Anthropology: A Research Guide

Anthropology is the study of the classification and analysis of humans and their society, descriptively, culturally, historically, and physically. It differs from other fields like sociology because of its inclusion of data from non literate peoples and archaeology. The terms and phrases listed in the subject headings below can be used to search for more materials in the library’s catalog and research databases. If you need further assistance, please ask a librarian.

Cultural Anthropology: A Guide to Reference and Information Sources by Josephine Z. Kibbee. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 1991. ISBN: 0872877396.
Provides citations and annotations on reference sources, including manuals, bibliographies, indexes, databases, literature surveys and reviews, and dissertations.

Introduction to Library Research in Anthropology, 2nd ed. by John M. Weeks. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1998. ISBN: 0813374545.
Includes subject bibliographies, bibliographies, dictionaries, atlases, government documents, manuscripts and archives, dissertations, biographies, and more.

Countries and Their Cultures edited by Melvin Ember and Carol R. Ember. New York Macmillan Reference USA, 2001. ISBN: 0028649508.
Descriptive summaries of 225 countries and their cultures with bibliographies.

The Dictionary of Anthropology edited by Thomas Barfield. Cambridge, MA: Blackwell, 1997. ISBN: 1557862826.
Focuses primarily on topics in cultural and social anthropology. Emphasizes concepts, theories, and approaches within the discipline of anthropology.

Encyclopedia of Anthropology edited by David E. Hunter. NY: Harper & Row, 1976. ISBN: 0060470941.
Contains illustrations and selective references to major works for most topics.

Encyclopedia of Cultural Anthropology edited by David Levinson and Melvin Ember. New York: Henry Holt, 1996. ISBN: 0805028773.
Encyclopedia of key concepts, methods, and topics central to the study of cultural anthropology with bibliographies.

Encyclopedia of Social and Cultural Anthropology edited by Alan Barnard and Jonathan Spencer. New York: Routledge, 2002. ISBN: 0415285585.
Areas covered include kinship, gender and family, marriage and the body. Provides definitions of terms, concepts and biographical entries.

Encyclopedia of World Cultures edited by David Levinson. 10 vols. Boston: G. K. Hall, 1991– . ISBN: 081688840X.
Sponsored by the Human Relations Area Files. Historical, social, political, economic, linguistic, and religious information are provided with bibliographies. Vol. 1: North America; vol. 2: Oceania; vol. 3: South Asia; vol. 4: Europe; vol. 5: East and Southeast Asia; vol. 6: Russia and Eurasia, China; vol. 7: South America; vol. 8: Middle America and the Caribbean; vol. 9: Africa and the Middle East; vol. 10: Indexes.

Abstracts in Anthropology. Farmingdale: Baywood, 1970– . Bimonthly.
Abstracts are grouped in four sections: archaeology, ethnology (or cultural anthropology), linguistics, and physical anthropology.

International Bibliography of Social and Cultural Anthropology. Paris: UNESCO, 1955– . Annual.
Devoted primarily to sociocultural anthropology.

American Anthropologist. American Anthropological Association, 1888– . Quarterly. ISSN: 00027294.
Publishes articles, commentaries, and essays on issues of importance to the discipline; includes reviews of books, films, sound recordings, and exhibits.

Annual Review of Anthropology. Annual Reviews. 1972– . Annual. ISSN: 00846570.
Reviews the year’s scholarship in anthropology.

Current Anthropology. Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research. 1960– . Quarterly. ISSN: 00113204.
Features papers in areas of social, cultural, and physical anthropology, ethnology and ethnohistory, archaeology and prehistory, folklore, and linguistics.

American Anthropological Association (AAA)
www.aaanet.org
Primary professional society of anthropologists in the United States since founded in 1902. Official site of the AAA contains information about the organization, jobs and careers, meetings, publications, and special interest groups.

The Society for Applied Anthropology
www.sfaa.net
Aspires to promote the integration of anthropological perspectives and methods in solving human problems through their publications, education, and professional development.

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Academic Info Anthropology
www.academicinfo.com/anth.html
Directory of online anthropology resources including digital publications, cultural and social anthropology, physical and biological anthropology, archaeology, as well as a listing of anthropology organizations.

Anthro.Net Research Engine
www.anthro.net
A site dedicated to the study of anthropology and archaeology, providing a directory of worthwhile Web sites.

Anthropology Resources on the Internet
www.anthropologie.net
List of Internet resources that are directly or primarily of anthropological relevance.

Anthropology Review Database
http://wings.buffalo.edu/ARD/geninfo.shtml
Database of reviews covering anthropological publications, including books, audiovisual materials, software and multimedia, exhibits, tourist sites, conferences, and online resources.