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SOC 210 -- Research Methods: Selecting a Topic

Sociology research methods class

Getting Started

athlete at starting line

Subject Specific Encyclopedias

A good encyclopedia can provide beginning researchers with the following:

  • an overview of a topic and its various aspects
  • the vocabulary associated with the topic
  • the names of important people, companies or places,
  • a bibliography to lead to other relevant items on the topic, including major studies, books, articles and researchers.

Some good examples are:

  • Encyclopedia of Social Measurement (Ref/ 300.72/E56L/2005)
  • Encyclopedia of Sociology (Ref/ 301.03/E562B/2000)

Databases for Topic Selection and Background Information