SOW 4403 Library Research in Social Work

Professor Nowakowski - Librarian: Rachael Cathcart

October 12, 2006

A Social Work research guide, including both electronic and print resources is available at: http://www.library.fau.edu/depts/ref/rsguide/sociwork/Main.htm

I. Locating books in the Library:

FAU Library Catalog: click on “Catalog” or “Books”.  The following types of basic searches are available:

 

A.   Search for Keyword(s): Searches for terms anywhere they appear in the catalog record. Search terms can be truncated with a ?  e.g. addict? will search for addicts, addiction, etc.

 

B.   Browse Organized Lists: Use this search when you already know an author, title or subject heading. Some of the available options include:

• Author’s Name: last name first, you don’t need to capitalize
• Title: if a title starts with “The,” “A,” or “An,” omit that and skip to the next word
• Subject, LC: must be entered in a very specific manner. You may get a cross-reference, for example: social work gives a cross reference to use “social service.” If you’re not finding anything with a subject search try a keyword search instead.

 

C.   Journals/Serials: This search lets you know if the Library has a certain journal or magazine. However, it does not search for articles in journals. To do this, use a database instead (see below). After searching for a journal title, click on the “Location” line to see which dates the Library owns. (Note: not all electronic journals are cataloged in the online catalog. There is also a link to a separate list of all electronic journals available at FAU.) 

The Advanced search screen allows you to combine terms using “and, or, not” as well as limiting a search by location, date, format, or language.

II. Searching for articles in databases

To search for articles click on “Indexes/Databases” or “Articles.” There are both alphabetical and subject listings of databases. The Library provides access to the two major social work databases: Social Work Abstracts and Social Services Abstracts. In addition, there are a number of databases available on related topics: social sciences, psychology, criminal justice, law, etc. 

Note: when using these databases from off-campus you must first log in through the EZ-Proxy link. You will need to enter the number from your Owl Card in order to do this.

The SFX button available in most of the databases will search for the full text of an article in all of the databases the FAU Library subscribes to.

Social Work Abstracts

Contains more than 45,000 records, spanning 1977 to the present, from social work and other related journals on topics such as homelessness, AIDS, child and family welfare, aging, substance abuse, legislation, community organization, and more.

Social Services Abstracts

Provides bibliographic coverage of current research focused on social work, human services, and related areas, including social welfare, social policy, and community development. 

Academic Search Premier

A very large interdisciplinary database which allows the option of limiting searches to refereed journals only, search results with full-text only, or both. 

JSTOR

An archive of full-text scholarly journals. Does not include most recent five years, but has complete back files. 

Social Sciences Full Text

Covers some 350 core periodicals in the fields of anthropology, economics, geography, law and criminology, political science, social work, sociology, and international relations. 

Sociological Abstracts

CSA Sociological Abstracts abstracts and indexes the international literature in sociology and related disciplines in the social and behavioral sciences.        

PsycArticles

Contains the full text of articles from APA journals and selected EPF journals, most from 1988 to the present. 

PsycINFO

Produced by the American Psychological Association, PsycINFO covers the professional and academic literature in psychology and related disciplines. 

Ethnic Newswatch

Ethnic NewsWatch is a full-text general reference database of the newspapers, magazines and journals of the ethnic, minority and native press -- English and Spanish language.

 III. Citing your References

APA Style:

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Manual (Ref BF 76.7 P83 2001)

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_apa.html

MLA Style:

MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (Ref LB 2369 G53 2003)

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_mla.html

 

V. Need more help?

 

Reference Email:  “Ask a Librarian” form

Reference Instant Messaging  

Reference Telephone 561-297-3785

Reference Consultations: meet with a librarian to receive individualized help

http://www.library.fau.edu/eforms/refcon.htm