Encyclopedia of Sociology (2^nd ed.). Edgar F. Borgatta, editor-in-chief, Marie L. Borgatta, managing editor. New York : Macmillan Reference USA, 2000.      (REF HM17 .E5 2000)
This five volume set provides lengthy entries that are signed and include citations to other relevant materials. Use the index (last volume) to access background information and references to more comprehensive information.

Encyclopedia of Social Problems. Ed. by Vincent N. Parrillor.  Thousand Oaks, Calif. : SAGE Publications, Inc., c2008.
(REF  HN 28 .E55 2008)
Two volume set with more than 600 entries covering the major theories, approaches, and contemporary issues in social problems. Provides insight into how social conditions get defined as social problems and how different people and organizations view and try to solve the problem.

World of Sociology. Ed. by Joseph M. Palmisano. Detroit : Gale Group, c2001.      (REF HM585 .W67 2001)
Jargon-free, ready-reference articles on topics, theories, concepts, and organizations in sociology include more updated information than other volumes listed.  Short biographies of people in the field are also available.  Use for introductory information, but refer to other sources for more scholarly treatments of the topics.

Encyclopedia of American Social History. Ed. by Mary Kupiec Cayton, Elliott J. Gorn, and Peter W. Williams. New York: Scribner, c1993.    (REF HN57 .E58 1993)
This four volume set covers all areas of American social history in substantial articles alphabetically arranged. Use the index to access your topic as the articles are of considerable length and main entries are very broad in scope. The set includes extensive bibliographical references.

Encyclopedia of Activism and Social Justice. Ed. by Gary L. Anderson & Kathryn G. Herr. Thousand Oaks, Calif. : Sage Pubs., c2007.
    (REF HM 671 .E53 2007)
Three-volume set with approximately 1000 entries providing information related to individuals and broad themes in activism in social justice: the arts; criticism/critical theory; cultural studies and popular culture; consumer movements; education; environmentalism; globalization / anti-globalization; labor, socialism, communism, and social class; legal and judicial system;; human rights, and civil rights; media and communications; political and social movements from around the world; political philosophy and ethics; religious and spiritual movements; and social, health, and welfare rights. Global coverage is broad and gender-balanced and extends back into the 19th century.

Encyclopedia of American Urban History. Edited by David Goldfield. Thousand Oaks : Sage Publications, c2007.   (REF HT 123 .E49 2007)
Two-Volume set presents 500+ essays that together offer an expansive portrait of the interdisciplinary field of urban history in the 20th century United States. Entries include: biographies of notable figures; profiles of select cities; descriptions of major topics in urban history (e.g. poverty and welfare in cities and social geography of cities and suburbs); explanations of doctrines, actions, movements, and religions; discussion of urban education and schools; reviews of the urban policies of US presidential administrations; urban theories; and entries related to race, gender, housing, transportation, education, and finances and commerce.

Encyclopedia of Rural America: the land and people, 2nd edition. Edited by Gary A. Goreham. Millerton, NY: Grey House Pub., 2008.
    (REF E 169.12 .E53 2008)
This 2-volume set combines history, sociology, anthropology, and public policy to explore the contemporary landscape of rural America, placed in historical perspective. Prepared by leading experts, more than 300 articles document and explain the major themes, concepts, industries, concerns, and everyday life of the people and land who make up rural America. Entries cover every aspect of life in rural America.

Reader's Guide to the Social Sciences. Ed. by Jonathan Michie. Chicago : Fitzroy Dearborn, 2001.
    (REF  H41 .R45 2001)
Here find 2 volumes with entries presenting and critically reviewing the literature on a range of topics from the social sciences.  This source leans heavily toward an economic perspective.  Use it to track down references to appropriate literature on your topic.

Sociology : a guide to reference and information sources (2^nd ed.). Stephen H. Aby. Englewood, Colo. : Libraries Unlimited, 1997.       (REF HM51 .A24 1997)
This volume is particularly useful for finding guides to sources in various fields of sociology such as criminology, gerontology, marriage & the family, race & ethnic relations, sociology of education, stratification & inequality, urban sociology, and women's studies. Use the Ely Library Online Catalog to locate the sources.

Encyclopedia of social psychology.  Ed. by Roy F. Baumeister and Kathleen D. Vohs. Thousand Oaks, Calif. : Sage Publications, c2007.
(REF  HM 1007 .E53 2007)
Two volumes with 550+ entries on topics relating to the experience and interaction of humans. Entries provide brief, readable explanations of numerous ideas and concepts.

DICTIONARIES:
The Blackwell Dictionary of Sociology : a user's guide to sociological language, second edition. By Allan G. Johnson. Cambridge, Mass. : Blackwell, 2000.    (REF HM17 .J64 2000)
Entries in this dictionary are substantial and include one or more citations to readings on each subject. See "Biographical Sketches: a selected sociological who's who" for entries on "major figures who have shaped sociological concepts and thinking over the past two centuries".

Dictionary of Sociology. By Tony Lawson. London ; Chicago : Fitzroy Dearborn, 2001.
(REF HM17 .L392 2001)

Dictionary of the Social Sciences. Ed. by Craig Calhoun.  New York : Oxford University Press, 2002.
(REF H41 .D53 2002)

Violence in America. ed. by Ronald Gottesman. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1999.
    (REF HN 90 .V5 V5474 1999)
In three volumes, interdisciplinary topics having to do with violence to people, animals, and the environment are covered.  Hate groups, sociopaths, and specific events are mixed with articles on Civil Disorder, Disarmament, Drugs, Euthanasia, and more.  Entries seek to explore explanations behind violence, manifestations of violence, representations of violence, and responses to violence.

Encyclopedia of Juvenile Justice. Ed. by Marilyn D. McShane and Frank P. Williams III. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2003.
     (REF HV 9104 .E58 2003)
Articles cover numerous topics in the areas of delinquency theories, historical references, delinquent behavior, treatment, juvenile law, and public policy. Appendices provide guides to locating print, online, and internet resources in the field. Bibliography and index included.
 

 The Praeger Handbook of Adoption. Edited by Kathy Shepherd Stolley and Vern L. Bullough. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers, 2006.
    (REF  HV 875 .P694 2006)
Two volume set providing historical and current information on all aspects of adoption, from many countries and religions, including Africa, Britain, Canada, China, India, Islam, Japan, Jewish, Mexico, Mormon, and others. It covers the cultural, ethical, financial, legal, medical, psychological, and social implications of adoption and highlights perspectives of the birth parents, adopting parents and the adopted child; open and closed adoption; national and international adoption; grandparent and single-parent adoption. Includes primary documents, biographies, and sidebars identifying special facts relating to the history and experience of adoption.

Encyclopedia of Family Life. Ed by Carl L. Bankston III & R. Kent Rasmussen. Pasadena, Calif. : Salem Press, c1999.
    (REF HQ 534 .E53 1999)
In five volumes, articles on all aspects of family life are included.  Volumes cover the following range of topics:  Abandonment of the family - community programs for children;  compadrazgo-fertility and infertility; filial responsibility - men's roles; mental health-single life; and single-parent families - zero population growth movement and index.

Encyclopedia of Marriage and the Family. Ed. by David Levinson. New York : Simon & Schuster Macmillan, c1995.
   (REF HQ 9 .E52 1995)
This two volume set contains substantial articles covering such topics as: chronic illness, demography, communes, alimony & spousal support, family policy, etc. A thorough index provides many access points to the multi-faceted articles.

Encyclopedia of Domestic Violence. Edited by  Nicky Ali Jackson. New York : Routledge, c2007.
    (REF  HV 6626 .E534 2007)
Coverage is broad and diverse, encompassing the entire life span from infancy to old age. Entries include the traditional research areas, such as battered women, child abuse and dating violence. In addition, it includes many under-studied areas of domestic violence, such as ritual abuse-torture within families, domestic violence against women with disabilities, pseudo-family violence and domestic violence within military families. It also examines cross-cultural perspectives of domestic violence. A key special feature is the cross-reference section at the end of each entry which allows readers to continue their research of a particular topic.

Domestic Violence: a Reference Handbook, 2nd ed. By Margi Laird McCue. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2008.
    (REF HV 6626.2 .M43 2008)
Provides straightforward and objective coverage that considers all aspects of Domestic Violence through a careful combination of facts, statistics, case studies, and victims' stories. Analyzes the complex dynamics of domestic violence from three perspectives—legal, social, and psychological. Features an introductory essay,
Chronology of key events, movements, and legislation, and an analysis of key legal and social decisions dating back to the eighth century AD.

Handbook of Parenting. By Marc H. Bornstein. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1995.     (REF HQ775.8 .H357 1995)
This four volume set has lengthy signed articles with numerous bibliographies. Pay particular attention to the third volume entitled: Status and Social Conditions of Parenting. The fourth volume contains cumulative author and subject indexes which are necessary to access specific topics.

Family Life in 20th-century America. By Marilyn Coleman, Lawrence H. Ganong, and Kelly Warzinik. Westport, Conn. : Greenwood Press, c2007.
    (REF  HQ 536 .C694 2007)
Focus on the day-to-day lives and roles of families. In this detailed book, the authors discuss home and work, family ceremonies and celebrations, parenting and children, divorce and single-parent homes, gay and lesbian families, as well as cooking and meals, urban vs. suburban homes, and ethnic and minority families. Reference resources include a timeline, sources for further reading, photographs and an index.

Family Life in 19th-century America. By James M. Volo and  Dorothy Denneen Volo. Westport, Conn. : Greenwood Press, c2007.
    (REF  HQ 535 .V65 2007)
The authors place the family within the contexts of nineteenth-century America and show how it worked within the educational, social and economic expectations of that very variable century. They describe the roles and systems, primarily intended to rear children in stability, that include the father as a family man, success and worker, as a man of good counsel and honor and as a protector, of women as mothers, wives, and homemakers, and of children as family members, learners and workers. Chapters show how servants and slaves figured in the framework of the family, how all were expected to behave during the disruptions of the civil war, and how the family was manipulated into supporting American manifest destiny.

Family Life in the Middle Ages. By Linda E. Mitchell. Westport, Conn. : Greenwood Press, 2007.
    (REF  HQ 513 .M45 2007)
This work provides a regional approach in exploring the lives of families in the Middle Ages. Starting with the late Roman families the first five chapters explore the roles of family members in the Medieval West, the Byzantine East, the Islaminc World, and the Jewish Family.  The remaining chapters delve into daily family life - homes of various social classes and the division of labor, both maintaining the home and family-based labor such as agriculture, banking, manufacturing of goods, and mercantile activity. Reference resources include a timeline, sources for further reading, photographs and an index.

See also:  Families in Society Database
(Internet Site:  http://www.lib.wsc.ma.edu/dbalpha.htm#Families)
"This publication is a practice- and issues-related journal directed to human service professionals. The journal's articles deal with research and theory, direct practice, and management of direct services.
 

Encyclopedia of Adolescence. Ed. by Richard M. Lerner, Anne C. Petersen, and Jeanne Brooks-Gunn. New York: Garland Publishing, 1991.     (REF HQ796 .E58 1990)
Articles in this two volume set include social development, sex and ethnic differences; social intelligence; social networks. Use the index to locate specific entries.

Encyclopedia of Educational Research. ed. by Marvin Alkin. New York: Macmillan, 1992.
    (REF LB15 E48 1992)
This source covers educational topics in sociology such as social factors in education, teen mothers, immigrant education, family, gender differences, socioeconomic status, etc. Each article has a bibliography leading to other excellent sources.

Encyclopedia of Youth and War: young people as participants and victims. by Victoria Sherrow.  Phoenix, Ariz. : Oryx Press, 2000.  (REF HQ784.W3 S54 2000)

Gale Encyclopedia of Childhood & Adolescents.  ed. by Jerome Kagen & Susan B. Gall. Detroit:  Gale, 1998.   (REF HQ772 .G27 1998)

See Also:	Education Reference Sources	Education Web Resources
	(http://www.lib.wsc.ma.edu/guideduc.htm)	(http://www.lib.wsc.ma.edu/educ.htm)

Encyclopedia of Gerontology: age, aging, and the aged. 2nd Edition. Edited by  James E. Birren. NY: Academic Press, 2007.
    (REF RC952.5 .E58 2007)
Two volume set organized alphabetically by article title. Consolidates and summarizes pertinent findings while providing additional readings. Breadth of coverage spans biology, psychology, social science, health science, and humanities. Each article contains a definition paragraph and a glossary of unfamiliar terms.

Encyclopedia of Health & Aging. Ed. by Kyriakos S. Markides. Los Angeles : Sage Publications, c2007.
      (REF  RA 777.6  .E534 2007)
This one-volume resource covers research in the field in terms of new findings as well as conceptual developments guiding research, practice, and policy. With more than 200 entries, it covers the biological, psychological, social, and economic aspects of health and aging and impacts within the health-care system. This Encyclopedia also focuses heavily on geriatrics with respect to geriatric syndromes and common diseases of aging.

Handbook on Women and Aging. Ed. by Jean M. Coyle. Westport, Conn. : Greenwood Press, 1997.
     (REF HQ1059.5.U5 H36 1997)
This volume is divided into chapters on historical & theoretical perspectives; health, psychology & living issues; racial, ethnic, and demographic issues; and relationships. Includes bibliographical references and index.

Older Americans Almanac : a reference work on seniors in the United States. Ed by Ronald J. Manheimer. Detroit: Gale Research, c1994.    (REF HQ1064.U5 O416 1994)
 

Homelessness Handbook, Edited by David Levinson and Marcy Ross, Great Barrington, MA: Berkshire Publishing Group, c2007.
    (REF HV 4493 .H68 2007)
75 articles provide expert coverage on key issues facing the homeless and the communities in which they live. More than 200 sidebars, quotes, glossary terms, and photos portray the history of homelessness, the many faces of homeless people, and successful programs that are working to alleviate and end homelessness.

Women's Studies Encyclopedia (revised and expanded). Ed. by Helen Tierney. Westport, Conn. : Greenwood Press, 1999.
    (REF HQ1115 .W645 1999)
This three volume set covers views from the sciences; literature, arts, and learning; and history, philosophy, and religion. Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Lesbian Histories and Cultures : an encyclopedia.  Ed. by Bonnie Zimmerman. New York : Garland Pub., 2000.
    (REF HQ75.5 .L4395 2000)

Gay Histories and Cultures : an encyclopedia.  Ed. by George E. Haggerty. New York : Garland, 2000.
    (REF HQ75.13 .G37 2000)

 The Dictionary of Homophobia : a global history of gay & lesbian experience. By Louis-georges Tin.  Vancouver : Arsenal Pulp Press, c2008.
(REF HQ 76.4 .D5313 2008)
More than 160 essays documenting the histiory of the treatment of homosexuals in all regions of the world. A tranlation of the Dictionnaire de l'Homophobie.

Encyclopedia of Disability and Rehabilitation.  Ed. by Arthur E. Dell Orto, Robert P. Marinelli.  New York : Simon & Schuster Macmillan, c1995.
    (REF HV1568 .E53 1995)
Although dated, this covers the social aspects of disability with entries such as Sociology, Family, Normalization & Social Role Valorization, Homelessness, etc., as well as articles on many disability related conditions.  Articles are signed and include lists of resources and bibliographies.

Encyclopedia of Multicultural America.  Cont. Ed., Rudolph J. Vecoli, ed. by Judy Galens, Anna Sheets, Robyn V. Young. Detroit, MI : Gale Research, c1995.     (REF  E184.A1 G14 1995)
Two volumes cover issues such as acculturation and assimilation; reactions to immigrants; family and community dynamics, etc., for a large number of cultural groups.

Handbook of Hispanic Cultures in the United States.  Ed. by Nicolás Kanellos, Claudio Esteva-Fabregat.  Houston, Tex. : Arte Público Press c1994.               (REF  E184.S75 H365 1993)
Look in volume 3 for topics related to Sociology. This volume "provide[s] a structural or institutional as well as cultural examination of various leading dimensions of Hispanic life in U.S. society." Diversity, immigration experience, labor, politics, education, emigres, Mexican heritage, feminist struggles, religion, identity, and much more are covered.

Look also for The Encyclopedia of African-American Culture & History (REF E185 E54 1996); The Asian American Encyclopedia (REF E184 O6 A827 1995); and Encyclopedias representing other cultures which will be located in the same general area in Reference.
See Also:  Women's Studies WWW Resources      (http://www.lib.wsc.ma.edu/women.htm)
 

Profile of the Nation: an American portrait. Ferro, Jeffrey.  Detroit, Mi.: Gale Group, c2002.        (REF HN25 .T475 2002)       Contains articles on population characteristics, families and households, the labor force, income and poverty, health, education, voter participation, crime, spending trends, and housing.  Use table of contents or index for quickest access.

Statistical Handbook on the World's Children.  Chandrika Kaul. Westport, Conn. : Oryx Press, 2002.  (REF HQ767.9 .K38 2002)

World Development Indicators, 2003.   Washington, D.C.: The World Bank, 2002.      (REF HC59.15 W656 2003)
Here find statistics on Population dynamics, unemployment, poverty (with social indicators), education, vulnerability, unemployment, etc.

Statistics Sources:  A subject guide to data on industrial, business, social, educational, financial, and other topics for the United States and internationally.  ed. by Jacqueline Wasserman O'Brien and Steven R. Wasserman.
    (REF HA1 .S83 2002)

Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics. Washington, D.C. : U.S. Dept. of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics.
    (REF HV7245 .N37b)

Methodology

Encyclopedia of Survey Research Methods. Ed. by Paul J. Lavrakas. Thousand Oaks, Calif. : SAGE Publications, c2008.
    (REF  HN 29 .E53 2008)
Two-volume set with more than 600 entries providing state-of-the-art information and examples of survey methodologies. Includes a Reader’s Guide that organizes entries around themes or specific topics such as: ethics; measurement; nonresponse; operations; political and election polling; public opinion; sampling, coverage, and weighting; survey industry; and survey statistics.
 
The Sage Encyclopedia of Social Science Research Methods. ed. by Michael S. Lewis-Beck, Alan Bryman, Tim Futing Liao.  Thousand Oaks, Calif. : Sage, 2004.   (REF H62 .L456 2004)
This three volume set provides "an introduction to a vast array of research methods by giving an account of their purposes, principles, developments, and applications." A Reader's Guide in the first volume breaks down the entries into various subjects  so that one can easily find entries related to "Econometrics," "Analysis of Variance," "Feminist Methodology," as well as 31 other categories.

Other Interesting Sources

Consumer Culture.  by Douglas J. Goodman and Mirelle Cohen.  Santa Barbara, Calif.:  ABC-CLIO. 2004.
     (REF HC 79 C6 G665 2004)
This book has articles on all aspects of consumerism including "Consumption and Happiness," "Typical Spending in Family Life Cycle States," "Ethnic Differences in Product Usage and Store Patronage," etc.  Following the articles are lists of sources and appendices for Organizations, Books, Articles, and selected Web Sites.
 

Sociological Abstracts  Limited to WSC community
    (Internet Site: http://www.lib.wsc.ma.edu/dbalpha.htm#Soc Abs)
Subject Specific to all areas of sociology and social work. Abstracts journal articles and books. For an online guide, see Database Searching Guides.

Social Service Abstracts     Limited to WSC community
   (Internet Site: http://www.lib.wsc.ma.edu/dbalpha.htm#Social Services)
Provides citations and abstracts of journal articles and dissertations covering current research focused on social work, human services,and related areas, including social welfare, social policy, and community development.  Also contains citations to book reviews.

Social Work Abstracts Plus        Limited to WSC community
    (Internet Site: http://www.lib.wsc.ma.edu/dbalpha.htm#Social Work)
Covers all aspects of social work and human services from 1977 to present. Coverage includes theory and practice, areas of service, social issues,and social problems.

PsycInfoLimited to WSC community
    (Internet Site: http://www.lib.wsc.ma.edu/dbalpha.htm#PsycLit)
This database covers all aspects of psychology. It indexes materials in English and 26 other languages from specialized journals and books in the field. Abstracts are included.  For an online guide, see Database Searching Guides.

Ely Library Catalog. For books, audio-visual materials, etc. in the Ely Library
    (Internet Site: http://catalog.lib.wsc.ma.edu/)
The following is an example of subject headings relevant to Sociology for use in the Ely Library Catalog. Do not limit yourself to this list! Use the Library of Congress Subject Headings (Big Red Books) located by the card catalog for more possibilities—or browse the online catalog for ideas. See Database Searching Guides for more help.

Criminal Justice Abstracts     Limited to WSC community
   (Internet Site:  http://www.lib.wsc.ma.edu/dbalpha.htm#Criminal Justice Abstracts)
Subject Specific to all areas of criminal justice including deviant behavior and the criminal mind.

ERIC (1966- )    Limited to WSC community
    (Internet Site: http://www.lib.wsc.ma.edu/dbalpha.htm#ERIC)
Subject Specific to all areas of Education and Instruction including sociological topics.  Abstracts journal articles and other documents.  For an online guide, see Database Searching Guides.

URL:  http://www.lib.wsc.ma.edu/guidsoc.htm
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