SOW 4403: Library Research in Social Work
Professor Kane
Librarian: Ken Frankel
February 4, 2008
 

A Social Work research guide, including both electronic and print  resources is available.

I. Locating books and other materials in the Library:
 

1. FAU Library Catalog:
 

The Library Catalog allows you to search for books, government documents, DVDs, electronic books, and other materials in the Library's collection. The catalog will tell you if the library owns a particular periodical (journal or magazine) but does not include the articles found in periodicals. To find these you must use different databases (see below).

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.

The catalog provides a call number for each item shelved in the Library, and will inform you if it is available or checked out. To find out where a call number is located, use the Library Map, or get a bookmark from one of the service desks, which lists these locations.
 

II. Electronic Journals:

Use this link to determine if the Library provides electronic access to a particular journal title. Click on the letter corresponding to the journal's title or type the title in the box next to "Title begins with." This box may also be used to search keywords in an electronic journal's title. The Citation Linker near the bottom of the page can be used to search for a specific article.

Note: when using the electronic journals from off-campus you must first log in through the Off Campus Connect (EZProxy) link. You will need to enter the 14-digit number from your Owl Card in order to do this.

III. Searching for articles in databases:

To search for articles click on Indexes/Databases.  There are both alphabetical and subject listings of databases. The Library provides access to several major social work databases including SocINDEX with Full Text and Social Services Abstracts. In addition, there are number of databases available on related topics: social sciences, psychology, criminal justice, law, etc.

Note: when using these databases from off-campus, first log in through the EZ-Proxy link.

SocINDEX with Full Text
The world's most comprehensive and highest quality social sciences research database. Includes an option to limit searches to social work journals only (under "Refine Search").

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. 

InfoTrac OneFile
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. 

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.  

LexisNexis Academic
Accesses over a billion full text news, magazine, legal, and business articles and reports, including newspapers, magazines, and government documents, state and federal laws and regulations, case law, newsletters, company and industry information.  

Westlaw Campus
This resource includes access to the complete laws and statutes of the federal government and all 50 states, federal regulations, precedent-setting court decisions, KeyCite, American Law Reports, American Jurisprudence, and current and archived articles from hundreds of leading law reviews and journals. 

 

 IV. Citing your References:

APA Style:
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (Ref BF 76.7 P83 2001) Many quick reference guides to APA style are available on the Web such as the APA Style and Formatting Guide from Purdue University.

 

V. Getting Research Help:

Reference Chat and Email: "Ask a Librarian" form

Reference Telephone 561-297-3785

Reference Consultations: meet with a librarian to receive individualized help