2. Finding print and online dictionaries and encyclopaedias for definitions of your sociological terms
- Use the tab at the top of the page to return to the Library's Home page
- Click on the link to Subject Guides on the right-hand side of the page
- This will open a list of subjects taught at the University
- Scroll down and click on the Sociology link in the right-hand list
Scroll to find a list of print dictionaries and encyclopaedias in the Library's Reference collection. This is just a selection and you will find others on same shelves in the Reference area. e.g. H 41 and HM 17.
Scroll down further down the page to find links to online dictionaries / encyclopedias including:
- Xreferplus has several good online sociology dictionaries
- Online Dictionary of the Social Sciences
- Oxford English Dictionary Online
- Encyclopaedia Britannica Online
- International Encyclopedia of the Social and Behavioral Sciences Online
NB You can do a search on Google for definitions by typing – define:(NO SPACE)the word
WARNING - It is very important to very carefully evaluate any information you find on the internet. Try to find more trustworthy sources, but still ask:
- Who wrote the information?
- Why was the information placed on the Web?
- What is being said?
- What is not being said?
- How accurate is it?
- How up-to-date is it (if important)? etc. etc.
3. Finding introductory sociological text books for background information on the "relationship between the individual and culture"
- From the Library's home page at http://www.utas.edu.au/library
- Click on the Catalogue link on the left of the page
- This will open the Basic Search page
The drop-down box on the left offers various ways to search the catalogue, eg. title, author, subject, etc. The best way to search (for a known title), is by Title Alphabetical (default).
- You can work from a known source and then find other suitable books.
2 ways to find introductory sociological text books
1. Check on shelves at HM 51
2. OR use the subject heading in the full record for the book
- Click on the subject heading – Sociology - in the full record for the Giddens book
- This will open an alphabetical list of "proper" subject headings
- If you click on – sociology this will open 1021 items with this subject heading
- They are listed in date order, so you will not need to scroll far to find several useful general sociology texts
4. Finding books for a specific sociological concept or social characteristic
- On the Basic Search page
- In the left-hand box choose Subject Keyword
- In the right-hand box type your sociological term
NB You may need to try a variety of alternatives. Remember to check the "proper" subject headings on the Full Record pages. Some searches are more successful using the General Keyword search. These are some suggestions:
Subject Keyword |
Subject Keyword |
General Keyword |
ethnicity 176 |
ethnic identity 130 |
ethnicity sociology 41 |
religion 2,356 |
religion sociology 166 |
religious identity 52 |
gender 127 |
gender identity 120 |
gender sociology 71 |
e.g. A Subject Keyword search on ethnicity produces a list of 197 titles. If you open number 8 Religion and ethnic identity you will find that ethnicity is a "proper" subject heading. You could also try "ethnic group" as a subject search.
