Guides: SOC 200: Introduction to Sociology: Finding Information (articles, books, & encyclopedias)

Getting Started

Annual Review of Sociology
In publication since 1975, covers the significant developments in the field of Sociology.

Encyclopedias provide wonderful scholarly summaries/ overviews of topics.

Sometimes the author of the entry was asked to write because he or she is an expert on the topic - so look for other works he or she has written
Reviewing the bibliography, you may find a list of helpful articles.

Helpful Dictionaries:

Blackwell Dictionary of Sociology by Allan G. Johnson
ISBN: 9780631227663
Publication Date: 2000-01-01
Written by a sociologist who is also an accomplished writer and teacher, it is aimed primarily at students.,Its combination of clear prose, engaging examples, a single author's voice, and its minimal assumptions about the average reader's prior knowledge of sociology and its related fields, makes this a unique and valuable reference work.
The SAGE Dictionary of Sociology by Steve Bruce; Steven Yearley
Call Number: HM425 .B78 2006
ISBN: 9780761974819
Publication Date: 2006-01-26
With over 1000 entries on key concepts and theorists, provides full coverage of the field, clarifying the technical use of apparently common words, explaining the fundamentals concepts, and introducing new and unfamiliar terms.
A Dictionary of Sociology by John Scott; Gordon Marshall
Call Number: HM425 .D5735 2005
ISBN: 9780198609865
Publication Date: 2005-09-08
This wide-ranging and authoritative book is packed with over 2,500 entries. All the entries are elaborated with clear descriptions and in-depth analysis, making even the most complicated subjects easy to understand

Finding Articles

Multidisciplinary Databases:

Academic Search Complete This link opens in a new window
multidisciplinary databases -its a good database to start searching for information on almost ANY topic.
ScienceDirect This link opens in a new window
Current issues of scholarly journals published primarily in the sciences and social sciences.
Opposing Viewpoints in Context This link opens in a new window
A complete one-stop source for information on social issues. (summaries and reports on social hot topics)

Sociology Subject Specific Databases:

PsycINFO This link opens in a new window
The American Psychological Association’s (APA) resource for abstracts of scholarly journal articles, book chapters, books, and dissertations, is the largest resource devoted to peer-reviewed literature in behavioral science and mental health.
Gender Watch This link opens in a new window
focus on issues regarding women and minorities
Sage Journals Online This link opens in a new window
Covers over 80 sociology titles.

The Family and Child Development Databases:

Child Welfare Information Gateway This link opens in a new window
Covers a wide range of topics from prevention to permanency, including child welfare, child abuse and neglect, adoption, search and reunion, and much more.

Browsing Sociology Subject Headings

Standardized subject headings are used for subject searches in library catalogs. Some sample subject headings relating to sociology:

Clinical sociology
Communities
Criminal Behavior
Criminology
Deviant Behavior
Group Identity
Organizational Sociology
Political Sociology
Social Change
Social Conditions
Social Conflict
Social Ethics
Social Influence
Social Institutions
Social Problems
Social Psychology
Social Structure
Social Systems
Socialization
Sociological Aspects
Sociological Jurisprudence
Sociology
Sociology Research
Subculture

Additional Dictionaries & Encyclopedias

The Concise Encyclopedia of Sociology by George Ritzer (Editor); J. Michael Ryan (Editor)
Call Number: Payson HM425 .C66 2011 + online
ISBN: 1405183535
Publication Date: 2011-02-02
This concise encyclopedia is the most complete international survey of sociology ever created in one volume. Contains over 800 entries from the whole breadth of the discipline Distilled from the highly regarded Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology, with entries completely revised and updated to provide succinct and up-to-date coverage of the fundamental topics Global in scope, both in terms of topics and contributors Each entry includes references and suggestions for further reading Cross-referencing allows easy movement around the volume
Encyclopedia of Crime and Justice by Thomson Gale Staff (Contribution by); Joshua Dressler (Editor)
Call Number: Available in Gale Virtual Reference Library
ISBN: 002865319X
Publication Date: 2001-10-15
A complete revision of the 1982 edition, the "Encyclopedia of Crime & Justice" is a unique interdisciplinary source, dealing with not only law but also sociology, psychology, history and economics. With entries ranging widely from abortion to rape and from family violence to wiretapping, the "Encyclopedia" covers issues dominating today's headlines.
The Concise Dictionary of Crime and Justice by Mark S. Davis
ISBN: 9781483380933
Publication Date: 2015-02-20
The Dictionary is an excellent, wide-ranging resource with clear definitions for over 3,000 key criminal justice terms. Often going beyond simply definitions, the dictionary places the entries in a meaningful context, connecting the definitions with other concepts. The dictionary uniquely presents common misperceptions for selected terms, along with additional relevant information to clarify a term's use or derivation.
Encyclopedia of Juvenile Violence by Laura L. Finley (Editor)
ISBN: 9780313336829
Publication Date: 2006-12-30
From concerns about juveniles' incorrigibility at the turn of the century to school violence in the 1990s, adults have attempted to understand, control, and prevent juvenile violence. Yet, juvenile violence takes many forms, including both violence by juveniles and violence against juveniles, and has various causes and consequences.
Encyclopedia of Drugs, Alcohol and Addictive Behavior (3d ed.) by Pamela Korsmeyer (Editor); Henry R. Kranzler (Editor)
Call Number: Online in Gale Virtual Reference Library
ISBN: 0028661141
Publication Date: 2008-01-01
Explores the social, medical, legal and political issues related to drugs and alcohol and associated behaviors. Includes emerging topics and developments in the many fields of addiction studies.
Parenthood in America by Lawrence Balter (Editor); Robert B. McCall (Foreword by)
Call Number: Payson REF HQ755.8 .P3783 2000
ISBN: 1576072134
Publication Date: 2000-12-13
Based on the latest research, Parenthood in America is the work of the nationʼs most prominent authorities in psychology, sociology and health.
Encyclopedia of the United States Census by Rolf Anderson
Call Number: Payson Oversize HA37.U55 E53 2000
ISBN: 1568024282
Publication Date: 2000-07-10
Drawing from academia, government, and the private sector, CQ Press and the editorial board have commissioned more than 100 concise, definitive articles on the decennial census and related topics. Subjects covered include: Content of the census. What the census tracks, and when it began to ask specific questions; how questions are formulated, and factors that affect which questions are asked; other types of censuses (housing, economic, and agricultural). Procedure. How the census is planned, advertised, and conducted; state and local involvement; how results are tabulated and stored. Uses of the census. Publications, databases, and electronic products that provide census information for statistical and demographic research.
Encyclopedia of social theory. by George Ritzer
Call Number: Drescher REF HM425 .E47 2005
Examines the global landscape of all the key theories and the theorists behind them, presenting them in the context needed to understand their strengths and weaknesses. The Encyclopedia of Social Theory draws together a team of more than 200 international scholars covering the developments, achievements, and prospects of social theory from its inception in the 18th century to the present.
The Social Science Encyclopedia by Adam Kuper; Jessica Kuper (Editor)
Call Number: Payson H41 .S63 2009
ISBN: 0415476356
Publication Date: 2009-01-09
The third edition of this classic reference work, the leading single-volume social science encyclopedia.
Encyclopedia of Aging by David J. Ekerdt (Editor)
Call Number: Online in Gale Virtual Reference Library
ISBN: 0028654722
Publication Date: 2002
Encompasses all aspects of aging, covering a variety of disciplines including biology, medicine, economics, law psychology, sociology and history, and also explores related issues such as religion, spirituality, and ethics. Also provides a topical outline, primary source documents, addresses, and Web sites.
Gale Encyclopedia of American Law
Call Number: Online in Gale Virtual Reference Library
ISBN: 1414443021
Publication Date: 2011-02-01
Covers today's leading cases, major statutes, legal terms and concepts, notable persons involved with the law, and important documents. Includes topics such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, capital punishment, domestic violence, gay and lesbian rights, physician-assisted suicide and more.

HM	Sociology (general)
HN	Social history & conditions, Social problems, Social reform
HQ	The family, Marriage, Women
HS	Societies: secret, benevolent, etc.
HT	Communities, Classes, Races
HV	Social pathology, Social & public welfare, Criminology

SOC 200: Introduction to Sociology

Browsing Sociology Call Numbers

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