.

SOC 105 Social Problems
J. Pollock

Library Session : Oct. 19, 1999 Margaret Power (www.depaul.edu/~mpower )

Researching a Social Problem

1. ILLINET Online to find book:

Suggestions for finding books: Select Illinet Online from the Library web page or public PCs in library. Log in with your own barcode ID or type IG1801attp at the USERNAME prompt

Strategy 1. Do a Title Keyword search, then use your results to lead you to more material. Here's how:

Strategy 2. Do a Subject Keyword search.

Note: If you don't find what you're looking for this way, do not assume that there's nothing on your topic. You may have chosen different terms than the subject headings actually use. Try Strategy 1 if this search does not work well for you.

2. Databases to find journal articles and statistics

Academic Universe: News Full text articles from hundreds of newspapers worldwide. Includes articles in languages other than English.
CQ Researcher A weekly publication that covers current and controversial issues with complete summaries and bibliographies.
ERIC Premier index for research in education. Includes some full text and references to documents on the ERIC microfiche set.
Periodical Abstracts Index of a wide range of scholarly journals in many subject areas.
Social Sciences Abstracts Index to periodicals in the social sciences, business, and politics.
Statistical Universe In addition to the Statistical Abstract of the US, (also R. 317.3 U58s at Ref. Desk) this database includes thousands of statistics and figures from government and private agencies.

 

3. Websites:

Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports

These reports are generated by CRS, the research and reference arm of the United State Congress. Currently more than 300 reports are available in subjects such as natural resources, economic policy, education, government, law, foreign and defense policy, health, science and technology. http://www.senate.gov/~dpc/crs/reports/reptsubj.html

FEDSTATS

More than 70 agencies in the United States Federal Government produce statistics of interest to the public. This site provides easy access to the full range of statistics and information produced by these agencies for public use. http://www.fedstats.gov/

 

Identifying a Governmental Agency, Not-for- Profit Organization, Corporation

Federal

Federal Web Locator at the Villanova Center for Information and Policy

Official Federal Government Web Sites
Compiled by the Library of Congress. http://lcweb.loc.gov/global/executive/fed.html

The United States Government Manual
Online access. Also in book form at the Reference Desk: R. 353 U58a. Comprehensive information on federal agencies, including lists of officials and summary statement of the agency's purpose and role. http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/browse-gm-99.html

State

State of Illinois
Home page of state government, with agency information and a directory of agency and department staff. http://www.state.il.us/

State and Local Government on the Net
A handy guide to government sponsored Internet sites. Easy links to State of Illinois Departments/Agencies http://www.piperinfo.com/state/slil.html

City

City of Chicago
Home page for city government. Includes Department information and contacts. http://www.ci.chi.il.us/

Non-Profit/ Corporate

Human Care Services Directory of Metropolitan Chicago R.361.977 S678a1 (kept at Reference Desk) Information on non-profit social service organizations in Chicago.

Foundation Directory R.061 F77
Lists foundations by state. Indexed by type of grants.

Individual corporations and organizations may also have websites.