SIRS Issues Researcher is a subscription database geared towards middle and high school students that allows them to explore complex social issues through a range of viewpoints and perspectives found in over 2,000 reputable sources. It provides carefully organized full-text articles that are updated regularly to ensure current information. Students can search for topics through browsing pre-defined subject categories or using basic and advanced search functions. Search results present balanced pro/con viewpoints on issues with additional contextual resources like timelines and political cartoons to aid research.

1. ProQuest’s
SIRS Issues
Researcher
A Ready Reference Instructional Guide

2.  SIRS is a general reference subscription database geared towards novice
researchers and upper middle school and high school learners.
 Allows students to explore a range of viewpoints regarding complex social issues
and global controversies relevant to today.
 Provides students with carefully organized, 100% full text, that has been curated
from over 2,000+ reputable domestic and international newspapers, magazines,
and government documents.
 Updated on a regular basis to ensure publications and editorial features remain
current and relevant.
 SIRS Issues Researcher is a ProQuest product. ProQuest is a part of Clarivate- a
leading global information services provider.
SIRS Issues Researcher

3.  The easiest way to access SIRS Issues Researcher is through the
Chicago Public Library website
 After accessing CPL’s website by either clicking the hyperlink
provided or typing in https://www.chipublib.org/ to your web
browser, your first step is to login into your account.
 The login is located on the upper right-hand side of CPL’s
homepage where you will use your Library Card Number
(Barcode) or Username and password (initially your zip code)
to access your account.
How To Access SIRS
Issues Researcher

4. How to Access SIRS Issues Researcher
 There are several ways to access SIRS Issues
Researcher on CPL’s website by browsing by
audience, by format, etc.
 The most direct path is to click Browse located on
the left-hand side of the screen.
 Underneath the More option, select Online
Resources.

5. How to Access SIRS Issues Researcher
 Once you are on the
Online Resources page,
you will click A-Z
Resources.
 Next, select the letter “S”
to view the databases
beginning with that letter.
 With minimal scrolling, you will see SIRS Researcher.
After clicking the title, you will be redirected to the
webpage where you are already logged on

6. What Can SIRS Issues Researcher Do?
 Leading Issues
 Business & Economic
 Civil Rights & Liberties
 Communication & Technology
 Crime & Punishment
 Drugs, Health & Wellness
 Environment & Science
 Ethics
 School, Family & Youth
 World Cultures & Politics
 Provides an introductory overview including
Terms to Know, Perspectives, and links for
Further Research.
 Examines the issue's pro/con viewpoints with
Essential Questions, answers, and resources for
each viewpoint.
 Offers pertinent, full-text documents and
multimedia resources that are updated daily.
 Presents sample activity templates for student
essays, research papers, debates, and a Research
Guide for the Critical Thinker.
Subject Coverage: Leading Issues Provide:
 SIRS Issues Researcher provides students with comprehensive resources to delve into challenging controversies,
enabling them to engage in critical analysis of intricate social issues and prompt thoughtful inquiry. It has several
categories of various topics and provide the necessary and credible information students will need for research.

7. How Information is Arranged
 To promote accessibility,
topics are arranged on the
homepage in an easily
browsable way.
 If you are still unsure of
your topic, there is a list
of all the subjects
available that are easy
quick links into each
category.
 Trending Topics describe
popular issues of today.
 Editors’ Picks describe the
controversies that the editing
team has selected

8. How Information is Arranged
 Directly underneath the search bar,
students have the option to Explore all
Pro/Con Leading Issues from A to Z to
investigate the numerous article that SIRS
Issues Researcher has to offer.
 By clicking this link, students will be
led to an alphabetical list of All
Leading Issues
 Students will also be offered the
Subject Categories at the top to help
narrow down their research

9. Browsing Capabilities
 If a student is unsure of what topic to choose, SIRS Issues Researcher has easy browsing
options.
 Students may
choose from
the Leading
Issues
categories
provided.
 After choosing a general category, in this case Civil Rights and
Liberties, the page will display relevant topics to the chosen
category.

10. Browsing Capabilities
 SIRS also provides
commonly searched
subheadings within this
category.
 After clicking one of the
subheading options, students will
then be directed to a page
displaying the articles relevant to
the subheading.

11. How to Search:
Simple Search
 Located on the homepage, there is a
simple search bar that uses keywords
to help students discover information
about their topic.
 The search bar does not allow full
sentences but does have an
autocomplete display that provides
suggestions as you type int the search
bar.
 For example: if a student was searching for banned books, they
would begin typing their topic into the search bar. The
autocomplete display provides suggestions having to do with
the term “ban.”

12. How to Search:
Simple Search
 From there, you can
adjust if you want your
results sorted by
Relevance or Most Recent
as well as adjust any
filters relating to:
 Source Type
 Limit to Primary Sources
 Publication Date
 The results displayed automatically are sorted by relevance
to your keyword search.

13. How to Search:
Advanced Search
 Located on the homepage underneath the search bar,
students have the option to perform an Advanced Search.
 Students will be able to filter information quickly depending on their research
needs using this option.
 Similar to the simple search, the advanced search utilizes keywords and provides
autocomplete display.

14. How to Search:
Advanced Search
 Source Type allows
students to
determine the source
of information.
 Publication date allows students
to choose how recently the
resource has been published.
 Limit To Primary Sources will only display
resources that are first-hand accounts.
 Lexile Score allows
students to determine the
resource’s reading level.
 The Exclude
older
newspapers and
magazines
option ensure
student’s only
see sources that
have been
published in the
past 10 years.

15. Searching Example
 If a student wanted to learn general information about Gender Pay
Gap, their first step would be to type in “gender pay gap” into the
search bar.
 The first listed
resource is tagged as a
SIRS Leading Issue
which signals to the
student that it will
contain general
knowledge and terms
to know.

16. Searching Example
 The first piece of information
provided is an overall summary
about the issue.
 Next, the student is providing with Dual Viewpoints on the
subject with a curated list of Additional Resources
depending on which side of the argument you are
researching.

17. Searching Example
 Next, SIRS provides students with Critical
Questions to ask about the topic as well as a
related Political Cartoon.
 Lastly, students are given an abridged Timeline that notes
important events related to the topic.

18. ProQuest. (n.d.). Home - SIRS issues researcher - libguides at ProQuest. ProQuest LibGuides.
https://proquest.libguides.com/IssuesResearcher
ProQuest. (n.d.). SIRS issues researcher product updates - ProQuest. ProQuest Support.
https://support.proquest.com/s/article/SIRS-Issues-Researcher-Product-
Updates?language=en_US
ProQuest. (n.d.). SIRS Issues Researcher. SIRS Issues Researcher Homepage.
https://explore.proquest.com/sirsissuesresearcher
ProQuest. (n.d.). SIRS® issues researcher - proquest. SIRS Issues Researcher.
https://about.proquest.com/en/products-services/sirs_researcher/
Resources

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information provided, please don’t
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This ready reference instructional guide was
created by Max Mostek 12/12/23