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Virtual Research Guide:
Social Science & Culture

Resources contained in this research guide include databases, digital reference books, and Internet sites covering the following subjects: sociology, education, anthropology, and the social sciences. The materials included in this guide would generally be classified in the 300s of the Dewey Decimal System.

Child Development. Neil J. Salkind, Ed. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2002. 487 pp.

Part of the Macmillan Psychology Reference Series, this title covers issues related to human development from conception through adolescence. Written for the general reader.

Contemporary Fashion. Taryn Benbow-Pfalzgraf, Ed. 2nd ed. Detroit: St. James Press, 2002. 743 pp.

A reference book covering individual designers and fashion houses that have been active throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. Informative essays mirror the many facets of the fashion world.

Countries and Their Cultures. Melvin Ember and Carol R. Ember, Eds. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2001. 2549 pp. 4 vols.

Focuses on cultures and countries around the world, specifically what is and is not shared culturally by the people who live in a particular country. Entries contain descriptive summaries of the country in question, including demographic, historical, cultural, economic, religious, and political information.

Drugs and Controlled Substances: Information for Students. Stacey L. Blachford and Kristine Krapp, Eds. Detroit: Gale, 2003. 495 pp.

This single-volume resource provides detailed information on the physiological and psychological effects of addictive drugs and substances, from illegal drugs to commonly abused classes of prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Entries cover the name of the drug, including official, street, variant and historical names; an overview of the substance; statistical analysis of the growth and decline of the use of the drug; mental, physiological and long-term effects of use; treatment and rehabilitation options; and much more.

Encyclopedia of Aging. David J. Ekerdt, Ed. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2002. 1591 pp. 4 vols.

Written by experts for a general audience, articles cover topics such as biology, medicine, economics, law, psychology, sociology, and history as they relate to aging. Illustrated with photos, graphs, and line drawings.

Encyclopedia of Clothing and Fashion. Valerie Steele, Ed. 1 ed. Detroit: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2005. 1454 pp. 3 vols.

This broad-based set surveys clothing, body adornment, and examines the origins of clothing, the development of fabrics and technologies, and the social meanings of dress. It also presents information on representative costumes from a wide variety of historical eras, which are frequently the topic of student research. Topics range from the bustle, sari, and toga to Polyester and body piercing. The short entries explain the history of garments (necktie, codpiece, cocktail dress, bathing suit, burqua, Nehru jacket), techniques and manufactures (batik, dry cleaning, zipper, stone washing), body adornment (makeup, mask, tattoo, wig), and important persons and institutions (Coco Chanel, Edith Head, Yves Saint-Laurent, Fashion Institute of Technology). The longer essays provide cultural context: class, gender, sumptuary laws, costume design for stage and screen, advertising; fashion careers; ecclesiastical dress; military uniforms; etc. The set includes a comprehensive general index in the last volume, a timeline, and a topical outline.

Encyclopedia of Communication and Information. Jorge Reina Schement, Ed. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2002. 1161 pp. 3 vols.

Explores the full spectrum of communication, from careers to information technologies, in an interdisciplinary fashion. Emphasis is on both historical and current issues, topics, and people.

Encyclopedia of Food and Culture. Solomon H. Katz, Ed. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2003. 2004 pp. 3 vols.

Presents 600 articles on food and its place in human culture and society, covering everything from agronomy to zucchini. Students, academics, and general researchers will find entries on everything from food preparation, distribution and storage to holidays and festivals, nutrition and health, and cultures and cuisines. Entries range from 250 to 10,000 words each and are supplemented by 400 photographs and illustrations, sidebars, recipes, menus, timelines, and a comprehensive index.

Encyclopedia of Sociology. Edgar F. Borgatta and Rhonda J.V. Montgomery, Eds. 2nd ed. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2001. 3481 pp. 5 vols.

Winner of the 1993 Dartmouth Medal, this classic reference has been updated to reflect the many changes in society and in the field of sociology in recent years. Articles covering core issues such as race, poverty, violence, economics, pregnancy and abortion have been updated and expanded, and completely new articles have been written on topics such as the Internet, privacy, and epidemiology.

Environmental Encyclopedia. Marci Bortman, Peter Brimblecombe, Mary Ann Cunningham, William P. Cunningham, and William Freedman, Eds. 3rd ed. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale, 2002. 1641 pp. 2 vols.

Provides in-depth, worldwide coverage of environmental issues. Each article is written in a nontechnical style and provides current status, analysis, and suggested solutions whenever possible.

Fashion, Costume, and Culture: Clothing, Headwear, Body Decorations, and Footwear through the Ages. Sara Pendergast and Tom Pendergast, Eds. Detroit: U*X*L, 2004. 1022 pp. 5 vols.

Provides a broad overview of costume traditions of diverse cultures from prehistoric times to the present day. Examines more than 430 items of human decoration and adornment, ranging from togas to turbans, necklaces to tennis shoes. Explores how and why items were created, the people who made them, and their uses. This set shows how clothing, headwear, body decorations, and footwear reflect the different cultural, religious, and societal beliefs.

Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology. Bonnie Strickland, Ed. 2nd ed. Detroit: Gale, 2001. 701 pp.

Covers the entire spectrum of psychology, including notable people, theories and terms, landmark case studies and experiments, applications of psychology in advertising, medicine and sports, and career information.

Gale Encyclopedia of the Unusual and Unexplained. Brad Steiger and Sherry Hanson Steiger, Eds. Detroit: Gale, 2003. 1069 pp. 3 vols.

Responds to the surging interest among students for information on topics relating to magic, witchcraft, the supernatural, and other mysterious phenomena. Information is arranged in an objective manner, presenting varying viewpoints when appropriate, and is written at a level that younger students and researchers can understand. Covers the history, people, and practices related to each topic, as well as popular literature, television programs, and movies related to the subject.

Psychologists and Their Theories for Students. Kristine Krapp, Ed. Detroit: Gale, 2005. 529 pp. 2 vols.

Perfect for research assignments in psychology, science and history, this one-stop source for in-depth coverage of major psychological theories and the people who developed them provides a unique approach to the study of psychological history as it pertains to analysis. An introductory essay provides an overview of the various schools of psychological thought, from behaviorism to Gestalt theory, introducing the basic history of the field. Detailed entries follow, explaining in clear language each individual theory in practical terms and exploring the historical impact of each.

Terrorism Reference Library. James L. Outman, Elisabeth M. Outman, Matthew May, and Diane Sawinski, Eds. Detroit: U*X*L, 2003. 720 pp. 4 vols.

Provides students with an understanding of the complex issue of global terrorism. Explores the roots and evolution of terrorism, covering the nature of contemporary terrorism and terrorist organizations. Includes approximately 25 biographical sketches of terrorists and counter-terrorists, giving students insight into the people associated with the issue, both historical and contemporary, and features primary source documents that shed light on the aims and issues involved with terrorism.

U*X*L Encyclopedia of Drugs and Addictive Substances. Barbara Bigelow, Ed. Detroit: U*X*L, 2006. 902 pp. 5 vols.

This set provides detailed information on 52 drugs and other addictive substances, defined as illegal drugs, legal addictive drugs and other substances as well as commonly abused classes of prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Arranged alphabetically by official name, each entry follows the same format, allowing students to easily compare and contrast different drugs. Similar in scope to Thomson Gale's Drugs and Controlled Substances for Students, this set provides information in an objective manner that is appropriate for middle school students. Statistics highlight each entry and sidebars provide information on the legal, historical or social aspects of the particular drug. Difficult words are defined within the text and are included in the "Words to Know" section.

Witchcraft in America. Peggy Saari and Elizabeth Shaw, Eds. Detroit: U*X*L, 2001. 235 pp.

This fascinating and informative source covers the history of witchcraft in the United States from the hysteria that facilitated the witch hunts during the Colonial Period to modern day followers of Wicca. Chapters include full text or excerpts from trial transcripts, diary entries, public notices, and many other primary sources. Biographical essays highlight prominent figures related to the Salem witch trials.