Library Guides: Sociology: Home

Subject Resources

Some reference titles for research in sociology:

The Concise Encyclopedia of Sociology
Call Number: R 301.03 R6158
Publication Date: 2011
Encyclopedia of Women in Today's World
Call Number: R 305.4 E56
Publication Date: 2011
International Encyclopedia of Social Sciences
Call Number: R 300.3 I61
Publication Date: 2008
The Oxford Encyclopedia of American Social History
Call Number: R 306.0973 O98
Publication Date: 2012
The SAGE Encyclopedia of Social Science Research Methods
Call Number: R 300.72 S129
Publication Date: 2004

These databases will be the best bets for starting your research in sociology. If you are having trouble finding articles, see our Finding Articles guide, or ask a librarian for help!

Criminal Justice (Gale OneFile) This link opens in a new window
This sociology and criminal justice database includes over 250 full-text scholarly and professional journals. Those interested in law, law enforcement, terrorism prevention, forensic science, and crime scene investigation would do well to consult this database.
Discovery Service for Illinois College This link opens in a new window
Search many of Illinois College's databases at once. Also referred to as Multi-Database Search.
Diversity Studies (Gale OneFile) This link opens in a new window
This diversity studies database includes almost 3,000,000 articles from over 150 journals and magazines about cultural differences and the global community. This database could be very useful for a variety of social science and history papers.
Gender Studies (Gale OneFile) This link opens in a new window
This gender studies database provides full-text access to nearly 300 journals dealing with gender, family, marital, and LGBT issues. It also indexes an additional 200 journals, and contains a variety of reports.
Pop Culture Studies (Gale OneFile) This link opens in a new window
This pop culture database includes almost 200 full-text publications relating to some aspect of pop culture. The stuff in this database is necessarily a bit of a hodgepodge, but is worth a look for the curious.
SocINDEX with Full Text This link opens in a new window
SocINDEX is the premier sociology database and includes full-text coverage of over 400 sociology journals (and selective full-text coverage of nearly 3,000 additional sociology journals).

The best place to find books about sociology is in the Schewe Library Catalog or in the library on the shelves primarily in the 300-399 ranges on the lower level (for all subjects in the social sciences). If you are having trouble finding more books, see our Finding Books guide. Here are some suggested titles:

The American Family: From Obligation to Freedom
Call Number: 306.85 P485
Publication Date: 2011
Automating Inequality by Virginia Eubanks
Call Number: 362.56 E86a
Publication Date: 2018
Bi America: Myths, Truths, and Struggles of an Invisible Community
Call Number: 306.76 B961
Publication Date: 2005
The Black Campus Movement: Black Students and the Racial Reconstitution of Higher Education, 1965-1972
Call Number: 378.1982 R727
Publication Date: 2012
Encyclopedia of Social Welfare History in North America
Call Number: 361.97 E56
Publication Date: 2005
The Feminine Mystique
Call Number: 305.42 F899f 2001
Publication Date: 2001
Feminist Theory: A Reader
Call Number: 305.4201 F329k
Publication Date: 2013
The Measure of Civilization: How Social Development Decides the Fate of Nations
Call Number: 306.09 M876
Publication Date: 2013
Theory Construction and Model-Building Skills: A Practical Guide for Social Scientists
Call Number: eBook
Publication Date: 2010

Here are some additional subjects that you can search in our Library Catalog:

Sociology Videos in the Schewe Catalog
A basic search for DVDs and streaming videos available from Schewe dealing with sociology.
Kanopy Videos on Sociology
Videos from the Kanopy streaming services dealing with sociology.
Kanopy Videos on Social and Systemic Injustice
Videos from the Kanopy streaming services dealing with social and systemic injustice.
"How Studying Privilege Systems Can Strengthen Compassion" | Peggy McIntosh at TEDxTimberlaneSchools (18:26)
TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group.
Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man
Emmanuel Acho sits down to have an “uncomfortable conversation” with white America, in order to educate and inform on racism, system racism, social injustice, rioting & the hurt African Americans are feeling today. Multi-part series.

American Society of Criminology
The American Society of Criminology is an international organization whose members pursue scholarly, scientific, and professional knowledge concerning the measurement, etiology, consequences, prevention, control, and treatment of crime and delinquency.
American Sociological Association
National organization for sociologists.
Anti-Racism Resources
Schewe Library Guide. This guide provides resources to help students, faculty, and staff deepen their understanding of the pervasiveness of racism, the experiences of people of color, and what they can do to eliminate racial disparities locally and globally.
Association for Applied & Clinical Sociology
The AACS aims to provide resources for individuals interested in the application of sociological knowledge.
International Sociological Association
The International Sociological Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to scientific purposes in the field of sociology and social sciences.
Social Explorer
Social Explorer is a data visualization tool which combines census data with mapping and geospatial data. Explore demographics, election data, crime data, business patterns, and more. Very useful for presentations!
U.S. Census Bureau
Census data from the US government.
U.S. Department of Labor: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Official government information on labor.

Talk to your professor or look in your syllabus to determine which citation style you should use.

Sociology articles may use a variety of APA, MLA, Chicago, or other styles. You can find more information on these styles in the Schewe Library citation guide.

Subject Reference Person

Schewe Library

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