Sociology Collection Development Guidelines
General Department Information
Background - The Sociology Department:
The Sociology Department maintains a World Wide Web home page with current information about its program, faculty and course offerings.
General Collection Development Objectives:
Library Support for Undergraduate Programs: Consistent with Liaison Responsibilities, the Library Liaison works to support the Sociology department's goals for undergraduate students. Departement goals are to provide courses meeting liberal education, diversity, minor and major requirements, and, for sociology majors, teaching the application of social science theory, methodology, and empirical findings to gain an understanding of social structure and processes.
Additional background regarding undergraduate offerings in sociology is here.
Library Support for Graduate Programs: The emphasis is to support graduate programs leading to the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees. The Ph.D. degree is offered jointly with the University of Akron (Ohio). The department offers specialties in three areas: (1)the sociology of health and health care, (2)social psychology, and (3)social inequalities. The department at the University of Akron offers additional specializations in family. Thus, the joint doctoral program offers specialties in 4 areas of sociology. While the degree is earned at the university of admittance, once admitted to the program, students, faculty, and courses are treated as a single graduate department. Coursework is offered at both campuses and faculty and students interchange freely.
Additional background regarding graduate offerings is here.
Library Support for Faculty Research: The library also works to support faculty research.
Scope of Coverage
Initial study level and advanced instructional level materials are collected to support undergraduate instruction as described above.
The following subject areas are collected at the research level:
- Sociology of health and health care
- Social psychology
- Social inequalities
Apply the Following Parameters to the Above Scope of Coverage Areas
- Language: Emphasis is on English
- Geography: No restrictions
- Chronology: Emphasis is on current materials
Types of Materials
- Monographs
- Periodicals
- Serials
- Abstracts and Indexes
- Government Documents
- Conference Proceedings and Symposia
- Electronic Formats
Periodicals:
Active list of KSU Sociology Department subscriptions.
Periodical holdings are not classified, but are arranged alphabetically in the Periodicals Department, Main Library, Regional Campus Libraries, and in storage. Additional avenues for access include Electronic Resources, Document Delivery Sources, OhioLINK Resources and Interlibrary Loan.
Special Centers and Activities:
Survey Research Laboratory
The Survey Research Laboratory at Kent State University exists to serve the research, teaching, and service needs of the University and the larger community."
Survey Research Laboratory activities include:- The execution of surveys for University faculty and students, public agencies, private foundations, and other interested groups
- Consultation on all phases of survey research
- Development of research design to maximize response quantity and quality
- Development of a questionnaire design to meet the needs of the clientÕs objectives
- Data collection through web-based surveys, computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI), or mail questionnaires
- Ongoing data cleaning to ensure the highest quality of data
- Assistance with analysis of survey data
- Report development is additionally available
- Development of a data archive for use in teaching and research
Online Services and Electronic Resources:
- Sociological Abstracts
- Sociology Resources for Study and Research
- Sociology Liaision Librarian
