*Sociology Subject Guide

Information, Information, Everywhere!

Libraries locate, collect, preserve, describe, and organize A LOT of information so that people can access it for a variety of purposes.

 

There are many types of resources you can access through the GSU Library, for example:
  • Special Collections and Archives: Historical artifacts that convey information (and disinformation), in many forms.
  • Newspapers, Trade Magazines, and Popular Magazines: Articles published with the intent to quickly inform the public, often containing advertisements, errors, and forms of disinformation that may be updated or corrected over time.
  • Scholarly (peer-reviewed): Articles published according to a rigorous set of standards, and reviewed by professional peers. This includes open access literature and systematic reviews.
  • Empirical (scientific): Articles that are scholarly, but which also report findings of original scientific studies that address specific research questions.

This means that not everything inside a library's collection will meet your specific needs. The relevance of information you find while performing a systematic search is determined by your research scope.

The Basics of Searching for Resources

So, you have selected a research topic and it is time to start collecting resources that are relevant to your research. Taking time to develop an intentional search strategy will help you locate resources efficiently.

To do this, we use information search strategies like Boolean operators, nesting, truncation, and phrase searching.

Here is an example:

Search Strategy Builder

The Search Strategy Builder is a tool designed to teach you how to create a search string using Boolean logic. While it is not a database and is not designed to input a search, you should be able to cut and paste the results into most databases’ search boxes.

  Concept 1 AND Concept 2 AND Concept 3
Name your core concepts here:    
Search terms Search terms Search terms

List alternate terms for each concept.

These can be synonyms, relevant antonyms, antiquated terminology, or specific examples of the concept.

You can use single words (ex: balloon)
phrases with quotation marks (ex: "hot air balloons")
or truncate words with an asterisk to indicate all versions of the word (ex: balloon*)

OR

OR

OR

OR

OR

OR

OR

OR

OR

Now copy and paste the above Search Strategy into a database search box.

The Search Strategy Builder was developed by the University of Arizona Libraries(CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US), and shared by Mandy Swygart-Hobaugh.

Let's Get Interactive!

Scholarly+ Databases

Why pay for scholastic scholarly content when it's included in your tuition? GSU Library has scholarly databases.

Remember, libraries collect information into databases for archival purposes. The existence of information within our databases does not guarantee its: currency, relevance, or reliability. Scroll down for a reminder of how to determine these factors.

Databases for the Social Sciences

Group 1:

You can search the following databases simultaneously. Just click the link for Academic Search Complete, click the "choose databases" link, and then select other databases relevant to your search.

Limit your search to peer-reviewed journals by navigating to your search results page, and selecting the "Limit To" option located in the left-side column. Then, select "Scholarly (Peer Reviewed) Journals."

Note subject headings that appear in your results, and consider clicking on them to explore alternative keywords for your search strategy.

Group 2:

You can search the following databases simultaneously. Just click the link for Sociological Abstracts, then before doing your search, click the "Change Databases" link. Select other databases relevant to your search, and then click "Use Selected Databases."

Limit your search to peer-reviewed journals by navigating to your search results page, and then navigating to the "Source Type" setting in the left-side column. Then, click the "Use Selected Databases" button.

Note subject headings in your results, and consider clicking on them to explore alternative keywords for your search strategy.

Group 3:

To see the full-text links available through GSU Library: On the Google Scholar main page, click the menu icon in the top left of the screen, then click "Settings." At the next screen, click "Library Links," search for Georgia State University, select "Georgia State University - FullText @ GSU," and then click save. When looking at search results, instead of clicking the article title to access it, click on FullText @ GSU link to be routed through GSU-access (you might have to click a double-arrow under the citation to see all of the options).

 

Subject-specific Databases for the Social Sciences

Google Scholar

If you are on campus, you will see links to the full-text of articles in a Google Scholar search. Those links are provided by the library's paid access. If you are off campus, you will not see them unless you change the settings on your home laptop/computer.

Here is how you do that:

Go to Google Scholar and click on the three-line "burger" menu in the upper left.

Choose "Settings" and then choose "Library links." In the blank bar, type in Georgia State University and then check the box next to "Georgia State University - Find It @ GSU." Click Save at the bottom and you are all set. You should now see the links and when you click on them from off-campus, you will be asked for your campusID and password which will lead you to the full text of articles.

Off-Campus Access

Install and login to the Cisco AnyConnect VPN (Virtual Private Network) on your computer so that you are logged into the GSU network and will be automatically routed to GSU-subscribed journals. It’s available for download and instructions for using on the following platforms are available here: Windows | Mac | Android | Apple iOS

NOTE: There's a point where the directions tell you to enter secureaccess.gsu.edu as what to connect to.

Fact Checking Tookbox

Subjects: Sociology