HARRIS LIBRARY

The following Pathfinder is intended to step you through the basic library research process for identifying resources relating to the area of Informatics and Social Work. "Informatics and social work" is understood here as the collection, classification, storage, retrieval, and dissemination of recorded knowledge related or relevant to social work.

Consult the Steps to Research and Writing a Paper for more detailed information.

References to book and journal titles and their call numbers and locations are specific to items owned by the MSASS Harris Library and Case Western Reserve University libraries (although in most cases the resources can be found in other academic and public libraries). The websites that are included at the end of the Pathfinder are intended as a starting point for research on the Internet and are not meant to be inclusive.

1. Start by locating resources that provide an overview of your topic.

This will help you define terms in that discipline and provide background information in your subject area. Encyclopedias,  handbooks  and subject specific dictionaries  offer good places to start.

Some titles specifically related to informatics and social work are:

Karger, H. J., & Levine, J. (1999). The internet and technology for the human services. New York: Longman.

Patterson, D. A. (2000). Personal computer applications in the social services. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

Schoech, D. (1999). Human services technology: Understanding, designing, and implementing computer and internet applications in the social services (2nd ed.). New York: Haworth Press.

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2. Search the online catalog for additional books that will give you the history, context, definitions and theories.

Define the terms that you want to use when you are doing a search for materials. If you do a subject search in the online catalog, the system limits you to using predefined Library of Congress Subject Headings. Click here for more information on doing a subject search.

Some subject headings for informatics and social work (in alphabetical order):

     Computer networks – social aspects
     Computers
     Distance education
     Educational technology
     Electronic data processing
     Human services – data processing
     Information services
     Information society
     Information storage and retrieval systems
     Information resources management
     Information retrieval
     Internet
     Medical informatics

Doing a keyword search will give you many more titles than a subject search and may help you focus the results. When you do a keyword search the system looks in the title, subject and table of contents fields. Click here for more information on doing a keyword search.

To do effective keyword searching, you will need to think of concepts and terms related to your topic. Consulting a thesaurus will help you find synonyms for concepts. Click here for a list of thesauri owned by the Harris Library.

In addition to the subject headings above, here are some general terms (in alphabetical order) to use when searching for information on informatics and social work. When you narrow your search you will make an additional list specific to your topic.

NOTE: Using a system's truncating symbol (in this example, the asterisk "*") at the end of the root word will provide you with records using variations of that word.

     Client records
     Computerization
     Confidentiality
     Data processing
     Educational technology
     Informatics
     Information management
     Information systems
     Information technology
     Internet
     Technology
     Web-based
     World Wide Web

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Search the Library Catalog for: KEYWORD SUBJECT

3. Find some general articles on your topic.

After you have located books on your topic, you will want to look for general journal articles in your subject area. Case and OhioLINK offer several general databases. These include: Expanded Academic ASAP, Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, Periodical Abstracts, SIRS Researcher, and Social Sciences Index. These databases provide a mix of popular magazine articles and scholarly research articles. You can get to these databases by choosing the Research Databases option in the Library Catalog.   Note: Access is limited to authorized users.

TIP: When you search in general databases, you will sometimes retrieve citations to book reviews related to your topic. These book reviews may be helpful in leading you to book titles and/or authors in your area of interest.

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4. Search subject specific databases for more scholarly journal articles.

Once you have assembled general journal articles on your topic, you can begin focusing on scholarly research articles. Citations, abstracts and, sometimes, the full-text of journal articles are found in a variety of databases available through Case Western Reserve University and OhioLINK to authorized users.

Case and OhioLINK databases are available by clicking on Research Databases in the Library Catalog.

The World Wide Web also makes available a range of databases. Some of these require a subscription fee to be paid; others are free. Click here to view a list of selected databases available on the web that are related to social work and the social sciences.

Literature on informatics and social work is found in many disciplines. Some of the databases that will have articles on this topic include:

CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health) is available electronically through the OhioLINK Research Databases and the Case Research Databases. It indexes literature relating to nursing, education, behavioral sciences, social services, and health care. Most of the entries included the reference list for the cited article. Coverage is from 1982 forward. This index corresponds to the printed publication Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health. [Listed November 7, 2005. Last updated November 8, 2005.]

PsycINFO is available electronically through the OhioLINK Research Databases. The database indexes the world's literature in psychology and related disciplines. It covers over 1900 journals as well as books, and individual book chapters. The coverage is from 1967 forward. This index corresponds to the printed publication Psychological Abstracts . PsycINFO Historical is a different database that covers similar information between the years 1887-1966. [Listed November 7, 2005. Last updated November 11, 2005.]

Social Work Abstracts is available electronically through the Case Research Databases list. It contains more than 45,000 records from 1700 social work related journals. Topics covered include service delivery, social work practice, homelessness, aging, child and family welfare, community organization, and substance abuse. The coverage is from 1977 to the present. This database corresponds with the printed publication Social Work Abstracts .    [Listed November 7, 2005. Last updated November 11, 2005.]

Sociological Abstracts is a database available electronically through the OhioLINK Research Databases. It indexes 2600 journals in sociology and related disciplines from over 55 countries. It also contains citations to many relevant dissertations and conference proceedings. Sociological Abstracts is an excellent source for information related to general community practice issues. The coverage is from 1963 through June 2005. This index corresponds to the formerly printed publication Sociological Abstracts. OhioLINK stopped subscribing to updates from this database effective June 2005, as a result nothing after that date will be present in the database. Check SocINDEX for current information. [Listed November 7, 2005. Last updated November 11, 2005.]

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CAUTION: The setup will vary for different databases. In many databases if you type in a phrase the system will look for the exact phrase. It does not add an " and" between words. So if you type "urban poverty homeless" you will get zero results because it will look for those words in that exact order. It is often clearer to enter one term at a time and combine the end results.

TIP: Look in the descriptor field and/or use the online thesaurus to lead you to additional terms.

NOTE: Online databases are distributed nationally and are not specific to Case Western Reserve University. The University will not own all the journals that are cited in the databases. Click here for information on finding journal titles in the Library Catalog.

5. Browse current issues of journals that contain literature on your topic.

Click here for a list of journals to which the MSASS Harris Library subscribes.

Journals that are most likely to contain information on the topic of informatics and social work include:

Administration in Social Work   online at: Haworth.    EBSCOhost.   (Public catalog.)

Journal of Social Work Education   online at:  EBSCO Research Databases.  E-Journal Portal.  (Public catalog)

Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions    online at: Haworth.  (Public catalog)

Journal of Teaching in Social Work   online at: Haworth.   (Public catalog)

Journal of Technology in Human Services   online at: Haworth.  (Public catalog)

Social Work   online at:  EBSCO Research Databases.   E-Journal Portal.   (Public catalog)

Additional journals that cover general topics in Sociology and social studies are available in the Electronic Journal Center.

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6. Do a web search on the Internet for additional information.

Information located through the Internet can provide supplemental material to scholarly research articles. Material retrieved from websites should always be evaluated for currency, authorship, bias and accuracy.

Following are selected websites that might be helpful when looking for information on informatics and social work:

ADEC
ADEC, an international consortium of state universities and land grant institutions, provides high quality and economic distance education programs and services via the latest and most appropriate information technologies. ADEC also provides links to on-line articles about distance education, and to many excellent Internet sites devoted to distance education resources. [Listed April 1, 2001.] (ADEC)

Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility (CPSR)
CPSR is a public-interest alliance of computer scientists and others concerned about the impact of computer technology on society. CPSR undertakes projects that impact the development and use of computer technology. The site includes links to other Web resources relating to a variety of computer issues, particularly in the area of ethics. [Listed April 1, 2001.] (CPSR)

Computer Use in Social Services Network (CUSSN)
CUSSN is an informal association of professionals interested in exchanging information and experiences on using computers in the human services. It provides access to free software that could be of use to human service professionals and maintains a listserve for the sharing of information about computer use in the social service arena. [Listed April 1, 2001. Last updated March 13, 2002.] (CUSSN)

Distance Education Clearinghouse
University of Wisconsin-Extension, its partners and other UW institutions, maintain this distance education resource website. Headlines, articles, bibliographies, conferences, funding and legislation, and Wisconsin news are provided. It also provides links to such sites as the Annual Conference on Distance Teaching and Learning, Programs and Courses. Also check out the Distance Education Clearinghouse Conference Database.  For those new to Distance Education there are prepared definitions, glossaries, and introductory materials. [Listed April 1, 2001. Last updated April 15, 2008.] (DistEdCLR)

Distance Education Initiative
This site provides information on Michigan State University's program of graduate social work courses offered through the Internet. Links to Web sites on social work issues are also included. [Listed April 1, 2001.] (DistEdIni)

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Human Service Information Technology Applications (HUSITA)
This is the home page for HUSITA, an international association of information technology innovators in human services. The site links primarily to resources related to the association itself. [Listed April 1, 2001.] (HUSITA)

HYTELNET version 6.8
This site is designed to assist Telnet users in reaching all of the INTERNET-accessible libraries, Free-nets, BBSs, & other information sites by Telnet. It is specifically focused on assisting those users who access Telnet via a modem or the ethernet from an IBM compatible personal computer. [Listed April 1, 2001. Last updated July 15, 2003.] (HYTELNET)

Information Technology in Social Work Education and Practice. (PDF)
This links you directly to the PDF version of an annotated bibliography on information technology in social work education and practice produced by Ph.D. Fellows at the Lillian F. & Milford J. Harris Library, Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Case Western Reserve University in 2000. The bibliography includes summaries of articles appearing in the social work literature between 1990 and 2000. The Adobe® Reader is required for viewing. Note: The information in this bibliography has not been updated since it was created. [Listed April 1, 2001. Last updated October 21, 2005.] (InfoBibpdf)

National Resource Center for Information Technology in Child Welfare
This Center assists child welfare front line workers, supervisors and administrators in using technology and information to enhance policy and practice. Model programs are highlighted, including those that are both successful and not so successful. Tips, tools and trends related to data and technology are included on the site. [Listed July 6, 2001. Last updated June 29, 2001.] (NRCITCW)

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Npower
This service was created to help local area non-profits use technology to better serve their communities. According to their web site, NPower's mission is to provide technology training assistance to help nonprofits translate technology's promise into a better world. The site provides tips for integrating technology, assessing an organization's computer needs, and implementing a technology plan. [Listed April 1, 2001. Last updated November 9, 2005.] (Npower)

Rob Kling Center for Social Informatics
Social Informatics (SI) refers to the body of research and study examining social aspects of computerization. This includes the roles of information technology in social and organizational change, the uses of information technologies in social contexts and the ways that the social organization of information technologies is influenced by social forces and social practices. The Center is based at Indiana University School of Library and Information Science. The site provides the full text of working papers to date, as well as information on seminars, conferences and journals. [Listed April 1, 2001. Last updated October 21, 2005.] (CSI)

Social Work Access Network (SWAN)
SWAN is an on-line interest group composed of caseworkers, counselors, therapists, students, administrators, and professors in the social work fields. SWAN is dedicated to promoting technology as an instructional enhancement tool across the social work curriculum. SWAN also provides information and pointers to networked resources of interest to social workers. [Listed April 1, 2001.] (SWAN)

TechSoup
Produced by Compumentor (an organization that matches volunteer technology professionals with nonprofit organizations seeking information) this site offers information on a range of technology issues such as Using the Internet, Hardware, Software, Technology Planning, Computer Networks, and Consultants. The site includes a number of Special Reports, as well as discussion boards and comments from people working in nonprofits who share their experiences with introducing technology.  [Listed April 1, 2001.] (TechSoup)

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7. Evaluate the information you have collected from books and articles.

Consult the bibliographies of the books and articles you have selected. This will lead you to additional references and authors to investigate. Make notes of the gaps in your literature so that you can use this information when you do additional searches. Click here for more information on evaluating the information you have collected.