Sanford, Carolyn C. "The Census in One Hour?: The Development of an Effective One-Shot BI Session."Research Strategies. 1991, 9(4), 202-205.
Describes the preparation of a bibliographic instruction session provided for a sociology/anthropology research methods course at Carleton College. Includes goals and objectives for teaching students how to find and use statistical information, especially U.S. government statistics.
Syllabi
that incorporate information literacy
Assignments
useful for teaching information literacy
Abowitz, Deborah A. "Developing Awareness and Use of Library Resources in Undergraduate Sociology: A Sample Assignment."Teaching Sociology. 1994, 22(1), 58-64.
Abowitz discusses how and why she developed a library skills assignment for an introductory sociology course. The author advocates integrating information literacy into sociology courses in order to promote and facilitate active learning, and stresses the importance of faculty working closely with librarians when developing assignments. A copy of the author's assignment and a resource guide to information sources in sociology are also provided.
Glasberg, Davita Silfen, et al. "The Library Scavenger Hunt: Teaching Library Skills in Introductory Sociology Courses."Teaching Sociology. 1990, 18(2), 231-234.
Discusses strategies for creating an effective library scavenger hunt for sociology students. The authors assert that a scavenger hunt not only teaches students about using the library, but also stimulates the "sociological imagination" and provides a basis for term projects and exercises. A copy of a sample scavenger hunt assignment is provided.
Provides practice searches for the topic of gender roles in advertising. Exercises are designed for search engines (such as Google) and online databases (such as InfoTrac). Also provides links to web resources focused on evaluation of Internet sources, and selected web sources in sociology and popular culture.
Abowitz, Deborah A. "Developing Awareness and Use of Library Resources in Undergraduate Sociology: A Sample Assignment."Teaching Sociology. January 1994, 22, 58-64.
Argues that it has not yet become apparent to sociologists that their students can & should be taught how to become active & lifelong learners. It is argued that skills which will help students electronically retrieve information from library sources should be taught as part of any introductory sociology curriculum. Discussed are strategies for planning library assignments by working with librarians. A sample library assignment for an introductory sociology class is presented.
Kamali, Ali. "Writing a Sociological Student Term Paper: Steps and Scheduling."Teaching Sociology. October 1991, 19, 506-509.
A guideline to direct sociology students how to write a sociologically oriented term paper is presented that involves six sequential steps: getting started, preliminary sketching, critical thinking, information gathering, analysis of the findings, and completing the final draft. Each step contains tips on how to evaluate, make recommendations, and offer suggestions for enhancing the quality of student papers.
McDonough, Kristin and Pauline M. Rothstein. Fundamentals of Research in Sociology. New York: Bernard Baruch Coll. Library Instruction Services, 1981. ED229019.
The purpose of this bibliographic instruction package is to help a non-library instructor prepare undergraduate students to find and use books, indexes, abstracts, periodical articles, and other printed reference sources in a search for published information about sociology. The package is divided into two episodes which can be presented in one class session. Episode I introduces students to the different forms of literature. Episode II teaches students how to locate library materials using the card catalog and indexes and abstracts. The package includes summaries and lists of objectives for each episode, a materials list showing all transparencies and handouts for the training session, and a suggested script for the conduct of the session. For the student, the package provides paper copies of transparencies used by the instructor; these cover information searching procedures, forms of literature, Library of Congress (LC) subject headings, catalog filing rules, the "Social Sciences Index," and "Sociological Abstracts." Also included are copies of transparencies showing a search log form and a checklist of questions for evaluating indexes and abstracts. An annotated bibliography of reference sources for sociology research and a sociology research exercise conclude the instruction packet. (ESR).
McMillan, Patricia and James R. Kennedy, Jr. Library Research Guide to Sociology: Illustrated Search Strategy and Sources. Ann Arbor, MI: Pierian Press, 1981.
Intended for undergraduate sociology majors, graduate students, and professors of sociology (as well as reference librarians). Provides guidelines for using library for sociological research, including selecting and refining a topic, using a library catalog, and evaluating books. Also provides information on finding a using current material, government documents, statistical sources, dictionaries, and guides to sociological literature. Appendices include a "Library Knowledge Test;" "Basic Reference Sources for Courses in Sociology;" and a set of questions designed to lead a student through the library in pursuit of a topic for a sociology term paper.
Ready, Sandra K. "Search Strategy in the Research Process: Sociology." Conceptual Frameworks for Bibliographic Education: Theory into Practice. Ed. Mary Reichel and Mary Ann Ramey. Littleton, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 1987.
The research process in sociology is broken down into concrete steps, and appropriate resources are listed for consultation at each step of the process. Provides tips on integrating such steps and sources into a one-hour lecture, and includes a sample assignment to reinforce concepts.
Shapiro, Beth J. and Richard Child Hill. "Teaching Sociology Graduate Students Bibliographic Methods for Document Research."Journal of Academic Librarianship. 1979, 5(2), 75-78.
Describes a sociology course in bibliographic methods taught collaboratively by a librarian and professor at Michigan State University. Includes information on teaching methods and course requirements, and students' assessment of the course. Students provided constructive feedback, and indicated that the course helped to further develop their self-confidence in using library resources to conduct research.
Thomas, P. Steven. "'Doing Sociology;' Comment on Kamali, TS, October 1991."Teaching Sociology. July 1992, 20, 258-259.
It is argued that the research model suggested by Ali Kamali omits reference to the role of the academic library's bibliographic instruction program in undergraduate research. Faculty can indeed give their own library presentations, but since many students lack basic library research skills, and with library collections and services constantly evolving, these are poor substitutes for librarian instruction. Ways that librarians can tailor their presentations to faculty and students are discussed.
Tucker, Dennis C. Finding Sociology (In the Library): A Student Manual of Information Retrieval and Utilization Skills. Bristol, IN: Wyndham Hall Press, 1990.
Provides an introduction to utilizing library sources and services, including library catalogs, reference books, periodicals, and journal indexes. Includes a bibliography of significant reference sources in sociology and the social sciences.
Sociology of Health and Illness. The guide includes a link to the Five Colleges of Ohio Information Literacy Tutorial; annotated links to relevant electronic journals, indexes and abstracts (such as Sociological Abstracts and JSTOR); and annotated listings of relevant reference books and Internet sources.
The guide provides tips for searching online catalogs for books and videos; annotated listings of sources for finding public opinion polls; annotated links to relevant electronic journals, indexes and abstracts; annotated listings of online and print sources for finding federal, state, and city and municipal legal materials; and resources for finding information on popular culture and relevant organizations.
A bibliographic guide to reference sources and journal indexes and abstracts in the social sciences, sociology, and anthropology. Specialized topics in sociology include "racial and ethnic groups;" "social forces;" "social issues;" "social welfare;" "population and life cycle;" "sexuality;" "social groups;" and "social psychology."
College of Wooster: College of Wooster Libraries - Sociology. (Naveed Zafar Ahmad, 26 October 2000)
An annotated bibliographic guide to WWW resources in sociology. Includes links to significant organizations, statistical sources, biographical sources, and specialized sources in African-American studies and social work.
A resource guide to general reference sources in sociology and anthropology, including dictionaries and encyclopedias, handbooks, bibliographies, serial publications, indexes and abstracts, government publications, audiovisual resources, and Internet resources (including links to major organizations, online indexes and electronic journals, government agencies, and related sites in sub-disciplines).
Kenyon College: Kenyon College Libraries - Sociology Resources. (Mark Gooch, 24 April 2001)
An annotated resource guide to sociology resources. Includes links to journal indexes, databases and electronic journals; selected Internet sites; specialized research guides to Kenyon College sociology courses; and a selected list of reference sources and new titles in sociology.
This tutorial provides instruction on how to use the Internet for literature searching, teaching, and research. Provides a virtual tour of sociology websites; instruction on searching and evaluating information on the Internet; and tips on how to use the Internet effectively for research, teaching, and studying.
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Camden Campus: Robert E. Wood - Virtual Tours in Sociology.
Provides virtual tours of resources on twelve topics in sociology. Tutorial provides exercises in finding specific information utilizing web resources listed. Also provides exercises in running data analyses online.
