"The purpose of an encyclopedia is to summarize and codify knowledge in a given field. This is in contrast to a handbook, which offers essays on cutting-edge research in a field, or a dictionary, which provides short, to-the-point definitions of key concepts in a field."
Source: Sica, A. (2001). Encyclopedias, Handbooks, and Dictionaries. In N.J. Smelser & P.B. Baltes (Eds.), International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B0-08-043076-7/00039-5. As cited in American Library Association. (2011). ALA Guide to Sociology & Psychology Reference. Chicago: Author.
Use reference materials to find background information. Reference books can help you:
"[F]ocus[es] on the corpus of knowledge garnered in traditional areas of sociological inquiry. document[s] the general orientation of the newer and currently emerging areas of sociological inquiry."
Publication Date: 1975-presentKey source of literature review articles.
"[C]overs the significant developments in the field of Sociology."
A handbook presenting major topics and emerging trends.
Previous editions:
The Blackwell companion to sociology (2004) - Judith R. Blau (Editor)
The Blackwell companion to sociology (2001) - Judith R. Blau (Editor)
Additional print sociology dictionaries are listed in the Library Catalog under the subject Sociology Dictionaries.
Also available in print: (Hatcher Graduate — 1A North) HM 478 .B583 2011
Find previous editions in the Library Catalog under the titles: Blackwell companion to major classical social theorists; Blackwell companion to major contemporary social theorists; Blackwell companion to major social theorists
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Over 400 dictionary, language reference, and subject reference works published by Oxford University Press.
Online Index to Hatcher Graduate Library Reference Books This link opens in a new window Searchable full text index to 7,500 print reference works shelved in the Hatcher Graduate Library.Handbooks provide essays covering recent developments in particular disciplinary sub-topics. The term companion may also be used, as in the series Blackwell companions to sociology.
Search for relevant handbooks within a Reference Database or in the Library Catalog by entering the keywords handbook or companion, followed by your topic keywords. It may help to search for keywords in the title.
Examples of topical handbook titles include: The Wiley Blackwell companion to the sociology of families; Handbook of medical sociology; The Oxford handbook of ethnicity, crime, and immigration.
Topical encyclopedias cover specialized fields that overlap or are closely related to sociological inquiry.
Search for relevant encyclopedias within a Reference Database or in the Library Catalog by entering the keyword encyclopedia, followed by your topic keywords. It may help to search for keywords in the title.
Some relevant titles include: