School of Library and Information Science
Indiana University

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L625: Literature of the Social Sciences
Fall 1996
Tuesday, 5:45-8:15 PM
Room

Find out about the challenge to basic civil rights in the electronic world.

hrosenba@indiana.edu

Introduction

The number of books, journals, papers, and conferences in the social sciences is increasing with each passing year. So is the number of indices, abstracting and reference sources, and other print, non-print, and electronic, network-based resources devoted to social science information. This explosion of information and resources is increasing the burden on librarians and information professionals who must assist a wide range of users of the social science literature. A comment made by Roberts (1984; 95) more than a decade ago still resonates:

Social questions are now being recognized and formulated which have important consequences for the general public, for the disciplines and activities of social science, and for the individual social scientist, for those affected by the social sciences, and for the provision and use of information in the wider domain of social sciences and social problems. The solution to these problems and answers to these quesions will be varied, but all will involve handling of information in varying forms and situations. The time is opportune for a review of the capability of the information, documentation and library sector to cope with challenges far greater than anything it has p
reviously encountered.

In order to provide more effective service to patrons and clients, it is important to maintain a current awareness of the literature and resources that are available. In times of increasing demands for services and decreasing budgets for materials purchasing, it is important to understand how to critically evaluate evaluate and select appropriate social science literature and reference sources for a given user population. More recently, Stamatoplos (1991; 127) pointed out that

Will be impressed by the imensity and variety of data used in the social science, as well as the diversity in how information is collected and used for different kinds of research. Scholars in the social sciences vary widely in focus and method. Their treatment of information, therefore, although sometimes similar, can vary greatly between fields and sub-fields. Some social scientists generate much of the data they use, while others tend to exploit existing data. To function in these disciplines, or to serve their information needs, it is important to be aware of these similarities and differences.

In this course, you will study and work with a variety of information and resources that make up the primary and secondary literature of the social sciences. In order to do this, you will think critically about the nature of the social sciences, the characteristics of the disciplines which are considered social sciences, and the ways in which information and knowledge are created, evaluated, disseminated, and used by social scientists and other consumers of social science literature. Over the course of the semester, we will develop an argument that there is a useful conceptual framework with which to approach the literature of the social sciences that will allow librarians and information professionals to make better use of this literature. In addition, you will also spend considerable time working with and critically evaluating social science information resources and services in an effort to develop an information product with value for users of the social science literature.

This course will provide you with a broad survey of the primary and secondary literature of the social sciences. It will cover a range of disciplines, resources, and services, and expose you to the breadth of the literature. By understanding the structure of the literature and how it is produced, exchanged and consumed, and by studying a subset of this literature in greater detail, you will become a more skilled and effective librarian and information professional.

The purpose of this course is to answer these and related questions in two ways. First, there will be an emphasis on developing a knowledge base and set of skills that will enable you to efficiently and effectively exploit the services and resources of global electronic information networks in support of your personal and professional goals.

Notes and sources:

Roberts, S.A. (1984). The management and development of information and library provision in the social sciences. Journal of Documentation. 40(2). 94-119.

Stamatoplos, A.C. (1991). Review of Gould, C.C. And Handler, M. (1989). Information Needs in the Social Sciences - An Assesment. Behavioral and Social Sciences Librarian. 11(1). 126-129.

This page prepared by Howard Rosenbaum
Last update: 8.20.96
hrosenba@indiana.edu