ASA
Databases
Relevant Journals

• Use Reference Materials and specialized encyclopedias to gain an overview or broad understanding of a topic or unknown concepts.
• Use ASA, the Lehigh online catalog to identify books on topic.
• Use WorldCat database to identify books on topic which Lehigh does not own but may be able to borrow for you through Interlibrary Loan.
• Find articles in scholarly journals on your topic using article databases and indexes.
• Find government publications on your topic using GPO Monthly catalog database or print volumes.
• Refer to the bibliographies and cited reference lists in your chosen books and articles to identify other books, articles and statistical sources pertinent to your topic.
• Find statistical data on your topic using cited references, statistical reference source books and indexes, and data sites on the Web.
• Find additional information using the World Wide Web. Evaluate Web resources carefully.

 

 
 
 

---

Selected Reference Works

Dynes, Wayne R. ed. 1990. Encyclopedia of Homosexuality. N.Y.: Garland. 306.76603 E56 (FM-1-REF)

Levinson, David. ed. 1995. Encyclopedia of Marriage and the Family. N.Y.: Macmillan, 306.803 E56 (FM-1-REF)

Momeni, Jamshid A. ed. 1983. Demography of the Black Population in the United States: an Annotated Bibliography with a Review Essay. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. 304.6089 M732d (FM-1-REF)

Researching the Family: A Guide to Survey and Statistical Data on U.S. Families. Washington, DC: Child Trends, Inc. 306.85072 R432 (FM-1-REF)

Sahli, Nancy. 1984. Women and Sexuality in America: a bibliography. Boston: G. K. Hall. 306.7088 S131w (FM-1-REF)

Smythe, Mabel M. ed. 1976. The Black American Reference Book. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall 301.451 D262A 1976 (FM-1-REF)

Return to contents

Finding information in books and journal articles

Use the Lehigh  Virtual Library Services to access Article Indexes and Databases as well as ASA,the Lehigh Online Catalog of books and journal holdings.

ASA: the Lehigh Online Catalog - search tips

Use Keyword searches to find books with your chosen search words appearing anywhere in the book's record. It completely searches through all fields, including the author, title, subject headings fields as well as any table of contents notes available in the record.

Example keyword search : men and role and family

Possible subject headings to search:

Afro-Americans
Asian Americans
Gender identity
Hispanic Americans
Masculinity
Race
Racial identity
Sex Role
Women
Return to contents

Academic Index (InfoTrac) provides citations (and some full text) of articles from scholarly journals in many disciplines, plus some general interest periodicals. 1980-

America: History and Life Indexes scholarly journals covering U.S. and Canadian history. 1964-

ERIC  Provides references to thousands of educational topics. Includes journal articles, books, theses, curriculi, conference papers, and standards and guidelines. Covers materials from 1966-

GPO Monthly Catalog Index to U.S. government publications. Lehigh is a depository library and will have many of them. 1976- For earlier materials use the print Monthly Catalog located in Government Documents.

Historical Abstracts Indexes scholarly journals covering world history from 1450 to present, excluding U.S. and Canada. 1967-

Medline Covers mostly medical journals. 1965-

PAIS (Public Affairs Info Service) Citations to articles, books and journals relating to all aspects of public policy. 1972-

PsychInfo Major index to journals in psychology and related fields. 1967-

Social Science Index/Abst. Indexes scholarly journals in sociology, anthropology Law, political science, and economics. 1983-

Sociological Abstracts index to articles in fields of sociology and anthropology. 1963-

WorldCat Records of books in libraries all over the world. Use to identify books not at Lehigh.
 
 

Women's Studies Abstracts Located in FM-1-INDEXES. Citations to articles in women's studies. 1989 -1996
 

Ethnic & Racial Studies 301.45105 E84 ***
Gender and Society 305 G325
Journal for the Theory of Social Behavior 301.05 J861 ***
Journal of Asian American Studies (Project Muse only) ***
NWSA Journal 305 N898
Sex Roles 305 S578
Women's Studies Quarterly 305 W8723

***Electronic Version Available

American Statistics Index. 1980 to present. Bethesda, MD: Congressional Information Service. 310.016 C749a (FM-1-REF). [Especially look at the "BY SEX or BY RACE" Section of the "Index by Categories." Some of these materials are available in the Government Documents Department (FM-2-South).]
 

Statistical Reference Index. 1981 to present. Bethesda, MD: Congressional Information Service. 317.3016 S797 (FM-1-REF). [Especially look at the "BY SEX or BY RACE" Section of the "Index by Categories." These materials are available in microfiche (FM-1-REF).]
 

Chadwick, Bruce A. ed. 1992. Statistical Handbook on the American Family. Phoenix: Oryx Press. 306.85 S797 (FM-1-REF)

Gall, Susan B., ed. 1993. Statistical Record of Asian Americans. Detroit: Gale Research, 305.895 S797 (FM-1-REF)

Schick, Frank L., ed. 1991. Statistical Handbook on U.S. Hispanics. Phoenix Oryx Press. 305.868 S797 (FM-1-REF)

Schmittroth, Linda, ed. 1991. Statistical record of women worldwide. Detroit: Gale Research. 305.4021 S797 (FM-1-REF)

Taeuber, Cynthia, ed. 1991. Statistical handbook on women in America. Phoenix, AZ: Oryx Press. 305.70973 S797 (FM-1-Ref)

United States Bureau of the Census. 1991. State and metropolitan area data book. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office. 317.3 U581sta (FM-1-REF).

United States Bureau of the Census. 1998. Statistical abstract of the United States. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office. 317 U58s (FM-1-Ready-REF)

United States Department of Commerce. 1996. Subject index to Current Population Reports and other population report series. Wash. D.C.: United States GPO.
C 3.186:P-23/192 (FM-2-DOCS)

Located in the Government Documents, Reference Area under call number: 317.3 U584:

1790, First Census of the United States
1800, Second Census
1810, Third Census
1820, Fourth Census
1830, Fifth Census
1840, Sixth Census
1850, Seventh Census
1860, Eighth Census
1870, Ninth Census
1880, Tenth Census
1890, Eleventh Census
1900, Twelfth Census

Located in the Government Documents, Reference Area under call number: 317.3 U58:

1910, Thirteenth Census
1920, Fourteenth Census
1930, Fifteenth Census
1940, Sixteenth Census
1950, Census of Population and Housing
1960, Census of Population and Housing

Located in the Government Documents Stacks under the Superintendent of Documents Number:

1970 - C 3.223/9: 970
1980 - C 3.223/6: 980
1990 - C 3.223/5: 990 ( also available on CD rom products and http://www.census.gov
Return to contents

Social Sciences Data on the Net

This web site produced by the University of California at San Diego is a helpful jumping off point for researchers seeking archival social science data on the World Wide Web. It is focused primarily on the United States and contains an encyclopedic, well-annotated listing of data providers from governmental, proprietary and university-based sources.

 The Data Archive

The Data Archive contains the largest collection of accessible computer-readable data in the social sciences and humanities in the United Kingdom. Through these web pages it is also possible to search the catalogs of other national archives for computer-readable data.

The Scout Report

An internet current awareness tool, the Scout Report teams of librarians and subject specialists select, research and annotate the best of the new web resources. You can link to the subject specific Scout Report for the Social Sciences or browse and search all past Scout Reports using their
Signpost feature.

       Social Science Information Gateway: SOSIG

SOSIG Internet Catalog offers access to thousands of high quality internet resources, each selected and described by academic librarians and subject specialists. Produced in the United Kingdom, thus many sites are U.K. or European in focus.

 Social Sciences: World Wide Web Resources by Subject

Subject listing of the various WWW Virtual Library Web guides focused
on Social Science topics.

Criteria for Evaluating Information on the Internet

Accuracy

• Are facts and statistics documented?
• Is information properly cited?
• Is the site well researched?

• Can the author or sponsor be identified?
• What are the credentials or qualifications of the author or sponsor?
• What is the institutional affiliation?
• Is contact information provided?

• Are there biases in the document? Is it designed to sway opinion?
• Are the aims or goals of the author/sponsor clearly stated?

• When was the site or information last updated?
• Are the links up-to-date?

• How does the information compare with other sources available on the topic?
• How in-depth is the material?

Additional Readings on this topic:
 Evaluating Web-Based Information  (Follow all "next" links)
 Evaluating Internet Information
 Evaluating Internet Research Resources

 Guide for Citing Electronic Information
 Documenting Sources from the World Wide Web
 Bibliographic Formats for Citing Electronic Information

Page created February 18, 1999