Multiculturalism
From Simmons Library Research Guides
We have selected these resources to help you find relevant information on your research topic. Please contact a librarian for help using the resources listed in this guide or for help with your research process.
Contents |
Reference and Background Information
Search for Reference sources that contain information about your specific research topic here:
You may also consult the resources below for overviews of the topic that you have chosen to research. Use these resources to help you to put your topic in context and give you the big picture of what information exists about your topic. These resources may have bibliographies at the end of each entry that can help further your research.
RETURN TO TOP
Global Culture
- The Dictionary of Global Culture
Level 1 Reference CB9 .D53 1997
This is a collection of key terms from various global cultures, selected carefully to reflect an international, rather than a purely Western, perspective. Each entry is long and contains a detailed explanation of that terms cultural relevance. Users should note that it is not an easy text to search, while entries are organized alphabetically, there is no table of contents, no index, and little cross-referencing and entries can either be listed in English or in their native language.
- Dictionary of Race, Ethnicity and Culture
Level 1 Reference GN495.6 .D53 2003
This book is a dictionary of terms relating to race, ethnicity or culture, from aborigine to Zionism. Most entries are long in addition to a simple definition include a historical background and origin for each term as well as related social issues. There is also an index in the back of the text for quick searching and cross referencing.
- Encyclopedia of Race & Racism
Level 1 Reference E184 .A1 E584 2008
Collectively, the entries in this three-volume work provide both an historical overview and a current snapshot of scholarship on the topics of race and racism. Arranged alphabetically, the articles cover material such as African Feminisms, Hip-Hop Culture and Zoot Suit Riots. They range from one to several pages long and each is cross-referenced and includes a bibliography. An alphabetical list of articles, author credentials and a thematic outline are included in volume 1. Volume 3 features an index.
- Human Values and Beliefs
Level 1 Reference HM73 .I544 1998
A great resource to find charts, graphs, census materials, statistics, and other visual material about the basic values and attitudes of societies and peoples around the world.Charts pertain to such topics as attitude towards religion and political issues.
- Racial and Ethnic Diversity
Level 1 Reference E184.A1 R78 2006
Racial and Ethnic Diversity (5th edn., 2006) is a fantastic source for data divided into the following ethnic categories: American Indians and Alaska Natives; Asians; Blacks; Hispanics; non-Hispanic Whites. There are two additional chapters that provide comparative information on Total Population and Attitudes and Behaviors. Each chapter provides data for Education, Health, Housing, Income, Labor Force, Living Arrangements, Population and (where data are available) Spending and Wealth.
- Encyclopedia of Race, Ethnicity and Society
Level 1 Reference HT1521 .E63 2008
This three-volume resource offers information about understanding and researching racial and ethnic diversity from a multidisciplinary perspective. The articles are alphabetically arranged, cross-referenced and cover topics ranging from Afrocentricity to HIV/AIDS to Zionism. The text is supplemented by photographs, tables and figures, and custom-designed maps.
RETURN TO TOP
American Regionalism
- Dictionary of American Regional English
Level 1 Reference PE2843 .D52 1985
A sociolinguistic important reference book that incorporates cross-disciplinary applications. This dictionary on American Regional English contains information on folklore, natural history, and children's games, giving this text both a scholarly and popular appeal. A useful source for research, and for anyone who is fascinated by folk language and colloquial speech.
- Encyclopedia of New England
Level 1 Reference F4 .E53 2005
This encyclopedia focuses upon the oldest of America's regions, celebrating its distinct dialect, food, culture, and rich history. Contents include agriculture, architecture, art, cities and suburbs, education, ethnic and racial identity, Folklife, gender, geography and environment, history, images and ideas, industry, technology, labor, law, literature, Maritime New England, media, music and the performing arts, politics, religion, science and medicine, sports and recreation, and tourism. Entries run from half a page to two pages in length, some including charts and images.
- Encyclopedia of Southern Culture
Level 1 Reference F209 .E53 1989
The Encyclopedia's definition of the South is a cultural one: wherever southern culture is found. While the focus is on the 11 states of the Confederacy, the work also encompasses Midwestern and Middle Atlantic border states. Contents include agriculture, art and architecture, Black life, education, environment, ethnic life, Folklife, geography, history and manners, industry, language, law, literature, media, music, mythic South, politics, recreation, religion, science and medicine, social class, urbanization, violence, and women's life.
Immigration
- American Immigrant Cultures
Level 1 Reference E184.A1 A63448 1997
This two volume reference work provides information related to religion, language, immigration history, and much more for groups that have immigrated to America (ranging from African to Sri Lankan). Along with that information, there are also religious holiday guides, maps, and statistics.
- Encyclopedia of American Immigration
Level 1 Reference JV6465.E53 2001
This four volume reference work is not your typical alphabetical by term encyclopedia. All four volumes are organized into categories such as religion and politics, along with detailed entries on immigrant groups, such as immigrants from China. There is also extensive information about court cases, policies past and present, and other legal matters related to immigration. This is a great source for overviews about nearly everything related to immigration.
- Facts About American Immigration
Level 1 Reference JV6465 .B73 2001
This work covers a great deal of historical information about immigration from regions and nations all over the world. Each entry is illustrated with photographs, charts, graphs, and additional online resources.
- Immigration in U.S. History
Level 1 Reference JV6450.I565 2006
This two volume encyclopedia addresses 193 topics on immigrantion issues; from the seventeenth century, when the British arrived, to September 11, 2001. The first volume examines topics ranging from Accent Discrimination to Indentured Servitude and the second volume covers issues from Indigenous Superordination to Zadvydas v. Davis. Entries list definition/identification, immigration issues, and significance as well as a scholarly essay.
- Immigration Law and Procedure in a Nutshell
Level 1 Reference KF4819.3.W4 1998
The side of the law that deals with immigration can be a very difficult area to understand. Fortunately, this book is a concise, easy to use study guide discussing all the most important aspects of immigration law. immigration law.Contains a brief history of immigration legal proceedings, discussions of specific cases, explanations of laws past and present, and much more.
- Immigration Policy Handbook
Level 1 Reference JV6001.I46
From the National Immigration Forum, this guide compiles the facts about immigrating to the U.S, where immigration policy stands, a history of immigration, and current trends related to immigration. This is a very helpful and user friendly guide.
Finding Articles
Below are suggested databases and indexes for articles on the topic that you have chosen to research. These databases include articles from newspapers, magazines and scholarly journals. Articles are shorter and more narrowly focused than books or reference materials so you should use them after you have narrowed your topic.
- Ethnic Newswatch
Simmons Eresource
A comprehensive collection of newspapers, magazines, and journals of the ethnic, minority, and native press in America - now with expanded international coverage. Includes 932,000 articles (over 203,000 of them in Spanish) from 275 publications with titles in both English and Spanish. Approximately 7,500 new articles are added each month. Updated monthly.
- Academic Search Complete
Simmons Eresource
Academic Search Complete is a great place to start your search for both popular and scholarly articles, no matter what your topic is! It contains journals from almost every topic and is designed specifically for academic institutions. It provides more than 5,300 full-text periodicals, 4,400 of which are peer-reviewed journals. This resource also features content as far back as 1865.
- Academic Onefile
Simmons Eresource
Academic Onefile contains 8,000 academic journals, the majority in full-text, available in HTML and PDF formats. In addition it contains hundreds of podcasts and transcripts from NPR, CNN, and the CBC.
- Expanded Academic ASAP
Simmons Eresource
From arts and the humanities to social sciences, science and technology, this database meets research needs across all academic disciplines. Access scholarly journals, news magazines, and newspapers - many with full text and images. Updated daily.
TIP: Use the Advanced Search for a more precise search!
- Social Sciences Index
Simmons E-resource
A database of abstracts and full-text articles from several social science publications. Updated weekly.
- Sociological Abstracts
Simmons Eresource
A key resource for finding published research in sociology and related disciplines in the social and behavioral sciences. The database draws information from an international selection of over 2,600 journals and other serial publications, plus conference papers, books, and dissertations. Use the Advanced Search for a more precise search.
- Alternative Press Index
Simmons Eresource
Provides international, interdisciplinary, and in-depth coverage of the humanities and social sciences from a non-mainstream point-of-view. Indexes nearly 300 alternative, radical and left periodicals, newspapers and magazines. Includes selected abstracts from research journals. Updated quarterly.
- AltPress-Watch
Simmons Eresource
Alt-PressWatch is a full text database of over 170 newspapers, magazines and journals of the alternative and independent press. It provides coverage, viewpoints and perspectives to complement and challenge the coverage of the mainstream media and serves a broad spectrum of subject areas including the arts, media and popular culture, business and labor studies, education, environmental studies and ecology, global studies, history, journalism, literary and critical studies, political science, government and public policy, social science and more.
- JSTOR
Simmons Eresource
JSTOR offers both multidisciplinary and discipline-specific collections. Provides full-text backfiles of many core scholarly journals, some dating back to the 1800s. However, JSTOR is not the database for current issues as it focuses on older journals.
- Project MUSE
Simmons Eresource
Offers nearly 250 quality journal titles from 40 scholarly publishers. As one of the academic community's primary electronic periodicals resources, Project MUSE covers the fields of literature and criticism, history, the visual and performing arts, cultural studies, education, political science, gender studies, economics, and many others. Project MUSE is setting the standard for scholarly electronic journals in the humanities and social science.
Searching the Web
Simmons librarians have created a customized search engine that allows you
to find Multiculturalism information on the free web.
Use this Multiculturalism Google Custom Search Engine box to search all select, quality free web sites at the
same time:
You may also wish to go directly to, or bookmark, the Multiculturalism Google Custom Search Engine
Tips for Searching the Internet:
- Use the advanced search function, which is available from most search engines:
- Google - See also "Advanced Search Tips"
- Ask - Click "Advanced." See also "Advanced Search Tips"
- Live (MSN) - See also "Options"
- Exalead - See also "Exalead FAQ"
- Yahoo! Search
- Limit your search to .edu and .gov sites. These often provide quality research, statistics, and commentary. Sites ending in .org often have good information, too, but are likely to espouse a strong stance or bias on the issues they cover and may not be objective.
- Try Scandoo, which presents search results from Google, Yahoo! Search, or Live (MSN) with an evaluation about the objectivity, credibility, and overall reliability of the site.
- Consider using a directory of pre-screened, annotated sites:
Writing Style and Citation
For more information on style and citation for this discipline, please contact the Simmons College Writing Center
You may also consider consulting these resources:
- Writing Resources
Free Online
The Writing Center provides online resources for citing your research. If you are unsure of which citation style to use, consult your professor and consider the following:- Use APA (American Psychological Association) when your topic is in the Social Sciences
- Use ASA (American Sociological Association) when your topic is in Sociology
- Use MLA (Modern Language Association) when your topic is in the Humanities
- Use Chicago/Turabian when your topic is in Literature, History or the Arts
- Use CSE (Council of Science Editors) when your topic is in the Sciences
- RefWorks
Simmons Eresource
RefWorks is a great program for organizing articles, books, and other materials you need for research. You can also use RefWorks to create bibliographies, create in text citations in your paper (Write-N-Cite), and share your research with others. Access RefWorks from the A-Z list of resources on the library's web page, and then follow the instructions to create your own username and password. We hold RefWorks Clinics throughout the semester. For more information, ask a reference librarian
