This document provides resources for conducting social work research, including dictionaries, encyclopedias, reference works, databases, and websites. It recommends starting with general references to define topics and identify keywords. Several specialized social work databases are listed, such as Social Work Abstracts and SocINDEX, which index literature, journals, and other sources. Other relevant databases include PsycINFO, ERIC, and those covering related fields. Authoritative websites for social work information and Maryland agencies are also included.

1. SOCIAL WORK Subject Guide
Dictionaries and encyclopedias are great starting points for your research. Use them to provide background information, define your
topic, and identify working vocabulary, keywords and alternative terms.
Reference Resources
 Credoreference (MSU Dbases only) - To search in general and subject-specific dictionaries, thesauri and encyclopedias
 Britannica (Rsch Port)/Encyclopedia Britannica Online (MSU Dbases)
 International encyclopedia of the social and behavioral sciences online – available thru ScienceDirect (Rsch Port/MSU
Dbases)
 Online Dictionary of the Social Sciences – Athabasca Univ. Canada (http://bitbucket.icaap.org/)
 Oxford English Dictionary online (Rsch Port/MSU Dbases)
 Research Library (ProQuest) (Rsch Port/MSU Dbases)
Online Catalog Resources
 The Blackwell dictionary of sociology [electronic resource]: a user’s guide to sociological language / Allan G. Johnson. –
available via Online Catalog OR through NetLibrary (Rsch Port/MSU Dbases)
 Encyclopedia of social work / Terry Mizrahi, Larry E. Davis, editors in chief (4 vols.) – Ref HV12.E53 2008
Key Databases
 Social Services Abstracts (CSA Illumina) (MSU Dbases only) (FT Linking) – research focused on social work, human services,
social welfare, social policy, gerontology, professional issues in social work, crisis intervention, and community
development. Over 1300 serial publications indexed, including citations to dissertations and book reviews.
 Social Work Abstracts (EBSCO) (Rsch Port only) (FT Linking) – produced by National Association of Social Workers. Indexes
and abstracts professional social work literature and related subjects, 1977 to present. Topics include: aging, AIDS, child and
family welfare, homelessness, substance abuse, social legislation, and community organization.
 SocINDEX with FT (EBSCO) (Rsch Port/MSU Dbases) (FT) – Features more than 1,300,000 records with subject headings
form a 15,600 term sociology-specific thesaurus. Product also contains informative abstracts for more than 620 “core”
coverage journals dating back to 1895 and data mined form more than 500 “priority” coverage journals as well as over
1,390 “selective coverage journals. Indexing includes books, monographs, conference papers, and other sources.
 Sociological Abstracts (CSA Illumina) (Rsch Port/MSU Dbases) (FT Linking) – Covers the international sociological literature
and related fields from 1952 to present. Over 1,800 serial publications indexed with abstracts, including: books, book
chapters, dissertations, conference papers, and journals. Book review citations are included.
Other Recommended Databases
 Digital Dissertations (ProQuest) (Rsch Port/MSU Dbases)
 Education Journals (ProQuest) (Rsch Port/MSU Dbases)
 ERIC (Multiple vendors) (Rsch Port/MSU Dbases)
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2. Other Recommended Databases contintued
 Humanities International Complete (EBSCO) (Rsch Port/MSU Dbases)
 JSTOR (JSTOR) (Rsch Port/MSU Dbases) – using Rsch Port you can “Browse by Discipline.”
 NetLibrary (OCLC) (Rsch Port/MSU Dbases) – eBooks
 PapersFirst (OCLC FirstSearch) (Rsch Port/MSU Dbases) - Index of papers presented at conferences worldwide.
 Psychology databases: PsycARTICLES (EBSCO) (Rsch Port/MSU Dbases)
Psychology and Behavioral Sciences (EBSCO) (Rsch Port/MSU Dbases)
PsycINFO (EBSCO) (Rsch Port/MSU Dbases) (Some Linked FT) – 1.8 million citations & summaries
 Urban Studies & Planning: A SAGE FT Collection (CSA Illumina) (MSU Dbases only) – Contains FT of 12 urban studies and
planning journals. Covers sociology, social work, and authoritative web resources.
Social Work Web Sites
 Use the following link to “Social Work Websites” from Syracuse University for a great resource of authoritative sites:
http://library.syr.edu/research/internet/social_work/metas.html
Maryland Agencies: Family and Children’s Services of Central Maryland - http://www.fcsmd.org/
Family Investment Program (FIP) (Maryland) -
http://www.peoples-law.org/income/gov-ben/family_investment_program.htm
Maryland Department of Health & Mental Hygiene - http://www.dhmh.state.md.us/
Maryland Department of Human Services - http://www.dhr.state.md.us/
Statistics & Demographics by Subject
 Use the following link to “Reports, Ready-Made Tables and Table Creators” from Syracuse University for great resources”
http://library.syr.edu/information/mgi/nds/resources/social/tables.html
[NOTE: Under “Table Databases” LexisNexis-Statistical is available (MSU Dbases only)
FedStats is available thru open internet
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