|Lloyd Sealy Library John Jay College of Criminal Justice|
Basic Reference Books For Sociology 101
This list of selected encyclopedias and handbooks will be useful for students researching most topics in basic sociology. All the books listed will be found in the reference stacks on the library’s second floor. Remember to check the bibliographies that generally accompany articles in these special encyclopedias. Also, look up your topic in CUNY+ for more information.
1. Encyclopedias and Handbooks
Abortion, medicine and the law. (1986). NY: Facts on File. [HQ 767.5 .U5 A265]
International handbook on abortion. (1988). Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.
Together these two handbooks provide a comprehensive introduction to the controversies involved in abortion. The first text is a collection of essays addressing the legal, historical, medical, and ethical issues. The second describes the historical development of abortion policy in 33 countries.
American childhood - A research guide and historical handbook. (1985). Westport,
A collection of scholarly essays which trace the development of literature and research on childhood in America from colonial times to the present.
Encyclopedia of adolescence. (2 vol.). (1991). NY: Garland. [HQ 796 .E58]
Encyclopedia of aging. (1987). NY: Springer. [HQ 1061 .E53]
These two complimentary sets offer articles on the sociological, physical, and psychological aspects of adolescence and gerontology.
Encyclopedia of bioethics. (5 vol.). (1995). NY: Macmillan. [QH 332 .E54]
Articles here discuss the moral, ethical, legal, and religious aspects of health care, the life sciences, and biological philosophy. An excellent source for such topics as mental health, abortion, death and dying, euthanasia, homosexuality, etc.
Encyclopedia of censorship. (1990). New York: Facts on File. [Z 657 .G73]
Sourcebook on pornography. (1989) Lexington, MA: Lexington Books. [HQ 471 .O83]
Encyclopedia of drugs and alcohol. (4 vol.). (1995). New York: Macmillan.
Encyclopedia of homosexuality. (2 vol.). (1990). NY: Garland. [HQ 76.25 .E53]
Encyclopedia of Sociology. (4 vol.). (1992). New York: Macmillan. [HM 17 .E5]
The most comprehensive introduction to the field.
Handbook of family violence. (1988). NY: Plenum. [HQ 809.3 .U5 H35]
Family violence: Origins and treatment. (1984). NY: Praeger. [HQ 809 .P4]
Encyclopedia of child abuse. (1989). NY: Facts on File. [HV 6626.5 .C57]
Handbook of sociology. (1988). Newbury Park, CA: Sage. [HM 51 .H249]
An excellent compilation of recent studies and summaries of research in all fields of sociology.
Handbook of survey research. (1983). NY: Academic. [HN 29 .H294]
International encyclopedia of the social sciences. (18 vol.). (1968). NY: Macmillan.
Written by experts and scholars, it is regarded as an authoritative source for all fields in social science. Since it's major emphasis is on the historical and developmental aspects of the social sciences, it has not lost relevancy as an orientation to the field. Vol. 18 is a biographical supplement of important figures in all the subject areas.
A more recent one volume comprehensive work is the:
Sourcebook on death and dying. (1982). Chicago: Marquis. [HQ 1073.5 .U6 S68]
Encyclopedia of death. (1989). Phoenix: Oryx. [HQ 1073 .E54]
Women’s studies encyclopedia. (3 vol.). (1989). Westport, CT: Greenwood.
2. Annual Reviews
Annual review of sociology. (1975 present). Palo Alto, CA: Annual Reviews Inc.
Comparative social research. (1985 present). Greenwich, CA: JAI Press. [HM 1 .C64]
Research in the sociology of organizations. (1982 present). Greenwich, CT: JAI Press.
Sociological methodology. (1980 present). San Francisco, CA: JosseyBass.
Urban affairs annual reviews. (1967 present). Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.