Research Guides: Research and Technology (GE 202x): Start Your Research Here

My Profile

Ask a Librarian

Listed below are options available for you to contact a reference librarian and ask for help with your research.

LibAnswers (FAQ)
In Person
E-mail
Phone
TXT
Text us at 908-287-7629
Make an Appointment

Subject-Focused Encyclopedias

Need to select a research topic or find background information?

The Reference Collection includes a variety of different sources, such as: subject-focused encyclopedias, handbooks, almanacs, maps/atlases, statistical compendiums, dictionaries, and more. Look here to find introductory articles on subject-related topics. The broad perspective offered by such articles often proves helpful for narrowing research topics before pursuing more in-depth information.

This guide provides some recommendations for encyclopedias and other reference resources that might provide helpful information relating to your topic.

Recommended Subject-Focused Encyclopedias

Countries and Their Cultures

Main Collection

Encyclopedia of Animal Rights and Animal Welfare

Electronic Resource

Encyclopedia of Children, Adolescents, and the Media

Electronic Resource

Encyclopedia of Community: From the Village to the Virtual World

Electronic Resource

Encyclopedia of Food and Culture

Nancy Thompson Library Annex

Encyclopedia of Interpersonal Violence

Electronic Resource

Encyclopedia of Law & Society: American and Global Perspectives

Electronic Resource

Encyclopedia of Media and Politics

Main Collection

Encyclopedia of Multicultural Psychology

Electronic Resource

Encyclopedia of New Jersey

Electronic Resource

Encyclopedia of Politics, the Media, and Popular Culture

Electronic Resource

Encyclopedia of Race, Ethnicity, and Society

Electronic Resource

Encyclopedia of Sex and Gender

Main Collection

Encyclopedia of Social Problems

Electronic Resource

Encyclopedia of U.S. Political History

Electronic Resource

Encyclopedia of Urban Cultures: Cities and Cultures Around the World

Main Collection

Freedom of Speech: A Reference Guide to the United States Constitution

Main Collection

Guide to Countries of the World

Electronic Resource

Handbook of World Families

Main Collection

Handbook of World Families

Electronic Resource

Social Issues in America: An Encyclopedia

Main Collection

Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life

Electronic Resource, Volumes 1-5

Worldmark Encyclopedia of Religious Practices

Electronic Resource

Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations

Electronic Resource

Recommended Online Reference Databases

The following databases provide access to online encyclopedias covering multidisciplinary topics. Remember, these subject encyclopedias are great sources of background information on countless topics.

Working from off campus? If so, you will need to log in with your Kean Google username and password.

Facts on File Online Databases (now Infobase Learning) This link opens in a new window Offers a menu of all of the Facts on File (now Infobase Learning) reference and news databases, with options for searching simultaneously in several databases.
Gale eBooks (Gale Cengage Learning) This link opens in a new window A comprehensive collection of reference resources such as subject-focused encyclopedias and dictionaries, available in a single database.
Oxford Reference (Oxford University Press) This link opens in a new window Contains facts, figures, definitions, quotations, and translations from 300+ Oxford reference titles, as well as in-depth, scholarly articles from titles in the Oxford Companions series and Oxford Digital Reference Shelf.
SAGE Knowledge This link opens in a new window Provides reference resources such as subject-focused dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other reference materials published by SAGE.

Recommended Multimedia Databases

Working from off campus? If so, you will need to log in with your Kean Google username and password.

BBC Shakespeare Plays (Ambrose Video) This link opens in a new window Thirty seven plays from the BBC television Shakespeare series from 1978 to 1985.
Counseling and Therapy in Video (Alexander Street Press) This link opens in a new window Provides access to a collection of online videos that enable students to observe the practice of social work, psychotherapy, psychology, and psychiatric counseling.
Films on Demand (Infobase Learning) This link opens in a new window Films on Demand provides access to "video and multimedia for academic, vocational and life-skills content." Click "Collections" to access videos in various subject areas, such as Art & Architecture, Biology, Business & Economics, Criminal Justice & Law, Education, English, Gender & Sexuality, Guidance & Counseling, Health & Medicine, History, Psychology, and more. Also features Archival Films & Newsreels.
ICE Learning Center (International Clinical Educators) This link opens in a new window Features videos for physical and occupational therapy. Videos are "filmed with actual patients and therapists in real-life treatment settings including acute care, skilled nursing, outpatient, home health and ICU. Diagnosis include musculoskeletal, nervous system, mental and behavioral disorders, respiratory, and pediatrics."
LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com) This link opens in a new window Kean University subscribes to LinkedIn Learning, which provides video courses focusing on creative, business, software, and technology skills. Click the link here, then login with your Kean Google email username and password.
Naxos Music Library This link opens in a new window Offers streaming audio access to CDs, focusing on classical music but also including some jazz, folk, blues, world, pop, rock, gospel, and spoken word.
Naxos Music Library Jazz This link opens in a new window Offers streaming audio access to CDs by jazz legends and contemporary jazz artists.
Psychotherapy.net This link opens in a new window Features a library of streaming videos relevant for clinical psychology.
Stash (Stash Media) -- Click on SIGN IN This link opens in a new window Online video library of Animation VFX and Motion Design Note: Click on SIGN IN.
Theatre in Video (Alexander Street Press) This link opens in a new window A collection of some of the world's best-loved plays, performances, documentaries, and even rehearsals, all provided in full streaming video. Includes many world renown actors and directors.

Recommended Statistics Databases

The following databases provide access to statistics and other kinds of data.

Working from off campus? If so, you will need to log in with your Kean Google username and password.

Social Explorer This link opens in a new window
PolicyMap This link opens in a new window
Statista This link opens in a new window

Recommended Tests and Measures Databases

The following databases provide information that will help you identify psychological tests and measuring instruments.

Working from off campus? If so, you will need to log in with your Kean Google username and password.

Health and Psychosocial Instruments (HaPI) (OvidSP) This link opens in a new window
Mental Measurements Yearbook with Tests in Print (EBSCOhost) (VALE) This link opens in a new window
PsycTests (EBSCOhost) (VALE) This link opens in a new window