Use dictionaries, encyclopedias and handbooks to
1. get an overview of your topic
2. define terms
3. identify key words and concepts relating to your research topic
Scholarly or academic dictionaries explain concepts and trace the development of terms. The goal of encyclopedias is to bring together the most accepted facts and opinions about a topic, usually with references to key sources. Handbooks try bring together and organize all the research about a topic in a discipline.
All reference books listed below are available online. Click the item title to access the book.
Access to full text is limited to Temple University faculty, students, and staff. If you are off campus, you must prove you are affiliated with TU by entering your AccessNet ID and password.
You must have a Temple AccessNet ID and Password in order to access these resources off-campus.
Annual Reviews Online provides research literature in various disciplines within the Biomedical, Physical, and Social Sciences.
Concurrent user limit: 3
Note: Users will see a GeoLytics login screen that is auto-populated with the correct User ID and Password. Just click 'Login' to access this resource.
Geolytics Neighborhood Change Database (NCDB) gives users instant access to US Census data from 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020 at the census tract level.
Policy Map is a web-based Geographic Information System that provides a simple mechanism for visualizing data. Available data includes demographics, home sale statistics, health data, mortgage trends, school performance scores and labor data like unemployment, crime statistics and city crime rates.