Research Starters
We all use Wikipedia, but if you want something authoritative and reliable, Britannica® Academic is a great option. Like all encyclopedias, this source is a good way to find background information on a topic.
- Encyclopedia Britannica - Academic This link opens in a new windowIf the search widget above isn't working, you can click here to access Britannica Academic.
Opposing Viewpoints is a great source for information about current events, especially controversial ones. They provide a wide variety of sources on each topic - everything from opinion essays to scholarly articles. We recommend this source when you're having difficulty coming up with a topic. It's also a good tool if you already have an idea, but aren't sure what direction to take.
- Opposing Viewpoints In Context (Gale) This link opens in a new windowIf the search widget above isn't working, you can click here to access Opposing Viewpoints.
This source is very similar to Opposing Viewpoints in Context - it's a good place to look for information on controversial issues.
- Points of View Reference Source This link opens in a new windowIf the search widget above isn't working, you can click here to access Points of View Reference Center.
General
- Encyclopedia of Social TheoryRef HM425 .E47 2005
- A Dictionary of Cultural and Critical TheoryHM101 .D527 1997
- Research Methods in the Social SciencesH62 .R47 2005
Criminology and Social Pathology
- Encyclopedia of Criminology and Deviant BehaviorRef HV6017 .E53 2001
- Handbook of Domestic Violence Intervention StrategiesRef HV6626.2 .H36 2002
Poverty
- Encyclopedia of HomelessnessHV4493 .E53 2004
Race and Racism
- Dictionary of Race, Ethnicity and Culture, GN 495.6 D53 2003
- Encyclopedia of African American Society, E185 E546 2005
Sexuality, Marriage and the Family
- The International Encyclopedia of SexualityRef Storage HQ 21 .I68 1998
- Women and Social Movements This link opens in a new windowDigital library of primary source documents relevant to United States history of women and social movements. Includes dozens of document collections with tens of thousands of document pages. Images, transcriptions, and supporting information are available for each document.
Other Special Topics
- Berkshire Encyclopedia of World SportGV567 .B48 2005
- Encyclopedia of U.S. Labor and Working-Class HistoryRef HD8066 .A78 2007
- Encyclopedia of Social WorkPartial access. You may need to use interlibrary loan to obtain some articles.