Social Problems
This guide is suggested for students of SOC 1500.
Finding and Focusing a Topic
The Library has a large number of subject specific online encyclopedias with exhaustive and well-researched entries written by subject experts. The essays in these encyclopedias and companions are great overviews and they can be very helpful in defining and focusing a topic. All essays include bibliographies that will lead to further sources on a topic.
- Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology
Here are links to a few sample entries:
Social Problems, Concepts and Perspectives
Politics of Social Problems
Homelessness - Encyclopedia of Social Problems
Browse the Reader's Guide for topic ideas. Here are links to two essays:
Gangsta Rap
Identity Politics - 21st Century Sociology. A Reference Handbook
See the entry on Social Problems. - Sage Reference Online
Search the Sage online reference collection in its entirety or browse specific encyclopedias such as the Encyclopedia of Homelessness, the Encyclopedia of World Poverty or the Encyclopedia of Crime & Punishment. - Blackwell Companion to Social Inequalities
- Blackwell Companion to Criminology
- Encyclopedia of Crime and Justice
Scholarly Journal Articles
Here is a selection of databases that will lead you to peer-reviewed journal articles. Contact me for further suggestions.
- Sociological Abstracts
Covers scholarly journals in the field of sociology. - Social Services Abstracts
Covers current research focused on social work, human services, and related areas. - ERIC
The ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center) database is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education to provide extensive access to educational-related literature. It indexes both journal articles and reports from government and private agencies. - Criminal Justice Abstracts
Covers crime trends, crime prevention and deterrence, juvenile delinquency, juvenile justice, police, courts and sentencing.
Your gateway to the full text of journal articles!
Content is available via the following links: Click on the Article link(s) to go to the full text.
Request from Villanova document delivery or another library: Submit an interlibrary loan request online. It takes on average 3-5 days for the article to arrive via email.
Full text linking:
Formatting references in APA style
What is a scholarly journal article?
A scholarly journal article is a lengthy journal article based on primary research or original theoretical speculation and published in what is often referred to as a peer-reviewed journal. Most scholarly journal articles in the social sciences include the following elements:
Author name and affiliation
Abstract
Introduction & literature review
Data & measurement
Analysis & results
Conclusion
Bibliography
For a more detailed description of the differences between scholarly journals and popular magazines click here.
Below is an image of part of the first page of a scholarly article:
[Renzulli, L. A., & Evans, L. (2005). School choice, charter schools, and white flight. Social Problems, 52(3), 398-418. ]
You can find a detailed description of the peer-review process on Wikipedia.
Why not Google?
Why not? Here are some arguments in favor of library databases:
Timeliness: Google favors older publications, which is a problem in the social sciences.
Full text availability: Links to the full text will not work when you are off campus and Google will not link you to interlibrary loan forms or print holdings.
Quality: Google does not limit to peer-reviewed journals
Quantity: Too much to sort through!
Citing Your Sources
- Documenting Source in APA Style
Research and Documentation Online by Diana Hacker. Includes sample paper and list of cited reference in APA style.
Sample APA style paper and list of cited references. - Export references in APA style for your cited reference list
Check off all articles in which you are interested and click on Save, Print, Email. The QuickBib feature has a selection of styles available from which you can choose. APA is the most widely used style in the social sciences.
- Refworks
Never type a bibliography again! RefWorks will help you easily gather, manage, and store bibliographic citations for all types of information, as well as generate footnotes and bibliographies.
Make an appointment to meet with Kristyna
I am happy to meet with you at any time, in person, by phone, or virtually via our chat service.
You can also email me directly.
