Sociology

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 in Sept 2024: Watch this short video about searching effectively with the new Discovery service 

Reading Lists

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Got an assignment? Have you looked at the reading list to see lecturer recommendations?

Key Starters for Essays and Dissertations

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Identify different sources of information and link to ebooks and other top sources

Research Methods

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Finding Articles

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

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

• Why use journal articles?

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• Journals

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These are some top picks. Lots of other journals are available via Discovery.

 

• Databases

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• JSTOR 

fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

JSTOR is best known as an academic journal archive containing thousands of articles on a wide range of subjects. To find the most recent years, you will need to search other databases like Discovery or go to the journal sites themselves. JSTOR also contains ebooks, research reports and 1000+ collections of images and primary sources from libraries, museums and archives around the world. 

For some tips on searching JSTOR, watch this short video. If you use JSTOR a lot, it's worth setting up a free, personal account so that you can use JSTOR's Workspace to store articles and notes. A personal account will also give you access to JSTOR's own AI tool which searches across JSTOR content for you, summarising articles/chapters and recommending related sources (it does not look outside JSTOR). 

• SocINDEX 

fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

A key source for tracking down articles across the social sciences. This database is available on the EBSCO platform allowing you to search this database alongside others within Discovery.

Very strong on sociology and criminology topics.

fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

JSTOR started as a journal archive but it now offers much more. Jump straight to the articles and chapters on JSTOR which are most useful for Sociology topics. You will also find tips about using JSTOR and carrying out research.

 

• Advanced Citation Databases

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Newspapers and Magazines

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Statistics and Public Opinion

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Think Tanks, Policy Research and Fact Checkers

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Films, TV, Radio and Training Videos 

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Other Recommended Sources

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Referencing

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Guidance and support for referencing in APA 7, including advice about reference generators

Your Subject Team

 Anne Worden

Faculty Librarian

email Anne.Worden@port.ac.uk

 Sharon Bittner

Assistant Faculty Librarian

email sharon.bittner@port.ac.uk