Guides: Sociology: Find Background Information

In This Guide

You'll find:

Resources to help you explore a new research topic
Databases and journals in the field of sociology
Help citing your sources

Sociology Reference Sources

Specialized dictionaries, encyclopedias, and subject bibliographies can be helpful in choosing and narrowing a topic. Reading in the specialized reference materials introduces background information and can provide key concepts or keywords to use in your search. This is just a selection. Search the reference databases below for more sources.

Key Sociological Thinkers
Call Number: Ref HM 51 .K43 2017
An introduction to theorists who made key contributions to the discipline of sociology.
Encyclopedia of Sociology
The 2nd edition of the encyclopedia provides in depth entries on a variety of topics and concepts in Sociology.
International Encyclopedia of Marriage and Family
Call Number: Ref HQ9 .E52 2003
Publication Date: 2003
Contains over three hundred alphabetically arranged articles that provide information about issues related to marriage and family, focusing on the diversity of marriage and family lifestyles in fifty countries representative of the regions of the world.
Encyclopedia of Race and Racism
Publication Date: 2013
This work provides critical information and context on the underlying social, economic, geographical, and political conditions that gave rise to, and continue to foster, racism. Religion, political economy, social activism, health, concepts, and constructs are explored. Given the increasingly diverse population of the United States and the rapid effects of globalization, as well as mass and social media, the issue of race in world affairs, history, and culture is of preeminent importance.

General Reference Databases

Credo Reference This link opens in a new window
An online collection of over 600 full-text reference works, including encyclopedias, dictionaries, and more.
Gale Virtual Reference Library This link opens in a new window
A collection of over 3,000 reference works, covering all disciplines.
Oxford Reference Online This link opens in a new window
This online source provides access to subject and language reference works from Oxford University Press. In addition to text, access is provided to maps and illustrations, timelines, web sites, and bibliographies.