For quick access to high quality information for your assignments, try the links on these pages.

Set up the University VPN system to access these resources any time, anywhere.

New - 1st May 2025Changes happening to Ebook Central.

Reading Lists

Your lecturers spend a lot of time deciding which resources to recommend, so always look at your module reading lists first. The link above takes you to the lists for courses in SASSHPL.

Key Starters for Essays and Dissertations

After looking at your online reading list, try these to help with your assignments

  • Think about what you need to find.
  • Look at your topic and identify keywords and phrases which will help you find relevant information.
  • Ask yourself whether other words are often used to describe parts of the topic e.g. teenagers, youths, adolescents and note these down for your search too.
  • Decide what type of information you need and where you are going to search. The details below and the other sections on this subject page will help you with this.

It is important to understand the type of information you need when researching for your assignment.  For example you may want to start by finding definitions or background information. You may have been asked to find journal articles. Alternatively you may be seeking professional information, statistics or research findings. Once you have decided what type of information you need, you can use the Ocean of Information to help you understand the value of different sources and how to access them. When using the Library's Discovery Service to search, you will find that you can get a list of sources to choose from by clicking Add filters under the search box, then moving down to Source Types in the column which pops out on the right.

Evaluating your sources is also crucial when writing a piece of academic work - the Evaluating information section on the library website will guide you through this process.

Books often provide an excellent overview of a topic and are a great resource when starting an assignment.

To find print books:

Search the Library Catalogue (second search box on the page)
For each book, note the floor, number and letter code: FIRST FLOOR 658.00721 BRY - speed things up by taking a photo! 

To find ebooks:

Search the Library Catalogue (second search box on the page)
Filter your search on the left hand side to 'Electronic Books'.  
Click on the title of the ebook to load the full record, then use 'Online access' to view.

If you want to search within ebook packages, you will find those most relevant to you in the next section.

 

  • Credo Reference

    Fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    Explore Credo for trusted reference sources like dictionaries - a great alternative to Wikipedia! 

    Watch these short videos to get started:

    1. Search tips
    2. Using the automated mind map
  • Ebook Central

    Fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    Access around 200,000 ebooks across all subject areas.

  • Europa World

    Up-to-date, key facts and statistics, and background essays, for countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, Russia and Eastern Europe.

    To access off campus if not on the VPN:

    Click Login and then choose Login via Institution. 

  • Oxford Research Encyclopedia: African History

    Read authoritative, peer-reviewed, regularly updated entries written by experts on African History from across the world. Topics include African Diaspora, Afrocentrism, Oral Traditions, Women's History, Religious History, Slavery and Colonial History.

  • Oxford Research Encyclopedia: International Studies

    World experts give you accurate, unbiased and up-to-date overviews of a wide range of topics across IR and development e.g. civil wars, cultural diplomacy, dependency, development theory, environmental activism, feminist security studies, food insecurity, foreign aid, foreign policy analysis, global political economy, international order, regional integration in Africa, state terrorism, sustainable development, UN peacekeeping. Each entry is designed to take 30 mins or less to read so have a look here when you have a new topic to research.

    This short video explains the benefits of this source.

    For search tips watch this video.

  • Routledge Handbooks Online

    Over 250 unlimited access in-depth guides to current and classic research across a range of subject areas. If you can't access something via this site, put the book title into our general Portsmouth catalogue as we have some titles via Ebook Central instead.

Research Methods

  • Sage Research Methods

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    Access books and videos about quantitative and qualitative research methods and many more social science research topics. Use the Tools drop-down at the top centre of the screen to access a handy Project Planner which is full of FAQs about what you need to consider at each stage in a project/dissertation. Tools also contains a Methods Map which is ideal for quickly finding details about a particular research method.

SAGE Research Methods Overview

Welcome to sage research methods the ultimate methods library. 

Here you will find books, reference works, videos, case studies and datasets to help you with every step of your research project no matter how experienced you are with research.

If you're ready to start your research and you already know which methods you're going to use you can do a site search with the name of the method you've chosen.

We'll use focus groups as an example if you only want to see short entries to get a general understanding of the method. You can filter the search for just reference entries, you could also search for book titles if you wanted to read a whole book or book chapter on focus groups. You can also select available to me to see only content that your library subscribes to. Once you've found the piece of content you want you can read the full text on screen or choose to save to a PDF.

Save it to a reading list so you can come back to it later or share it using email or several social media platforms. You can also export the citation using a number of citation managers watch the reading list video available on the sage research methods help page to learn more about using and creating lists. If you're not quite sure which method you're looking for the methods map can help you browse terms and content the methods map. Is a visual representation of how methods terms and concepts are related to each other. You'll find a short definition of the term at the top with a link to relevant content plus you can view narrower terms to the right and broader terms to the left and see related terms by clicking on the bubble below watch the methods map video available on the sage research methods. Help page to learn more about this unique tool you can also browse the site by discipline from the home page. Select your discipline you'll see a short introduction with methods commonly used in your subject area and some specially selected content from doing your literature review to choosing a method to analyzing your data and publishing your results.

Sage research methods has everything you need to complete your research

 

Finding Articles

For most assignments, our Discovery Service will give you enough articles to work with. This short video shows how to get the best from Discovery.

Sometimes you may want to try specific databases or journals - perhaps your lecturer has recommended particular sources as a good way of finding articles. This section lists key sources for International Development:

Scholarly, peer-reviewed journals are highly regarded as a source of academic information because they include expert opinions, research findings and references to follow up.

They are written by specialised professionals and academics (such as your lecturers) from around the world.

Finding, reading and referencing relevant journal articles will help you get the highest marks.

  • Development and Change

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    One of the leading international journals in the field of development studies and social change. Development and Change is devoted to the critical analysis and discussion of the complete spectrum of development issues.

  • Development Policy Review

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    A top, peer-reviewed journal that makes crucial links between research and policy in international development. Edited by staff of the Overseas Development Institute, the London-based think-tank on international development and humanitarian issues, it publishes single articles and theme issues on topics at the forefront of current development policy debate.

  • Gender and Development

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    An Oxfam journal which in each issue focuses on a topic of key interest to all involved in promoting gender equality through development. An up-to-the minute overview of the topic is followed by a range of articles from researchers, policy makers, and practitioners. Insights from development initiatives across the world are shared and analysed, and lessons identified.

  • Journal of Development Studies

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    One of the best known international, peer-reviewed journals in the area of development studies.

  • Journal of International Development

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    This journal aims to publish the best research on international development issues in a form that is accessible to practitioners and policy-makers as well as to an academic audience.

  • Oxford Development Studies

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    A multidisciplinary academic journal aimed at the student, research and policy-making community, which provides a forum for critical analysis of conventional theories and policy issues in all aspects of development, and aims to contribute to new approaches.

  • Sustainable Development

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    This peer-reviewed journal covers topics such as corporate social responsibility, poverty, fair trade, environmental policy and environmental impact, as well as sustainable development.

  • Third World Quarterly

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    The leading peer-reviewed journal covering issues affecting the emerging worlds

  • African Affairs

    Fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    The top ranked, peer-reviewed journal in African Studies. It focuses on the politics and international relations of sub-Saharan Africa but also includes also includes sociology, anthropology, and economics.

  • African Security

    Fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    A key, peer-reviewed journal covering conflict and security within and between African nations.

  • Journal of Modern African Studies

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    A key, peer-reviewed journal covering current issues in African politics, economies, societies and international relations.

  • Review of African political economy

    Fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    A major, peer-reviewed journal focusing on the political economy of inequality, exploitation, oppression and struggles against them

  • Third World Quarterly

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    The leading peer-reviewed journal covering issues affecting the emerging worlds

  • China Information

    Fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    A peer-reviewed journal which presents timely and in-depth analyses of major developments in contemporary China and overseas Chinese communities in the areas of politics, economics, law, ecology, culture, and society, including literature and the arts.

  • China Quarterly

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    The leading, peer-reviewed journal covering all aspects of contemporary China including Taiwan. First published in 1960, this journal gives you historical perspectives, in-depth analyses, and a deeper understanding of China and Chinese culture.

  • Journal of Asian Studies

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    A key, peer-reviewed journal which covers the whole of Asia, past and present, and includes the arts, history, literature, the social sciences, and cultural studies.

  • Journal of Contemporary China

    Fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

  • Journal of Current Chinese Affairs

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    An open access journal which publishes research papers on China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao and transnational issues.

  • Modern Asian Studies

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    A peer-reviewed journal covering the history, sociology, economics and culture of modern South Asia, South-East Asia, China, Japan and Korea.

  • Modern China

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    A peer-reviewed journal which publishes history and social science articles focusing on late-imperial, twentieth-century, and present-day China.

  • Democratization

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    A very popular, peer-reviewed journal which encourages debate on the many aspects of democratization which are of interest to policy-makers, administrators, journalists, aid and development personnel, as well as those in education. The developing world and post-communist societies are of particular interest, but no area is excluded.

  • HAHR: Hispanic American Historical Review

    Fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    Highly respected, peer-reviewed articles on Latin American history and culture.

  • Latin American Perspectives

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    A peer-reviewed journal which offers a multidisciplinary view of the forces that shape the Americas. Most issues focus on a single problem, nation, or region, providing an in-depth look from participants and scholars.

  • Latin American Politics and Society

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    A peer-reviewed journal which focuses on the states, societies, economies, and international relations of the Americas.

  • Bulletin of Latin American Research

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    A peer-reviewed journal covering Latin America, the Caribbean, inter-American relations and the Latin American Diaspora across Social Science and Humanities topics.

  • Journal of Latin American Studies

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    The most well-known, peer-reviewed journal on Latin America - it covers many aspects of Latin America as taught at Portsmouth.

  • Latin American Research Review

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    An excellent source of peer-reviewed articles on Latin America. A distinctive feature of this journal is the large review essay section in each issue which compares and contrasts 5 or more books on specific topics (different each issue).

  • ELDIS

    An online information service providing free access to relevant, up-to-date and diverse research and policy documents on international development issues.

  • HLAS Online

    This database of all the items listed in the Handbook of Latin American Studies from 1935 onwards covers any topics across the humanities and social sciences which deal with Latin America.

  • JSTOR

    Fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    Provides access to more than 12 million journal articles, books, images, reports and primary sources in 75 disciplines.
    Watch this video for great tips.

Citation databases can be very helpful for advanced research at Masters' level upwards as they help you move quickly from a known author or article to finding out which other articles list them in their bibliographies. This is especially useful when you have only found a small number of results in your initial searches.

  • Scopus

    Large abstract and citation database of peer-reviewed literature covering all subject areas.

  • Web of Science

    Part of Web of Knowledge, includes records for thousands of scholarly publications. Search across three main citation databases (Science/Social Science/Arts & Humanities). 

News Sources

  • Nexis Uni

    Full text articles from many news sources and trade journals both UK and international. Archives sometimes stretching back to the mid 1980s. For use in the UK only.

  • PressReader

    PressReader lets you access UK and international newspapers, plus a wide range of magazine content. Everything is full colour with archives varying in length depending on the publication.

    Login guidance

  • The Economist historical archive 1843-2015

    Fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    This archive gives you highly respected commentary and analysis of global news each week from 1843 to 2015. Search by subject or browse by date. The articles are full facsimiles, including photos and charts.
    Read about financial crises as they happened.

  • The Guardian and Observer Archives

    Access stories and photos from The Guardian (1821-2003) and The Observer (1791-2003). Use Nexis if you want to search up to the current day.

  • Nexis Uni

    Full text articles from many news sources and trade journals both UK and international. Archives sometimes stretching back to the mid 1980s. For use in the UK only.

  • ProQuest historical newspapers: South China Morning Post‎ (1903 - 2000)

    Founded in Hong Kong in 1903, this paper is known for its authoritative, influential, and independent reporting on Hong Kong, China and all of Asia, as well as its perspective of the rest of the world. Gain unique insights into modern Chinese history, 20th century politics, economics, and more. Search from 2000 up to the current day via Nexis Uni.

  • The Times: Digital Archive 1785-2019

    Search over 200 years of articles. Articles are full facsimiles of what was published on the day and you can view the article in its original page location if you want.

    Watch this video showing you how to make the most of the features available.

Statistics

  • African Development Indicators

    High quality data gathered together by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.

  • Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean

    ECLAC (or CEPAL in Spanish) is one of 5 regional commissions of the United Nations whose aims are to promote the economic and social development of Latin America and the Caribbean. The site's Data and Statistics section is a key, trusted source to look at - in particular, check out the Statistical Yearbook for Latin America and the Caribbean .

  • Inter-American Development Bank

    The IDB has been a leading source of development funding for Latin America and the Caribbean since 1959. The site contains lots of useful information and a data section.

  • International Development Statistics (IDS) online databases

    The International Development Statistics (IDS) online databases from the OECD cover bilateral, multilateral aid (ODA) and private providers' aid and other resource flows to developing countries.

  • Latinobarómetro

    Results of Latin American public opinion surveys from 1995 onwards. Available in English and Spanish. Go to Online Data Analysis for summary reports by country. 

  • Our World in Data

    Our World in Data is a collaborative effort between researchers at the University of Oxford and the non-profit organization Global Change Data Lab (GCDL)

  • Statistical Yearbook for Asia and the Pacific

    High quality data gathered together by the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Pacific. The site includes analytical summaries on 32 key topics, such as child health, food security, access to water and sanitation, natural disasters.

  • United Nations Statistics Division

    Fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    Use this site to help gather a large range of statistics, including detailed data on progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

  • World Development Indicators

    A key source for comparing statistics useful for modules on development issues. Scroll down looking on the right to find the wide list of topics covered.

Films, TV, Radio and Training Videos

  • BoB: On demand TV and radio for education

    An archive of UK television and radio programmes from free to air channels (1998 onwards). For use in the UK only. Find some great tips about how to use BoB in these short videos.

  • Kanopy

    A unique collections of films including award-winning documentaries, training films and theatrical releases on every topic imaginable. Content can be searched or browsed.

  • Linkedin Learning

    Online learning and training courses covering business and employability, as well as creative and technical skills.

Other Recommended Sources

  • Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

    The UK government's department responsible for International Development.

  • IDS (Institute of Development Studies)

    The leading UK Institute of Development Studies

  • Inclusive Language Guide

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    Oxfam's Inclusive Language Guide is a resource to support people to think about how the way they write can subvert or inadvertently reinforce intersecting forms of inequality. The language recommended is drawn from specialist organizations which provide advice on language preferred by marginalized people, groups and communities, and by Oxfam's staff and networks, to support us to make choices that respectfully reflect the way different groups wish to be referred to.

  • Inter-American Development Bank

    The IDB has been a leading source of development funding for Latin America and the Caribbean since 1959. The site contains lots of useful information and a data section.

  • LANIC

    A listing of key web resources covering South and Central America compiled by experts at the University of Texas.

  • ODI: Overseas Development Institute

    The UK's leading independent think tank on international development and humanitarian issues. Go to the Publications section for links to thousands of reports on key themes and countries.

  • Policy Commons

    Access the world’s largest public policy database with 3.2+ million resources from 24,000+ global organizations. Covers topics like health, education, business, and more. Free registration needed for 25 searches a month. Watch this short video to see how it could help you.

  • Think Tank Search (Harvard Kennedy School)

    This searches the websites of over 1,200 institutions across the world that generate public policy research, analysis and activity. These sites are affiliated with universities, governments, advocacy groups, foundations, and non-governmental organizations. This site also leads you to other sources for finding policy.

  • United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

    The UNDP commissions the annual Human Development Report which focuses the global debate on key development issues.

  • The World Bank

    The World Bank comprise two institutions managed by 188 member countries: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). The IBRD aims to reduce poverty in middle-income and creditworthy poorer countries, while IDA focuses exclusively on the world's poorest countries. This site contains data and documents useful to IDS students.

  • Chatham House online archive

    This archive contains analysis, research, debates and speeches from the Royal Institute of International Affairs from 1920-2008. Topics covered include the Cold War, energy security, nuclear disarmament, decolonisation etc. You can also listen to recordings of meetings and speeches as well as seeing the transcript in many cases.

    Watch this short introductory video.

  • China: Trade, Politics & Culture 1793 - 1980

    Fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    This resource collects sources from nine archives to give an incredible insight into the changes in China between 1793 and 1980, including the birth and early years of the People’s Republic. You will find a wide variety of primary source material detailing China’s interaction with the West from Macartney’s first Embassy to China in 1793, through to the Nixon/Heath visits to China in 1972-74. It provides multiple perspectives – from politicians, diplomats, missionaries, business people and tourists – and documents many key events.

    Watch this 23 minute webinar to understand how this archive could help you.

  • Digital Innovation South Africa

    Online scholarly resource focusing on the socio-political history of South Africa, particularly the struggle for freedom during the period from 1950 to the first democratic elections in 1994

  • Empire Online

    Fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    A brilliant source containing essays, maps, primary sources and an interactive chronology on the theme of Empire across the last 5 centuries

  • U.S. Declassified Documents Online

    U.S. Declassified Documents Online covers the 20th and 21st centuries. The collection brings together the most sensitive documents from all the presidential libraries and numerous executive agencies in a single, easily searchable database. You will find this useful for a range of topics including decolonisation and foreign policy across the world, as well as civil rights etc.

    You can view a short video explaining this archive. To help you narrow down effectively, there is also a video about the advanced search features.

Referencing

Use Referencing@Portsmouth to find out how to reference all the sources you have used:

Everyone on courses including international development uses APA 7th edition.
Use Search APA 7 inside Referencing@Portsmouth to locate specific referencing advice on chapters, articles, reports, as well as abbreviations, appendices, tables and more.

New to referencing? Watch this short APA basics video.

 

Can I use ChatGPT/AI to generate references? 

Be aware that ChatGPT and similar tools invent academic references (see the more button for why). Using such fabricated information in your work is considered academic misconduct so you should always double check any AI generated references. The University has guidance for students on the use of AI and the Library has produced guidance on citing and referencing generative AI.

 

ChatGPT is a large language model which has been trained on which words should appear and in what order - hence similar authors/titles/journals get linked with each other, producing very plausible sounding references that actually don't exist - the words simply have connections to each other within its training data. When prompted "How does ChatGPT predict which words come next?" ChatGPT stated that it "predicts which words come next based on the patterns it learns from the training data. When given a prompt or context, the model uses its knowledge of language patterns to generate likely sequences of words that would follow the input" ... "it predicts one word at a time, based on the previously generated words" ... " and then calculates the probability distribution of the next word in the sequence based on the patterns it has learned from the training data" (OpenAI, 2023).

Reference

OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (Mar 23 Version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat

All reference generators make errors! 

Ensure you check and edit your references before submitting your work.  Here are some common errors.

There are many different ways to generate APA citations:

  • Quick options:
    • Look for a "Cite" button in EBSCO databases like Discovery, or in Ebook Central, Statista, Google Scholar etc.
  • Advanced options:
    • See our referencing tools page. The humanities and social sciences librarian supports the use of EndNote Online.

We do not advise using the referencing tool in Word.