured prominently in CQ Researcher reports on related topics, such as "Advertising Under Attack," "Reforming the FDA," and "Indoor Air Pollution."
How do I stay current on CQ Researcher reports?
One way to stay on top of recent reports is to subscribe to the Researcher RSS feed. To add this feed, click on the orange button at the upper right-hand corner of the homepage. To receive a notice of upcoming CQ Researcher reports, or to learn more about CQ Researcher products, subscribe to the free email newsletters, CQ Researcher Alert and CQ Researcher News. The Researcher staff also provides brief summaries of current events that relate to past Researcher issues in the "In the News" section of the website. Access this page from the homepage's left navigational bar. Once inside, you can read about hot topics in the news that include links to recent reports. An archive of this material is now available below the current summaries.
What is an RSS feed and how do I use this feature?
RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds provide an easy way to stay up-to-date on a website's changes without frequently visiting the site itself. With an RSS reader, users can easily view the latest additions to a website and link directly to that content. The internet browser that you are using may have a built-in RSS reader or you may want to consult the web to find an RSS reader that suits your needs. To get started, click on the orange RSS button in the upper right-hand corner of the CQ Researcher Online homepage. Depending on your RSS reader you may be automatically prompted to add the CQ Researcher feed or you may have to go through a few additional steps to add it. Once established, you will receive updates as new Researcher content is added to the site.
How do I find what I am looking for in CQ Researcher Online?
CQ Researcher Online is designed to provide multiple points of access to CQ Researcher reports. You may:
If you are considering what topic to research or make the subject of a report, see Find a Topic.
What is the difference between Browse by Topic and Issue Tracker?
Browse by Topic is a feature that allows you to locate reports on the CQ Researcher Web site by selecting through two levels of topic areas-general to more specific. Issue Tracker is a browse tool that presents a chronological list of Researcher reports related to a very specific topic or event. Reports in an Issue Tracker list relate to a topic or event with very little deviation in the report's main focus.
While the results from the Browse by Topic and Issue Tracker may overlap, your results will likely be different. Take, for example, Social Security: while the Browse Topic version will result in reports that just mention the subject, reports from an Issue Tracker search will focus solely on Social Security.
What happened to the alphabetical browse by topic list?
We have replaced the alphabetical browse by topic list with a new hierarchical browsing system made up of general categories. This index change was made after the CQ Researcher Plus Archive was added to the Researcher site. With so many more reports now on the site, it's easier for you to find what you're looking for by navigating from a very general topic to a more targeted topic area.
If you prefer an alphabetical approach, try using the Issue Tracker tool-it's a lot like the old alphabetical browse by topic list, but will lead to an even more-targeted list of Researcher reports.
How do I cite CQ Researcher Online?
Citing articles has never been easier. Use the CQ Press's CiteNow feature located at the top of the document page for automatically-generated citations in four common styles. See How to Cite for more details.
What do the Your Profile, Document History, Favorite Documents, and Saved Searches features do?
| Feature | Function |
| Your Profile | By creating a profile in the CQ Press Electronic Library (CQEL), you can save favorite searches and documents for future reference. If you do not create a profile, CQEL will only save this information, as well as the last 25 documents you viewed, for the current session |
| Document History | Displays the last 25 documents you viewed in The CQ Researcher Online. |
| Favorite Documents | Enables you to save up to 50 documents for future reference. You can add a document to your favorites by clicking the appropriate box found in the document window or in search results. You can then select Favorite Documents to view all saved documents. |
| Saved Searches | Enables you to save up to 25 searches for future reference. You can save a search from the search results page (after you complete the search). |
How do I print and email Researcher articles?
At the top of each document window you will find two drop-down menus for printing and emailing articles. From here, select the section that you would like to print or email (or the entire report) and follow the instructions.
There are some instances when older Pro/Con sections, quotes, and images from print editions of The CQ Researcher and Editorial Research Reports could not be included in the Researcher Web site due to online permission rights. These instances are rare, but if you can't find what you're looking for online, check your library's print collection of CQ Researcher and Editorial Research Reports to view the original report.
How do I contact CQ Press technical support?
For technical assistance, please submit a request at http://www.cqpress.com/webhelp or call 1-866-4CQPRESS (866-427-7737) or 202-729-1900 and select option 4.
What are the Editorial Research Reports?
Editorial Research Reports (ERR) is the predecessor of CQ Researcher. It published single-subject reports on current events from 1923 through 1990 in a format similar to that of today's Researcher. In 1991, the publication's name was changed to The CQ Researcher, and today all of these older reports are now available in the Researcher site comprising the CQ Researcher Plus Archive.
What is the CQ Researcher Plus Archive?
The CQ Researcher Plus Archive is a premium product that combines the current CQ Researcher Online with an archive of more than 3,000 Editorial Research Reports.
Why can't I see content from the Archive?
Content from the Archive can only be accessed if your institution has added this enhancement to its CQ Researcher subscription. If your institution subscribes to the Archive, the home-page banner on the Researcher site will display CQ Researcher Plus Archive.
How are the ERR reports different from the reports being published today?
The reports in the Archive draw on content from other time periods, and so in some cases use nomenclature or terminology that could be considered out-dated and even offensive by today's standards. However, in order to preserve the primary-source nature of these reports, and truly reflect the historical times in which they were written, CQ Researcher decided to leave these older reports in their original form.
It is also important to note that since the original language is preserved in Archive reports, there may be instances when you will need to redefine your search terms if you're not finding what you're looking for.
Another difference between CQ Researcher reports and Archive content is that sections such as Pro/Con, Overview, Background, Current Situation, Outlook, Next Step, and Special Focus were not consistent parts of ERR's layout.
What is the difference between Browse by Topic and Issue Tracker?
Browse by Topic is a feature that allows you to locate reports on the CQ Researcher Web site by selecting through two levels of topic areas-general to more specific. Issue Tracker is a browse tool that presents a chronological list of Researcher reports related to a very specific topic or event. Reports in an Issue Tracker list relate to a topic or event with very little deviation in the report's main focus.
While the results from the Browse by Topic and Issue Tracker may overlap, your results will likely be different. Take, for example, Social Security: while the Browse Topic version will result in reports that just mention the subject, reports from an Issue Tracker search will focus solely on Social Security.
Who do I contact if I see an error on the site?
If you discover any error on this site please let us know by submitting a note at www.cqpress.com/webhelp/. CQ Researcher Plus Archive contains a wealth of older content that came from print titles, so it is possible that during its conversion a typo could have been introduced. We appreciate your help in fixing these errors.
Modeled after the award-winning CQ Researcher, CQ Global Researcher provides students with definitive, in-depth coverage of newsworthy global affairs from a number of international viewpoints. Available exclusively online, this research destination offers the same focused, readable, single-topic reports that librarians and teachers have come to expect from CQ Researcher.
How is a CQ Global Researcher report created?
First, the CQ Global Researcher's editors identify the topic to be investigated, then the writer conceives its content, formulating the key questions that it will seek to answer; reads background material; interviews a range of sources; synthesizes available information; and writes the report. The average time to complete a report is five weeks.
How is CQ Global Researcher structured?
The Global Researcher is structured very similarly to CQ Researcher. The report begins with a brief "Introduction" that lays out the issue at hand. The opening section, or "Overview," introduces the issue under consideration and poses one or more questions such as, "Are all countries doing their part to control global warming?" or "Would reducing greenhouse gas emissions harm the global economy?" The report then offers a "Background," which provides a history of the issue, including pertinent policy and legal decisions. Under the heading "Current Situation," the report provides a snapshot of the issue at the time of publication and, in "Outlook," the report's writer offers a projection of what the future may bring. The "Pro/Con" section brings together statements from representatives of opposing positions on the issue. The "Chronology" section offers a list of key events in the issue's history. To quickly view highlighted text boxes, click on "Short Features." A feature unique to Global Researcher is the "Voices from Abroad" section. Here, the author has gathered a number of quotations from newspapers, politicians and citizens to express a wide variety of opinions on the issue at hand. The "Maps/Graphs" page gathers together all of the graphic elements in an issue for quick review. To achieve a well-rounded perspective, the report's writer quotes a range of sources, including lawmakers, academics, interest group representatives, government officials as well as citizens involved in the issue. A "Bibliography," containing an annotated list of key sources is followed by "Next Step," an additional bibliography providing sources related to particular questions considered in the report. "Contacts" are also provided as a way of getting further information from government agencies, think tanks, and other organizations that shed light on that month's issue. The report concludes with an "About the Author" section.
When are CQ Global Researcher reports published?
A new CQ Global Researcher report is published on the first Monday of every month.
Are CQ Global Researcher reports ever updated?
Once published, a CQ Global Researcher report is not updated. It stands as a cohesive evaluation of a particular issue at a given point in time. However, CQ Global Researcher will revisit issues as world events dictate.
How do I stay current on CQ Global Researcher reports?
To receive notice of upcoming CQ Global Researcher reports, or to learn more about CQ Researcher products, subscribe to the CQ Researcher/Global Researcher Alerts and CQ Online Reference News. These resources will remind you of upcoming reports and help you make the most of the Researcher series in your library or classroom.
How do I find CQ Global Research Reports in my Researcher database?
Currently, articles from the new Global Researcher can be accessed from the Researcher homepage. You will find Global articles fully integrated with those from Researcher, appearing in the Issue Tracker, search results, and topic browses. Global articles can be distinguished by the 
icon following the title. For specific questions on searching see: How do I find what I am looking for in CQ Researcher Online?
How do I cite the CQ Global Researcher Online?
See How to Cite.
What do the features in the Global Researcher document window do?
You will notice some changes to the document window in Global Researcher. While Global is only available online, color PDFs of the entire report can be downloaded and printed by clicking the link on the toolbar above the article text. Full reports and specific article sections can also be emailed and printed. Simply make your selection on the dropdown menus on the toolbar. Users can also save a report by clicking in the box titled "Save to Favorite Documents." The document will be saved for that session only unless the user creates a profile. To create a profile, click on "Your profile" on the main Researcher site and follow the instructions. CiteNow! is a feature found only in CQ Press's online reference products. Click on the link and an automatically-generated citation will be produced in ALA, Chicago, Bluebook, and APA formats.
