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Subject Guide for Communication
Contents:
Introduction & contact information
This guide is for communication as a whole and includes resources that cover
the entire discipline. Ask for separate guides for specialized areas.
For further assistance, the following librarian may be consulted:
Carolyn Baber
Office: Love Library 108H
E-mail: cbaber@mail.sdsu.edu
Phone: 619-594-6990
Top of page
Guides to the literature
For a good introduction to the discipline, it is useful to look at guides to
the literature. Some good examples are:
Communication and the Mass Media: A Guide to the Reference Literature.
P
90 B54 1991 Reference
An annotated guide to the basic English Language sources in communication.
Mass Media Bibliography: An Annotated Guide to Books and Journals for Research
and Reference.
P
90 B55 1990 Reference
Although somewhat dated, this is still the most comprehensive listing of sources
for research on mass communication.
Search Strategies in Mass Communication.
P
91.3 W37 1997 Reference
A thorough guide to various ways of obtaining information and what to do with
it. Emphasis is on reporting but useful tips for any type of research in mass
media.
Mass Communication Research Resources.
HE
7631 M37 1998 Reference
A guide to various reference resources useful for research in mass communication
of all types. Divided into topical chapters, such as history, industry research,
audiences, and policy. Includes a listing of media periodicals and audiovisual
resources.
Communication Yearbook.
P
87 C5974 4th floor books
Essay reviews of research and other articles in the field of communication,
broadly defined.
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Dictionaries & Encyclopedias
Dictionary of Media and Communication Studies.
P
87.5 W38 2003 Reference
A standard in the field, it is also the most up-to-date.
Encyclopedia
of Communication and Information. 2002.
Explores the full spectrum of communication, from careers to information technologies,
in an interdisciplinary fashion. Emphasis is on both historical and current
issues, topics, and people.
History of the Mass Media in the United States: an Encyclopedia.
P
92 U5 H55 1998 Reference
Mass media is broadly defined (press, advertising, photography, etc. as well
as television, film and radio). Entries cover fairly broad topics. Only a few
people are included.
International Encyclopedia of Communications.
P
87.5 I5 1989 Reference
A four volume authoritative and comprehensive work, giving basic introductory
information to most topics in the field.
Webster's New World Dictionary of Media and Communications.
P
87.5 W45 1996 Reference
A collection of words in a variety of media and communication fields, begun
as a glossary for people in public relations.
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Finding books
the PAC (Catalog of
the SDSU Library).
Books, periodical titles, many government publications and other materials in
the SDSU Library. Articles in periodicals are not included.
Communication, mass media, and media can be used in
the PAC as subjects or part of other subjects, such as mass media and women.
However, note that these would be general and would not include types of communication
or media. Subject headings are as specific as possible, so a book on television
and children would be under that and not under mass media, media, or communication.
Using keywords often helps to find what subject headings should be used.
Call number areas include P (without additional letters) for communication
in general (including speech and linguistics), PN 4000’s for journalism,
and PN 1990’s for film and television.
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Finding articles
Many indexes to periodical articles have information pertinent to communication.
The most relevant are:
Communication
& Mass Media Complete. Early 1980s to present.
Journal articles and some specialized encyclopedias and handbooks.
ComAbstracts.
Late 1980s to present.
Journal articles in the primary professional literature of the communication(s)
field. Some full-text is available.
Look for: "Check your library for full text access."
Open
Journals Index (Previously called Communication Journals Index).
Journal articles published in the primary professional literature of the communication(s)
field. No book reviews or editorial notes.
Also Useful
Academic
Search Premier. Varies by title; mid-1980s to present.
All subjects. Articles in journals, magazines, newspapers, and more. Some full
text. 
Humanities
and Social Sciences Retrospective. 1907 to 1984.
Journal articles. Some full text.
Humanities
International Index. 1925 to present.
Journals articles, essays and reviews, as well as original creative works including
poems, fiction, photographs, paintings and illustrations. Some full text.
MLA
International Bibliography. 1963 to present.
Journal articles, books, book chapters, dissertations, and conference proceedings
in literature, language, linguistics, and folklore. No book reviews. Some full
text.
ProQuest
Research Library. Varies by title; earliest 1971 to present.
Articles in journals, magazines, newspapers, and more. Some full text.
PsycINFO.
1887 to present.
Journal articles, books, and book chapters in psychology and related disciplines.
Cited reference searching is available. Some full text.
Sociological
Abstracts. 1952 to present.
Journal articles, books, book chapters, book reviews, dissertations, and conference
papers in sociology and related disciplines. Some full text.
Communication Abstracts. 1978 to present.
HM
258 C55 Reference
Published six times a year. Abstracts of articles on communications from scholarly
journals. There is a subject index, which cumulates at the end of the year.
Subjects are often so general that exact matches to topics is difficult.
Index to Journals in Communication Studies through 1995.
P
98 I48 Reference
Often referred to as “Matlon”, this is a table of contents listing
from 19 important communication journals. Has subject and keyword indexes. Replaced
by an online version called ComSearch, which is now part of Communication
and Mass Media Complete (see below).
Top of page
Other web resources
There are many Websites dealing with film, television, journalism, etc. The
best sites for communications and media as a whole are the following:
American Communication Association
"This site provides information about the ACA, a collection of materials
on communication law and First Amendment issues, resources for teaching and
research in communication studies, and an extensive reference resource page
for scholars and activists."
National Communication Association
This is the site for this national organization, which used to be the Speech
Communication Association.
Library
Resources for Communication Studies
A web site created by communications studies librarians under the auspices of
the Education and Behavioral Sciences Section of the Association of College
and Research Libraries. It includes a list of indexes and abstracts, subject
guides, news sources and associations and organizations.
This page http://infodome.sdsu.edu/research/guides/communication/communication.shtml is maintained by Carolyn Baber.
Please use our Feedback Form
for your questions, comments, and suggestions.
File saved 08/03/07 10:15 PDT
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