Librarian
About Reference Sources
If you're having a hard time getting ideas for your paper topic or you need to look up basic information about a particular area of Sociology, try looking at one of the reference works listed below.
Dictionaries and encyclopedias provide concise, detailed, scholarly descriptions theories, issues, methods, and more. Use them for background information and to find effective search terms for online databases.
Print only books can be found in the Reference Section, near the Learning Commons on the first level of the library.
The works on this page are general in nature. For more specialized encyclopedias, reference works, and websites, see the following topic pages:
Reference Sources
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The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology
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Call Number: Reference HM425 .B53 2007 v. 1–10Find overviews and suggested readings for key sociological topics, theories, and people. Not sure where to start? See the helpful Lexicon in v. 1, p. xciii, to see entries grouped by theme. -
The Dictionary of Critical Social Sciences
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ISBN: 9781000244021Publication Date: 2019-07-11This book is a teaching dictionary with the goal of de-mystifying current social science theory in a comprehensive, accessible format. It focuses on important terminology in progressive, radical, critical Marxist, feminist, left-liberal, postmodern, and semiotic contexts. -
Encyclopedia of Social Theory
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Call Number: Reference HM425 .E46 2006This work provides foundational understandings for sociological theories, schools, and debates, with citations for further reading. -
21st Century Sociology: A Reference Handbook
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Call Number: Reference HM585 .A13 2007 v.1–2The in-depth essays in this handbook cover a wide range of topics, from social problems to social life, institutions, the self, and more. -
International Encyclopedia of Social Sciences
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Call Number: Reference H40.A2 I5 2008 v. 1–9ISBN: 0028659651Publication Date: 2007-11-09Find entries on important people, movements, events, and more in this massive set covering all areas of the social sciences (sociology, anthropology, etc.). The Thematic Outline in v. 1, p. CXXIII, can help you start exploring. -
Encyclopedia of Activism and Social Justice
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Call Number: Reference HM671 .E53 2007 v. 1–3Look here for information about activism, civil engagement, and social justice, including leaders, movements, ideas, and concepts. The Reader's Guide in v. 1, p. xix, is an excellent place to start. -
Encyclopedia of Rural America: The Land and People
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Call Number: Reference E169.12 .E53 2008 v. 1–2Combining sociology, anthropology, history, and public policy, this encyclopedia examines the contemporary issues of rural life. -
Social Issues in America
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ISBN: 9781317459712Publication Date: 2015-03-04Truly comprehensive in scope - and arranged in A-Z format for quick access - this eight-volume set is a one-source reference for anyone researching the historical and contemporary details of more than 170 major issues confronting American society. Entries cover the full range of hotly contested social issues - including economic, scientific, environmental, criminal, legal, security, health, and media topics.
