About Poletical Science - Essay Example

aper is to analyze the content of the APSA website to, firstly, understand how well the Association uses the Internet as a medium of information dissemination and, secondly, to ascertain how well it informs a wider audience on specific aspects of political science and political scientists. The APSA website is organized into areas where access is free and others where access is limited. The free areas contain a plethora of general information about political science, including separate sections on resources for teachers and students (albeit more for graduate students than others), information about awards and grants, the various APSA initiatives, job listings, and a chronological list of upcoming conferences in the discipline.

The most useful aspect of this last section is that the call dates for paper or proposal submission at these conferences are also mentioned, informing all interested parties about deadlines. Registered users of the website may access the limited areas, the availability of which depends upon their type of registration. The free online registration allows one to submit proposals to the APSA annual meetings and register for the same. This facility also makes it possible to post résumés on the website, while responding to job opportunities and listing vacancies.

Registered users also enjoy the benefit of having access to an archive of past APSA conference papers. For access to more academic material, such as the digital versions of the three APSA journals – American Political Science Review, Perspectives on Politics, PS: Political Science and Politics – and the ability to apply for travel grants to the annual meetings, one needs to pay an amount commensurate with one’s income. In fact, the Association even has special membership schemes for students, those currently unemployed, and prospective members from the developing world.

Overall, the APSA website uses the Internet as a tool for communication and dissemination quite well. The