Research Guides: Social Work: Getting Started

Background Reading and Topic Development

Take a look at the Library's guides on choosing a topic and the research process to help you get started. Explore a topic in the resources below.

Encyclopedia of Social Work (Oxford) This link opens in a new window
The Oxford Encyclopedia of Social Work is a continuously updated online collaboration between the National Association of Social Workers (NASW Press) and Oxford University Press (OUP). offering over 400 overview articles on key topics ranging from international issues to ethical standards.

Encyclopedia of Macro Social Work
EOMSW includes nearly 200 long-form overview articles written by 334 diverse authors that address macro practice methods (i.e. organizations, community, and policy), as well as macro theories, concepts, ideologies, problems, and contexts relating to macro social work.

CQ Researcher This link opens in a new window
In-depth reports on national and international topics, including health, social trends, criminal justice, international affairs, education, the environment, technology and the economy.
Oxford Bibliographies Online - Social Work This link opens in a new window
Oxford Bibliographies offer item level overviews and references to important works. Social Work provides an up-to-date place to start research into theory and practice.

SocIndex with Full Text (EBSCO)
Coverage: Some Full Text
SocINDEX features sociology research with indexing for more than 2.1 million records. Full text is available for more than 860 journals dating back to 1908, full text for more than 830 books and monographs, and full text for over 16,800 conference papers.
PsycINFO (EBSCO)
Coverage: Some Full Text
PsycINFO abstracts scholarly journal articles, book chapters, books, and dissertations in the behavioral sciences and mental health and psychology. It contains over 3 million records and summaries dating as far back as the 1600s with journal coverage starting in the 1800s, including international material selected from around 2,500 periodicals.
Social Work Online (Proquest)
Social Work Online pairs recently published social work textbooks, along with compelling documentaries, clinical demonstration videos, and engaging lectures that illustrate the complex and challenging realities social work students will face as practitioners.