Sociology

"The purpose of an encyclopedia is to summarize and codify knowledge in a given field. This is in contrast to a handbook, which offers essays on cutting-edge research in a field, or a dictionary, which provides short, to-the-point definitions of key concepts in a field."
Source: Sica, A. (2001). Encyclopedias, Handbooks, and Dictionaries. In N.J. Smelser & P.B. Baltes (Eds.), International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B0-08-043076-7/00039-5. As cited in American Library Association. (2011). ALA Guide to Sociology & Psychology Reference. Chicago: Author.

Use reference materials to find background information. Reference books can help you:

Sociology Reference Works - General

ISBN: 9781412916080 Publication Date: 2006-11-17

"[F]ocus[es] on the corpus of knowledge garnered in traditional areas of sociological inquiry. document[s] the general orientation of the newer and currently emerging areas of sociological inquiry."

Publication Date: 1975-present

Key source of literature review articles.
"[C]overs the significant developments in the field of Sociology."

ISBN: 9781444330397 Publication Date: 2012-01-17

A handbook presenting major topics and emerging trends.
Previous editions:
The Blackwell companion to sociology (2004) - Judith R. Blau (Editor)
The Blackwell companion to sociology (2001) - Judith R. Blau (Editor)

ISBN: 9780199533008 Publication Date: 2009-02-15

Additional print sociology dictionaries are listed in the Library Catalog under the subject Sociology Dictionaries.

Social Science Reference Works

ISBN: 9781118900772 Publication Date: 2015 ISBN: 9780080970875 Publication Date: 2015 ISBN: 0080430767 Publication Date: 2001 Also available in print: Hatcher Graduate Reference Room (2nd floor North) H 41 .I581 2001 ISBN: 9780028659657 Publication Date: 2007

Social Theory Reference Works

ISBN: 0761926119 Publication Date: 2004-08-19 Call Number: Online + Print (Hatcher Graduate — 1A North) HM 425 .E53 2006 ISBN: 9780415290463 Publication Date: 2006-02-15 "Provides more coverage of schools of thought in social theory" than the Ritzer encyclopedia. ISBN: 9781444330786 Publication Date: 2011-05-06

Also available in print: (Hatcher Graduate — 1A North) HM 478 .B583 2011
Find previous editions in the Library Catalog under the titles: Blackwell companion to major classical social theorists; Blackwell companion to major contemporary social theorists; Blackwell companion to major social theorists

Topical Reference Works

Reference Databases

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U-M Library Articles Search This link opens in a new window

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SAGE Knowledge This link opens in a new window A searchable collection of e-books, reference books and documentary videos in the social sciences. Gale eBooks This link opens in a new window Provides online access to over 1,500 reference works from Gale, Macmillan, and other publishers.
Oxford Reference Online This link opens in a new window

Over 400 dictionary, language reference, and subject reference works published by Oxford University Press.

Online Index to Hatcher Graduate Library Reference Books This link opens in a new window Searchable full text index to 7,500 print reference works shelved in the Hatcher Graduate Library.

Topical Handbooks in Sociology

Handbooks provide essays covering recent developments in particular disciplinary sub-topics. The term companion may also be used, as in the series Blackwell companions to sociology.

Search for relevant handbooks within a Reference Database or in the Library Catalog by entering the keywords handbook or companion, followed by your topic keywords. It may help to search for keywords in the title.

Examples of topical handbook titles include: The Wiley Blackwell companion to the sociology of families; Handbook of medical sociology; The Oxford handbook of ethnicity, crime, and immigration.

Topical Encyclopedias in Sociology

Topical encyclopedias cover specialized fields that overlap or are closely related to sociological inquiry.

Search for relevant encyclopedias within a Reference Database or in the Library Catalog by entering the keyword encyclopedia, followed by your topic keywords. It may help to search for keywords in the title.

Some relevant titles include: