Human Behavior & the Social Environment   Tags: human_behavior, social_environment, social_work, social_work_research_help  

Research Help for SW 721: Human Behavior & the Social Environment

This guide was designed by the Social Work Library staff to help you find the information you need as you work on your mid-term and final exam assignments.

Look for basic background information:

• If you are just getting started with your research, and you want to get a general sense of a topic, look through the handbooks, encyclopedias, and websites featured on background information and facts.

 We recommend searching for books when you want to find a broad overview of a topic.

• Books and book chapters are excellent sources of historical overview on a topic.
• You can also find several view points on a topic in one collected volume.

 Search for journal articles when:

• You have an especially narrow or specific topic in mind.
• You want to find source of peer-reviewed publications.
• You need the most current information available.
  

Use websites when:

• If you need brief, statistical information to supplement your research.
• When you want to find reports on various issues that have been written/sponsored by a social service or government agency.
• If you want, brief, concise background information to help you get started thinking more deeply about a topic.