Skip to Main Content

SOCI 3340: Environmental Sociology Research Guide

Subject Overview

According to the American Sociological Association section on Environment and Technology, Environmental Sociology explores the various forms of interactions between human society and the environment.

Some examples of what Environmental Sociologists study include:

  • How do social, political, and technological factors contribute to the pollution and wasteful use of resources that threaten ecosystems, humans, and other species?
  • Why do environmental problems, such as toxic waste dumps, so frequently end up in poor and minority neighborhoods in the U.S... and in poor nations abroad, and how can these inequalities be eliminated?
  • How do societies cope with environmental and technological disasters, and how can we develop more effective coping strategies?
  • What factors influence public opinion about environmental problems, and do how local, national, and international public opinion influence government policies and programs to protect the environment?

(http://www.envirosoc.org/)

This guide is meant to be a starting point in assisting students in Environmental Sociology courses by helping them to find articles, book/e-books, and other useful information that will enhance their assignments. See the tabs above for more information on finding articles, books and additional resources. Please do not hesitate to ask for help if you have any questions!

Starting Your Research

The first step is to choose a topic. We recommend you consider the following:

  1. What topic are you interested in?
  2. If your topic was set by the instructor, what does your instructor want you to learn by doing the research?

Once the topic is selected, you should:

  1. Do a preliminary search for background information on the topic using a reference source, such as Credo Reference (Credo).
  2. Take note of significant people, places, events, etc. Consider why your topic is important to learn about today.
  3. Narrow your topic. Focus on the aspects that the paper will discuss.
  4. Create initial thesis statement.

  5. Search for scholarly articles (recently published academic research) that support your thesis. You can find them using library databases like Academic Search Complete (EBSCO) or JSTOR Arts & Sciences I-XV (JSTOR). For additional databases, please see the "Find Articles" tab or our A-Z List.

Library Information

Ask us now button

chat loading...

For other ways to connect with us visit our Contact Us page.

Please visit our calendar for a day by day breakdown of the library's hours of operation.

Looking for a quiet place to study or a space to collaborate with group members?  The library has lots of study rooms to fit your needs.  Visit this calendar to select the date/time you wish to reserve your room.