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Policy Topic Encyclopedias

A good place to begin researching a policy topic is in a subject encyclopedia or other relevant reference book that specializes in social or political issues. A major benefit of consulting these sources first is that many of the articles in them will have a bibliography. The article and the bibliography combined make a great jumping off point for your research.   The encyclopedias below are available in Morgan Library Reference. See General Encyclopedias for broader definitions of terms and concepts.

Overview of Issues

  • Encyclopedia of Modern Social Issues HN 57 .K73 1997 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Social Issues 6 vols. HN 57 .E59 1997 REF
image of encyclopedia volume

Societal

  • Encyclopedia of Social Work 3 vols. HV 35 .S6 1995 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Sociology 5 vols. HM 425 .E5 2000 REF

    For example: homelessness can be found in Encyclopedia of Sociology and Encyclopedia of Social Work, among others.

Family & Society

  • Adolescence in America: An Encyclopedia 2 vols. HQ 796 .A33247 2001 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Marriage and the Family 2 vols. HQ .E52 1995 REF
  • Encyclopedia of American Social History 3 vols. HN 57 .E58 1993 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Family Life 5 vols. HQ 534 .E53 1999 REF
  • International Handbook of Child Care Policies and Programs HQ 778.5 .I58 1993 REF
  • Parenthood in America: An Encyclopedia 2 vols. HQ 755.8 .P3783 2000 REF

Times of Life/Death

  • Childhood and Children HQ 781 .B45 1997 REF
  • Gale Encyclopedia of Childhood & Adolescence HQ 772 .G27 1998 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Adolescence 2 vols. HQ 796 .E58 1991 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Aging 2 vols. HQ 1061 .E53 2001 REF
  • Older Americans Almanac HQ 1064 .U5 O416 1994 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Death HQ 1073 .E54 1989 REF

Crime

  • Encyclopedia of Child Abuse HV 6626.5 .C57 2001 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Crime and Deviant Behavior 4 vols. HV 6017 .E53 2001 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Crime & Justice 4 vols. HV 6017 .E52 2002 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Crime & Punishment 4 vols. HV 6017 .E524 2002 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Women and Crime HV 6046 .E56 2000 REF

Environment

  • Conservation and Environmentalism: An Encyclopedia GE 10 .C68 1995 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Hydrology and Water Resources GB 655 .E53 1998 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Ecology & Environmental Management GE 300 .E53 1998 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Environmental Analysis and Remediation 8 vols. GE 10 .E49 1998 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Environmental Biology 3 vols. QH 540.4 .E52 1995 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Environmental Issues 3 vols. GE 10 .E52 2000 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Environmental Science GE 10 .E526 1999 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Global Change 5 vols. GE 149 .E443 2002 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Global Change: Environmental Change and Human Society GE 149 .E47 2002 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Toxicology 3 vols. RA 1193 .E53 1998 REF
  • Environmental Encyclopedia GE 10 .E55 2001 REF
  • Environmental Encyclopedia and Directory 2001 GE 10 .E58 2001 REF
  • World Encyclopedia of Cities (North America) 2 vols. HT 108.5 .K87 1993 REF

Health

  • Diseases 8 vols. R 130.5 .D57 1997 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Bioethics 5 vols. QH 332 .E52 1995 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Drugs, Alcohol, & Addictive Behavior 4 vols. HV 5804 .E53 2001 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Occupational Health and Safety 4 vols. RC 963.3 .E53 1998 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Public Health 4 vols. RA 423 .E53 2002 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Smoking and Tobacco HV 5760 .H57 1999 REF
  • Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health 5 vols. RT 21 .G353 2002 REF
  • Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine 5 vols. RC 41 .G35 2002 REF
  • Human Diseases and Conditions 3 vols. RC 81 .A2 H75 2000 REF
  • World of Health R 130.5 .W67 2000 REF

American Law/Politics

  • A Guide to American Law 12 vols., 1987 Yearbook and Supplements 1991-1995 KF 156 .G77 REF
  • Encyclopedia of the American Legislative System 3 vols. JF 501 .E53 1994 REF
  • Encyclopedia of American Political History Studies of Principal Movements and Ideas 3 vols. E 183 .E5 1984 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Democracy 4 vols. JC 423 .E53 1995 REF
  • Encyclopedia of the American Presidency 4 vols. JK 511 .E53 1994 REF
  • Encyclopedia of the American Left HX 86 .E58 1990 REF
  • Encyclopedia of American Foreign Policy 3 vols. JX 1407 .E53 REF
  • Encyclopedia of U.S. Foreign Relations 4 vols. E 183.7 .E53 1997 REF

Cultures in America

  • American Immigrant Cultures 2 vols. E 184 .A1 A63448 1997 REF
  • Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America 3 vols. E 184 .A1 G14 2000 REF

Human Rights

  • Encyclopedia of Human Rights JC 571 .E67 1996 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Human Rights Issues Since 1945 JC 571 .L2747 1999 REF
  • Human Rights Encyclopedia 3 vols. JC 571 .L522 2001 REF
  • International Encyclopedia of Human Rights, Freedoms, Abuses, and Remedies JC 571 .M3243 2000 REF

War & Arms

  • Encyclopedia of Arms Control and Disarmament 3 vols. JX 1974 .E57 1993 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Prisoners of War and Internment UB 800 .E53 2000 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Violence, Peace, & Conflict 3 vols. HM 291 .E625 1999 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Youth and War HQ 784 .W3 S54 2000 REF

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Content: Naomi Lederer