Research Guides: Sociology Learning Communities: Home

Your Team! College of Business, Liberal Arts, and SAMC

Left to Right: Jennifer Anderson, and Lisa Louis.

We are the librarians for the College of Business, the College of Liberal Arts, and the School of Arts, Media, and Communication (SAMC). We look forward to working with you! To contact us or to make an appointment:

Submit your request and we'll get right back to you!

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Finding Images

Looking for Images?
We've created a page to help you find images - and then help you cite them!

Photo by Marten Newhall on Unsplash

Background Information

Credo Reference This link opens in a new window
Provides online reference from digitized reference sources. Searchable by reference source, by subject, or across all sources. Includes a concept mapping function to assist in broadening or narrowing searches. Reliable, reputable reference sources. Citation assistance is available for the most popular formats.

Dictionary of American History
Really an encyclopedia, this reference source provides good summaries of major events and biographical sketches of figures in American History.

You can also visit the Reference Collection in Bell Library. We have lots of reference books that help you find historical background.

More Background and Viewpoint Sources

Points of View Reference Center This link opens in a new window
Containing resources that present multiple sides of an issue, this database provides articles and other materials for developing persuasive arguments and essays, understanding controversial issues and developing analytical thinking skills.
CQ Researcher This link opens in a new window
CQ Researcher provides in-depth coverage of the most important issues of the day. Reports are written by experienced journalists, footnoted and professionally fact-checked. Full-length articles include an overview, historical background, chronology, pro/con feature, plus resources for additional research. Graphics, photos and short "sidebar" features round out the reports. Shorter "Hot Topics" articles provide a solid introduction to subjects most in demand by students.
Opposing Viewpoints in Context This link opens in a new window
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Database covering social issues with Informed, differing views help learners develop critical-thinking skills and draw their own conclusions. A rich resource for debaters it includes pro/con viewpoints, reference articles, interactive maps, infographics, and more.
Access World News This link opens in a new window
News articles from the 1980s to present, from a wide variety of media, including newspapers, newswires, broadcast transcripts, blogs, periodicals, videos, and web-only content. Includes over 400 U.S. newspapers and over 1000 international newspapers. Includes Corpus Christi Caller-Times from 1883-2021.

Using Bell Library's Quick Search

The video below shows you how to conduct a quick search from Bell Library's homepage and how to access the resources you find there.

Bell Library Homepage
To access the Quick Search box, go to the Bell Library homepage.

Sociology Databases and Other Useful Resources

Sociological Abstracts This link opens in a new window
Abstracts and indexes the international literature in sociology and related disciplines in the social and behavioral sciences. The database provides abstracts of journal articles and citations to book reviews drawn from over 1,700 periodicals and also provides abstracts of books, book chapters, dissertations, and conference papers.
Social Science Premium Collection (ProQuest) This link opens in a new window
Search for articles across all ProQuest social science databases, including Criminal Justice Database, Education Database, LLBA, PAIS, Sociological Abstracts, and more.

Manchester Academic Phrasebank
The Academic Phrasebank is a general resource for academic writers. It aims to provide you with examples of some of the phraseological ‘nuts and bolts’ of writing organized according to the main sections of a research paper or dissertation. Other phrases are listed under the more general communicative functions of academic writing. The resource should be particularly useful for writers who need to report their research work.The phrases, and the headings under which they are listed, can be used simply to assist you in thinking about the content and organization of your own writing, or the phrases can be incorporated into your writing where this is appropriate.

Mind Map

Mind Map - Blank
Didn't make it to the library session? Lost the one you were given during the session? Love the idea so you want to use it for another class? Here you'll find a blank version of the mind map. Feel free to click on and print out.

Using Google

Most research starts with Google, we encourage it as a matter of fact. Using Google will help you discover a topic or even better develop a topic idea you have in mind.

There is a small problem, however. How can you ensure Google is giving you reliable sources?

Here's a trick: When looking for sources you can trust, try to stick to .edu, .org, or .gov websites. To do this, enter your search terms in the search box and then add "site:.edu" or "site:.org" or "site:.gov". For example, if you're researching education issues in Texas, you could search "corpus christi AND homeless programs site:.gov"

To specifically search for Texas Governement Agencies, search using "site:.state.tx.us". An example would be: "food insecurity site:.state.tx.us".

Additional Databases

America: History and Life This link opens in a new window
Contains abstracts and some full text from all key English language historical journals covering U.S. and Canadian history. Coverage includes book and media reviews and dissertations. Indexes articles from other countries, state and local historical societies.
JSTOR This link opens in a new window
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Arts & Sciences Collections I - XV include the complete back runs of journals in many disciplines, with research journals in economics, history, political science, sociology, ecology, mathematics, statistics, etc..
Unlimited users.