Frequently Asked Questions

Questions about CQ Researcher

• What is CQ Researcher?

  CQ Researcher is the choice of researchers seeking original, comprehensive reporting and analysis on issues in the news. Published online 44 times a year, CQ Researcher offers in-depth, unbiased coverage of political and social issues, with regular reports on a wide range of topics including: health, international affairs, education, the environment, technology, the U.S. economy, crime, and civil liberties. Each CQ Researcher report is a unique work, investigated and written by a seasoned journalist, professionally fact-checked, and footnoted to facilitate further research. A feature called Hot Topics provides shorter reports on 10 of the most popular subjects. CQ Researcher's Archive goes back to 1923 and includes reports from its predecessor publication, Editorial Research Reports.

• How is a CQ Researcher report created?

  CQ Researcher's editors identify a topic to be investigated, then one of the experienced journalists conceives the report's broad outlines, formulating the key questions the report 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 ten weeks.

• How is CQ Researcher structured?

  Each CQ Researcher report is based on a common structure. The opening section, or "Overview" ("The Issues" in the PDF version), introduces the subject 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" section, which provides a history of the topic, 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 offers a projection of what the future may bring. The "Pro/Con" ("At Issue") section brings together statements from representatives of opposing positions on the topic. To offer perspectives, the report includes sidebars on other dimensions of the subject. The "Chronology" section offers a list of key events in the issue's history, and graphics and data also help illuminate the topic.

• Are CQ Researcher reports peer-reviewed?

  No. They are written by experienced journalists and are thoroughly footnoted and sourced to experts to ensure the quality and accuracy of the information. Check the Footnotes section within each report.

• Are CQ Researcher reports fact-checked?

  Yes. The writer of each report interviews experts and reads authoritative background material to ensure that facts and conclusions are accurate. You can check the Bibliography section within each report. Each report undergoes rigorous editing by at least two veteran editors. After that, facts, names, dates, footnotes and other information are verified by a professional fact-checker and by the editor for further corrections before publication.

• When are CQ Researcher reports published?

  CQ Researcher is published online 44 times a year.

• What is the CQ Researcher Archive?

  The CQ Researcher Archive is a premium product that combines the most recent 10 years of CQ Researcher reports with an archive of more than 3,000 CQ Researcher and Editorial Research Reports going back to 1923.

• 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. You can check if your institution subscribes to the Archive by looking for the year range displayed in the page header.

• What are the Editorial Research Reports?

  Editorial Research Reports 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 CQ Researcher. In 1991, the publication's name was changed to CQ Researcher, and today all of those older reports are available on the CQ Researcher site as part of the CQ Researcher Archive.

• How are the Editorial Research Reports reports different from the reports being published today?

  The reports in the Archive were published in other time periods, and so in some cases they use terminology that is outdated or offensive by today's standards. Because students and scholars study these older reports as primary sources to learn how contemporaries viewed and discussed these issues at the time, CQ Researcher decided to preserve these older reports in their original form. Because of this changing nomenclature, if you're not finding what you're looking for, please try entering an older search term. Another difference between CQ Researcher reports and older Archive content is that sections such as Pro/Con, Overview, Background, Current Situation, Outlook, and Next Step were not consistent parts of Editorial Research Reports.

• What was CQ Global Researcher?

  CQ Global Researcher provided students with definitive, in-depth coverage of newsworthy global affairs. CQ Global Researcher was discontinued in November 2012, but its five years' worth of archived reports are now available on this site to CQ Researcher Archive customers.

• Does CQ Researcher offer alumni access?

  University alumni may have access to the content hosted on Sage and CQ Press platforms through their university library, based on their university's current and active holdings. All alumni registered with subscribing or purchasing libraries will be able to access these resources, including more than 1,000 scholarly and professional journals at no extra fee. University libraries already support current students and scholars with access to online resources through both on-site and remote services. This license extends this offering to alumni via IP address, ATHENS, or SHIBBOLETH through the institution’s account. Sage does not have the information or systems necessary to authenticate an individual as being an alumnus of a particular institution. Because of this, institutions will need to manage the authentication process and provide alumni with a route through the institutional IP network or with an ATHENS or SHIBBOLETH profile. Please contact your designated sales representative with any questions.

• How do I suggest a report topic or a new feature?

  Please email your ideas or feedback to CQ Researcher Managing Editor Meredith Schwartz at meredith.schwartz@sagepub.com.

• What is Sage's policy on using Generative AI and Large Language Models 

  Please refer to  Author Guidelines on Using Generative AI and Large Language Models.

Questions about CQ Researcher site features?

• How do I find what I am looking for on CQ Researcher?

  There are multiple ways to find CQ Researcher reports that are of interest to you. You may: Select from the current or recent reports on the homepage Search for a keyword, using quick search box or filters on the Advanced Search page Use Browse by Topic, which allows you to browse all reports on all topics, and narrow the focus of your research. Use Browse by Pro/Con, which lets you select a report based on the expert Pro/Con debate feature contained within each report.

• How do I cite CQ Researcher?

  Use the Cite button (located at the top of the report) to cite to automatically generate citations in four common styles or download to your preferred citation manager.

• Why do I see a padlock next to a piece of content?

  A padlock appears beside content that is not available as part of your current subscription. If access to the content should be available, please contact onlinesupport@sagepub.co.uk.

• Where can I find a user guide or sample assignments?

  CQ Researcher is currently rebuilding these to reflect our new and improved website platform user experience. Please check back here to see the updated versions when they're ready.

• Why are we doing a redesign?

  Sage continually strives to improve the user experience and take advantage of innovations in the scholarly publishing industry. To reflect our new Sage Learning Resources brand, in summer 2023, CQ Researcher will migrate to a new platform and the URL will be updated from https://library.cqpress.com to https://cqpress.sagepub.com.

• Important changes coming with the redesign?

  Same trusted reports: no changes to our content offering or our customers’ existing holdings. Enhanced features: new features improve overall accessibility and user experience. URL Change: The new URL will be https://cqpress.sagepub.com. The current URL, https://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher, will remain in place indefinitely and will redirect to the updated URL, https://cqpress.sagepub.com.   Streamlined display and refreshed content pages to reduce complexity and focus on the essential information in the proper context.  A new homepage that showcases essential report information, quick access to content, and a refreshed presentation. Improved accessibility, inclusive design, improved navigation, cross-product discovery, and improvements to the overall user experience. Improved search capabilities and enhanced platform discovery.

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