PEST Analysis

Political, Economic, Sociocultural, and Technological Analysis (PEST)

Political, Economic, Social-Cultural and Technological (PEST Analysis) information provides essential data for the environmental scanning process.The following resources offer micro- and macro-level data to help with the information scanning process.

Political
The following databases provide vital information on domestic and international political issues:

Project MUSE
Full-text database with access to and searching of over 100 scholarly journals in the humanities and social sciences (1997-present).

Expanded Academic Index
Indexes over 1400 core scholarly journals in the humanities, social sciences, and general sciences as well as some popular publications, including the New York Times. About one-third of the indexed articles are available full-text online. Coverage from 1980 to the present.

Lexis-Nexis
Lexis-Nexis provides authoritative legal, news, public records and business information -- including tax and regulatory publications, online via the Web. Includes extensive Polling data and media transcripts.

CIAO Columbia International Affairs Online
CIAO is designed to be a comprehensive source for theory and research in international affairs. It publishes a wide range of scholarship from 1991 forward.

Almanac of Policy Issues
The Almanac of Policy Issues provides background information and links on major U.S. public policy issues. The policy areas include: Criminal Justice, Culture & Society, Economic, Education, Environment, Government Operations, Health, Social welfare, World: Foreign Affairs & National Security

Vanderbilt University Government Information Website
Provided by Vanderbilt University, this site provides links to all sorts of government-related information such as elections and voting, public policy issues, crime and justice, international relations, etc.

Economic
Please visit the Economics Research Guide for comprehensive economic data and full-text journal articles covering all aspects of economics.

Social & Cultural
The following databases index many mainstream periodicals, opinion polls, newspapers, and other key secondary resources that examines the sociocultural climate in the United States and abroad:

Academic Search Elite
Indexes over 2,900 publications, including scholarly journals in the social sciences, humanities, general science, education and multicultural studies,as well as popular magazines published from 1990-present. Full-text articles are provided for over 1,300 periodical titles.

Expanded Academic ASAP
Indexes over 1400 core scholarly journals in the humanities, social sciences, and general sciences as well as some popular publications, including the New York Times. About one-third of the indexed articles are available full-text online. Coverage from 1980 to the present.

Communication and Mass Media
An excellent database for communication and mass media studies. Subject coverage includes journalism, broadcast media, publishing, advertising, public relations, political advocacy, media law, teaching, film, video, and new media production. Over 450 publications are indexed and full text is available for about 200 titles.

Sociological Abstracts
Indexes and abstracts articles in the fields of sociology, anthropology, criminology, demography, education, law and penology, race relations, social psychology, and urban studies.

Lexis-Nexis
Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe provides a menu-driven interface to business, current events, legal and medical information. It has full-text coverage of nearly 5,000 newspapers, magazines, wire services, federal and state court opinions, federal and state statutes, federal regulations, and SEC filings such as 10-Ks and 10-Qs. There is access to company profiles, industry and market research, and trade journal articles.

Popculture.com
A useful site providing a comprehensive, general overview of academic and nonacademic cultural studies. A good student-oriented site, with lists of periodicals, links to articles in electronic formats, book reviews, and news groups and list serves.

Technological
An awareness of technologies -- new and emerging -- that drive and impact industry is essential. Please visit the Technology Research Guide for an extensive list of key technology-related resources.

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Frank Vuotto, M.A., M.L.I.S.
Business & Agribusiness Librarian, Faculty
California Polytechnic State University
Robert E. Kennedy Library
San Luis Obispo, CA 93420
fvuotto@calpoly.edu

Last updated August 26, 2005