Paul H. Thompson Library: Sociology: Starting Your Research

Exploring Social Issues

Here are three great databases for exploring social issues with pro/con essays, books, articles, websites about social issues.

SIRS

This database provides relevant, credible information on social issues, science, history, government, and the arts and humanities. Overview provided by ProQuest.

SIRS Knowledge Source database is an excellent starting point for many topics. It contains pro/con information on current and controversial issues. Mostly focused on newspapers and magazines, SIRS also offers access to some journal articles, book excerpts, and video/audio files.

CQ Researcher

Provides full-text online access to resources on American government, current affairs, history, politics, public policy, and social science data analysis. Overview provided by Sage.

Opposing Viewpoints (Gale in Context)
Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints provides community college students with diverse perspectives on major social issues, supporting research, debate, and critical thinking. It includes viewpoints, reference articles, infographics, videos, and more on topics like immigration, climate change, and criminal justice—ideal for courses in social sciences, current events, and composition.