Sociology

Page contents > Introduction | The Library Catalogue | Finding books | Finding printed journals and electronic journals | Finding journal articles and using online information sources | Newspapers | Conferences | Theses | Electronic books | Current Research | Working Papers | Finding books not held by LSE Library | Data | Archives | Finding quick reference materials | Organising your references | Using other libraries | Useful Web Sites | Online tutorials | Collection Policy for Sociology

Introduction

This guide is intended as an introduction to books, journals, and electronic sources available for sociology and sociological topics. It has been prepared by the Liaison Librarian for the Department of Sociology|, Rowena Macrae-Gibson|. If you have any queries about this guide, or need further help with finding information on sociology topics then email Rowena Macrae-Gibson|

BIOS| members will find our guide on Bioscience & Health| useful.

You can also find further help in the Library-just ask at the Library Help Desk on the First floor, or you can email our general enquiries helpdesk via our Web enquiry form|.
You can also book on one of our Library Skills courses during term time at our Information Skills| page.

Why not maximise your use of our online resources via the Library Companion for Students| in Moodle. Here you'll find further online help including using Library resources, top tips on online databases, formulating search strategies and getting the most out of your internet searching.
For further in-depth research advice take a look at the Library Companion for Researchers|

The Library Catalogue

The Library Catalogue| includes printed material and electronic books held by the Library. Enter your search terms and then use the options on the right hand side of the screen to refine your results. You can use the Advanced search option if you wish to combine specific terms such as author and keyword 

Finding books

Most books have a classmark which represents its subject. Useful classmarks include:

Sociology material is shelved in a number of places, a lot of it on the second floor (classmarks P & RA are shelved on the first floor and BL are shelved in the third floor).  However you will also find a lot of relevant material in our Intergovernmental Organisations| section (such as UN reports) and Governmental| sections. For best results look for your topic on  the Library Catalogue|

Reading lists

• There is a separate Course Collection for essential and background readings on reading lists that is only accessible by LSE staff and students in term time.  Some background readings may be located as Recommended Texts in the Main Collection. 
• You can short-cut the searching for reading list books by clicking on the 'Reading lists' link on the  Library Catalogue

Finding printed journals and electronic journals

The Library catalogue includes details of both print and online journals - it is important to remember that not all titles are available electronically, or not available for all years so you may need to use both printed and online journals.

If you wish to restrict your search to just our online titles then go to the Electronic journals| page for full-text electronic journals. Look through the alphabetical lists or search by title to go to a specific journal. Search by title keyword to find relevant journals, or choose Social Sciences from the drop down subject category listing to see Sociology titles, or Government, Law & Public Policy to see Criminology titles

A few key titles are listed below:  For access either go to the Journal shelves at the classmark listed, or look up the title in our Electronic journals| portal.

You will notice that some titles are available via more than one service - and that sometimes date coverage varies. Make sure you choose the correct access for the dates you require.

Finding journal articles and using online information sources

Journal articles are not generally indexed on the Library Catalogue, so look for the journal in which the article was published.

If you are doing research on a topic and do not have a reading list then you will probably need to use one of our electronic databases. Do not assume a simple Google search will find all articles - the Library provides powerful searches which include Google Scholar and more. Our databases cover materials from a wide range of publishers so can give you more information than you will retrieve from an individual publisher's e-journal site. Some databases will link to the full text of article -look out for the orange LSE Article Finder button    but some will give you bibliographic details only. Databases can also include information on book reviews, book chapters, grey literature, government reports, theses and so on

• The Library provides a searching service for LSE staff and students called Cross Searcher that searches the content of a number of selected databases and resources. This can be used to find journal articles, and where available, links through to the full text, using the LSE article finder orange button: 
• Not all useful resources for Sociological topics are available via Cross Searcher.
• For the widest research you can see a full list of Sociology databases via the library catalogue or use the list below.

You may also want to look at the subject guides for Bioscience & Health|, Economics|, Government|, Media|, and Social Policy| to see databases for related areas.

On campus links have been provided for each database but you can also access our subscription databases via the Electronic Resources Page. You will need to enter your LSE username & password to logon.

ASSIA:| Applied Social Sciences Index & Abstracts

• Content: Broad range of Social science subjects, particularly good for applied topics such as Social welfare.
• Coverage: Abstracts and references to journal articles and book reviews
• Access: Available via Cross Searcher or above link
• Date range: 1987-
• Updates: Monthly
• Features
  • Links to full text articles via LSE Article Finder
  • Available via Cross Searcher
  • Searches can be saved to rerun at a later date
  • Automatic search alerts are available
  • Thesaurus available
  • Links to subject related web sites
  • Results can be imported into Endnote
  • Same interface as Criminal Justice Abstracts and PAIS International, so cross searching available

Criminal Justice Abstracts|

• Content: Criminology & related areas
• Coverage: Abstracts and references to journal articles, book reviews and book chapters
• Access: Available via Cross Searcher or above link.
• Date range: 1987-
• Updates: Quarterly
• Features
  • Links to full text articles via LSE Article Finder
  • Available via Cross Searcher
  • Searches can be saved to rerun at a later date
  • Automatic search alerts are available
  • Searches can be limited to specific topic strands such as Penology
  • Results can be imported into Endnote
  • Same interface as ASSIA, and PAIS International, so cross searching available

GreenFILE|

• Content: Ecology & environmental issues
• Coverage: Abstracts and references to journal articles,
• Access: Library Catalogue or above link
• Features
  • Links to full text articles via LSE Article Finder
  • Results can be imported into Endnote
  • Searches can be saved to rerun at a later date
  • Automatic search updates & RSS feeds-personal login required
  • Available via EBSCO so can cross search with their other databases
• Not available via Cross Searcher

International Bibliography of the Social Sciences| (IBSS)

• View the Online Guide for Sociology
• View the Online guide for using IBSS for dissertations
• Content: Broad range of Social Science topics, but particularly strong on Anthropology, Economics, Politics & Sociology. Great place to start.
• Coverage: Abstracts and references to journal articles, book reviews and chapters from edited books
• Access: Available via Cross Searcher or above link.
• Date range: 1951-
• Updates: Weekly
• Features
  • Includes book and chapter references as well as references to journal articles and book reviews.
  • Available via Cross Searcher
  • Links to full text articles via LSE Article Finder
  • Good European foreign language coverage
  • Results can be imported into Endnote
  • Searches can be saved to rerun at a later date
  • Automatic search updates & RSS feeds-personal login required
  • Available via EBSCO so can cross search with their other databases

ISI Citation Indexes via the Web Of Knowledge|

• Content: There are 3 ISI files which can be cross searched: Science, Social Science and Arts & Humanities.
• Coverage: Abstracts and references to journal articles and book reviews
• Access: Available via Cross Searcher or above link.
• Date range: 1956-
• Updates: Weekly
• Features
  • Links to full text articles via LSE Article Finder
  • Available via Cross Searcher
  • Enables citation searching in addition to searching by keyword
  • Results can be exported directly into Endnote
  • Searches can be saved to rerun at a later date
  • Set up citation alerts to inform you of new entries citing your key papers
  • Can simultaneously search Medline
  • Also Available the ISI Conference Proceedings database for Science and Technology only

LGBT With Full Text|

• Content: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgendered information
• Coverage: Includes the full text of 50 top titles and references to journal articles, regional papers and books
• Access: Available via Cross Searcher or above link.
• Date range: Variable
• Features:
  • Links to full text articles via LSE Article Finder
  • Available via Cross Searcher
  • Available via EBSCO so can cross search with their other databases
  • Thesaurus available
  • Results can be imported into Endnote

Race Relations Abstracts|

• Coverage: Abstracts and references to journal articles,
• Access: Library Catalogue or above link
• Features
  • Links to full text articles via LSE Article Finder
  • Results can be imported into Endnote
  • Searches can be saved to rerun at a later date
  • Automatic search updates & RSS feeds-personal login required
  • Available via EBSCO so can cross search with their other databases
• Not available via Cross Searcher

CAB Direct| (was Rural Development Abstracts)

• Content:  Includes the database Rural Development Abstracts and Full Text Extra. Broad coverage including ICT and development, development organizations and aid, rural industry, rural sociology and agricultural development.
• Coverage: references to journal articles, reports and research covering all areas of rural development worldwide.
• Access: Catalogue or Above link
• Date Range: Rural Development Abstracts covers 1990-
• Features:
  • Results can be exported directly into EndNote
  • Thesaurus available
  • Saved searches & RSS feeds available (must register with CAB Direct first)
  • Links to Delicious and Cite-U-Like services
  • Not on Cross Searcher

Newspapers

For back runs of newspapers you will need to use the Nexis News database. Please note though, that this service is text only and does not include any images. The British Library Newspaper Library at Colindale| has back-runs of London, British provincial and some overseas newspapers. If you need to see particular images or illustrations from back runs of newspapers then you may need to visit the British Library Newspaper Library at Colindale

Discover some freely available news sources|

On campus links have been provided for each database but you can also access these databases via the  Library Catalogue.

Nexis (formerly Lexis Nexis News)|

• Content: Newspapers in text form only
• Coverage: News
• Access: Library Catalogue or above link
• Date range: Variable from 1980-
• Updates: Overnight for daily newspapers
• Features
  • 2 databases are available: News (global news sources) and Butterworths (also includes legal information)
• Not available via Cross Searcher

Older material from The Times can be accessed via the Times Digital Archive-this is a facsimile of the newspaper so includes all images, adverts etc.

Times Digital Archive|

• Content: The Times in full text
• Access: Library Catalogue or above link
• Date range: Variable from 1785-1985
• Not available via Cross Searcher

Conferences

Some of the other databases mentioned above may index conferences but for a fuller service use one of the databases below.

On campus links have been provided for each database but you can also access our subscription databases via the Electronic Resources Page.

Note that some organisations may make their conference papers freely available online. Try searching for the homepage of your requested organisation.

ZETOC|

• Content: Table of contents database listing all titles in all subject areas stocked by the British Library. Huge range of topics
• Access: Available via Cross Searcher or above link
• Date range: 1993-
• Updates: Daily
• Features
  • No keywords or abstracts, so search strategies can be limited
  • LSE Article Finder available-for journals only
  • Includes conference details
  • Automatic search alerts and journal table of contents alerts are available
  • Directly searchable from within Endnote. Results can also be imported

ISI Conference Proceedings via the Web Of Knowledge|

• Content: Conference proceedings for Science and Technology only
• Coverage: Abstracts and references to conference papers and reports
• Access: Available via Cross Searcher or above link
• Date range: 1990-
• Updates: Weekly
• Features
  • Results can be exported directly into Endnote
  • Searches can be saved to rerun at a later date
  • Set up citation alerts to inform you of new entries citing your key papers
  • Includes pre-prints if the conference papers are not yet published

Discover some freely available conference portals|

Theses

Some of the other databases mentioned above will index theses in addition to journal articles, book reviews etc. The resources listed below will give access to the fullest UK & US bibliographic theses data, however.

On campus links have been provided for each database but you can also access our subscription databases via the Electronic Resources Page.

African, Australian, Canadian & Hong Kong theses databases are also listed on the Library catalogue

Proquest Dissertations and Theses|

• Content: PhD, M.Phil & Masters theses/dissertations, mostly from North America, but titles from other areas are included. Previously called Digital Dissertations
• Coverage: LSE subscribes to the Humanities and Social Sciences sub-set, but brief details are available for more recent years in all topic areas
• Access: Available via Cross Searcher or above link
• Date range: Some nineteenth century details are available
• Features
  • Includes 24 page previews in pdf format from 1997

Index to Theses|

• Content: UK & Irish PhD & M.Phil theses
• Access: Library Catalogue or above link
• Date range: 1716- (N.B. Abstracts included from 1986 onwards, although many are now being added prior to this date)
• Features:
  • Alerting service available

LSE Theses are indexed on the Library Catalogue|. Choose the 'set search limits' button and then select 'theses' from the Collections menu to limit your search to just theses

University of London Theses are housed in the off site store of Senate House Library. You can use the Senate House Library catalogue| to search for theses awarded by the University of London

The Companion for Undergraduate Dissertations| from the University of Birmingham gives advice to Social Science undergraduates on researching and writing dissertations

Discover some freely available theses databases|

Electronic books

The Library has a growing number of electronic book suppliers as shown on the list here|. All ebooks are listed on the Libary catalogue. They are accessible to LSE staff and students by using their network username and password.  Major electronic book suppliers  include:

• Oxford Scholarship Online. Including Oxford University Press titles
• Intelex Past Masters. Classic texts by Hegel, Kant and others

Current Research

ESRC society today| has a page indicating current, UK-based, ESRC -funded research

LSE Research Online| is a collection of research produced by LSE staff. It often contains content which is full text and freely available. This is constantly updated and displayed below are examples of some of the most recently added items, or you can see research added from the Department of Sociology|

If you are interested in including your own research please contact staff at lseresearchonline@lse.ac.uk|

Working Papers

Many organizations working papers are listed on the Library Catalogue, but increasing numbers of working papers are available online|. Take a look at our listing| to see an overview of what's available within Sociology.

Finding books not held by LSE Library

You can  search Library catalogues from all over the world to identify material. If you can't get to the holding Library, then you can always request material via our Inter Library Loan| service.

See our page on using other libraries| for links to other University & National Libraries and useful links

The two databases below allow you to search for material from several different Libraries.

COPAC|

• Content: Library catalogues of major UK research libraries
• Coverage: Cross search the catalogues of over 20 large research libraries, including the British Library,  LSE, British Library, UCL, Kings, Wellcome Library etc
• Access: Freely available
• Features
  • Results can be imported into Endnote-can also be searched directly from Endnote
  • Book availability for most Libraries- i.e. you can see if something is listed as being available or on loan
  • Better interface than the British Library's own catalogue
  • Can cross search Library catalogues rather than searching each individually
• Not available via Cross Searcher

Worldcat|

• Content: worldwide Library catalogues
• Coverage: If it's stocked by a member library, then you will see it-be prepared for frustration on locating obscure items though
• Access: Library Catalogue or above link
• Date range: literally 1066 and All that follows
• Updates: Daily
• Features
  • Results can be imported into Endnote
  • Searches can be saved to rerun at a later date (you must register with OCLC to do this)
  • Cross searching available with the other OCLC FirstSearch databases to which LSE subscribes
• Not available via Cross Searcher
  

Data

The Data Library contains a wide range of data and statistics from across the globe. Access is usually available online but in some cases only available from specific machines in the Library itself. All resources can be found via the Data Library webpages|. There is also a Moodle course called the Library Companion for Data Users| that will help you locate resources.

The Data Librarian is also available to assist with any queries you may have about finding data or using individual resources.

Archives

Look at our Archives pages| to see what is available at LSE, in the UK and internationally.

Finding quick reference materials

The Reference Collection| on the First floor contains dictionaries, directories, encyclopaedias etc. Some examples are:

Organising your references

Once you have found your references, keep track of them using EndNote bibliographic software|. Use EndNote to store and organise your references to books and journals, and to create your citations, footnotes, bibliographies and reading lists in Word. EndNote works with Word to format your references automatically. You can also export references from many online databases directly into Endnote.

Why not book a place| on one of our hands on courses.

Using other libraries

If you are an LSE student you will be able to use most other libraries of the University of London. There may also be other specialist libraries and collections you might be able to visit, such as the Library of the Wellcome Institute| for medical and Health topics.

To find out more  look at the Library's web pages on other libraries|, or ask at the Help Desk.

Useful Web Sites

American Sociological Association http://www.asanet.org/index.ww|
British Sociological Association http://www.britsoc.co.uk/|
The Companion for Undergraduate Dissertations from the University of Birmingham gives advice to Social Science undergraduates on researching and writing dissertations http://www.socscidiss.bham.ac.uk/s1.html|
Dead Sociologists Index http://media.pfeiffer.edu/lridener/DSS/|
Directory of Open Access Journals http://www.doaj.org/|
Electronic Journal of Sociology http://www.sociology.org/|
ESRC Society Today http://www.esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk/ESRCInfoCentre/index.aspx|
European Sociological Association http://www.valt.helsinki.fi/esa/index.htm|
The Global Site http://www.theglobalsite.ac.uk/index.html|
The Question Bank: Social Surveys & Research Questionnaires online http://qb.soc.surrey.ac.uk/|
Sociological Research Online http://www.socresonline.org.uk/home.html|
Sociology web portal from Intute http://www.intute.ac.uk/socialsciences/sociology/|
SocioSite http://www.sociosite.net/index.php|

Take a look at a fuller list| of useful websites for Sociology

Online tutorials

Polish up your web hunting skills with online tutorials for sociology|, social research methods|, social statistics| and women's studies|

Learn how to evaluate online resources with the Online Internet Detective| tutorial

Collection Policy for Sociology

Our collection policy for Sociology| indicates what the Library aims to collect in this subject.