Social Sciences and Humanities
Related Programs
We offer related programs to "Social Sciences" such as lectures and workshops. View them here.
At the Library
In the Government Documents section on the 2nd Floor of the Central branch library, you will find a wealth of federal and provincial information to meet your Social Science research needs. A sample includes:
- Social Trends - Canadian Social Trends is a monthly publication of Statistics Canada, containing reports and statistics on a variety of social trends such as "Sleep habits", "Car dependence", "Children and sports", "Divorce" and "Abuse". See them online.
- Status of Women - the Standing Committee on the Status of Women publishes occasional reports highlighting trends and developments relating to the status of women in Canada.
- Disabled Persons - the Office for Disabled Persons (Ontario) publishes a statistical profile of disabled persons in Ontario.
More government information is available online
Magazine, Newspaper, Encyclopedia & Journal Articles
Use Information Databases to search thousands of current and expert articles on your topic at one time.
Popular Culture and Religion E-Newsletter
- reviews of new and upcoming books
- info about related programs and services we offer
- delivered regularly to your email
- all book reviews are linked to our catalogue so you may easily place a book you're interested in on hold
- Find out more
Child, Spouse and Elder Abuse
Searching for Encyclopedias or Reference Books? 
The Canadian Encyclopedia: Child Abuse
The Canadian Encyclopedia:Family Violence in Canada
Encyclopedia of Domestic Violence
Encyclopedia of Interpersonal Violence
Searching for Resources?
If you would like a specific format ie DVDs, Audiobooks, ebook etc., you can limit your results using the Format facet on the left hand side. Other facets that you might find useful include Collection (also known as location), Publish Date and Language.
Caring Community Collection
Resources on child abuse
Resources on elder abuse
Resources on spouse abuse
Searching for Magazine, Journal and Newspaper Articles?
Using Information Databases, you will find articles published in magazines, newspapers and academic journals that you can’t find using the Internet. All our databases are listed on our website but we recommend you try the ones below first.
*If you are using a computer that isn’t in the library, you’ll be asked to type in your library card number.
Canadian Points of View Reference Centre
- Type in the phrase "domestic violence"
- Search for subjects: battered women, child abuse and neglect, older people and abuse
Also try:
Discovering Collection
See all information databases.
Recommended Websites
Ending Violence against Women
Springtide Resources promotes healthy and equal relationships by engaging diverse communities in shared educational strategies designed to prevent violence against women and the effect it has on children. The website lists current events, related news, programs for women and resources with a list of publications, helpful guides, fact sheets and links to other sites.
National Clearing House on Family Violence
National Clearing House on Family Violence is Canada’s resource centre for information on violence within relationships of kinship, intimacy, dependency or trust. The page provides a selection of downloadable publications, catalogue of the NFB videos that address family violence and links to other related websites.
Ontario Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse
The Ontario Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (ONPEA) is a non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to raising awareness about the abuse and neglect of older adults. The page offers information about the elder abuse, research articles and links to related sites.
Food and Nutrition Sciences
Searching for Encyclopedias or Reference Books? 
World Book Online: Search for "Nutrition"
Searching for Resources?
If you would like a specific format ie DVDs, Audiobooks, ebook etc., you can limit your results using the Format facet on the left hand side. Other facets that you might find useful include Collection (also known as location), Publish Date and Language.
Resources on the food industry and trade
Raw, live foods and superfoods
Searching for Audiovisual material?
Films about nutrition
Searching for Magazine, Journal and Newspaper Articles?
Using Information Databases, you will find articles published in magazines, newspapers and academic journals that you can’t find using the Internet. All our databases are listed on our website but we recommend you try the ones below first.
*If you are using a computer that isn’t in the library, you’ll be asked to type in your library card number.
Health and Wellness Resource Centre
- Suggested search terms: nutrition; nutritional requirements; nutrients
Also try:
See all Information Databases.
Recommended Websites
Health Canada: Food and Nutrition
Provides information on a number of food safety and nutrition topics including Canada's Food Guide, nutrition labeling, food additives, and food allergies.
HealthCastle
Learn about different nutrients, compare the nutritional composition of your favourite packaged foods, and listen to podcasts from nutrition experts.
Nutrition Data
Find detailed nutrition information for thousands of different foods.
Individuals and Families in a Diverse Society
Searching for Encyclopedias or Reference Books?
World Book Online Encyclopedia – Search for Sociology or Family
Canadian Encyclopedia : Marriage and Divorce
Canadian Encyclopedia: Women and the Law
International Encyclopedia of Marriage and Family
Searching for Books?
Books about Canadian Family Law
Books on child developmental psychology (general)
Books about families in Canada
Books about marriage in Canada
Books by and about specific theorists
Searching for Audiovisual material?
Why do we marry?(DVD)
Why thee wed: same sex marriage has never been the same
Searching for Magazine, Journal and Newspaper Articles?
Using Information Databases, you will find articles published in magazines, newspapers and academic journals that you can’t find using the Internet. All our databases are listed on our website but we recommend you try the ones below first.
*If you are using a computer that isn’t in the library, you’ll be asked to type in your library card number.
Canadian Points of View Reference Centre
- You may search by word or phrase
- Click on "Family Issues" on the Browse by Category tab to see collections of articles on topics related to family in Canada, such as Gay marriage, Universal daycare, Domestic violence and more.
Ebsco Host
Search for “family relations” or “immigrant families” (use quotation marks around the phrase you are searching).
See all Information Databases.
What are Information Databases?
Recommended Websites
Canadian Social Trends
Articles, written by researchers from Stats Can, that examine social trends and issues. All Canadian content, includes statistics. This periodical is available in the library Canadian Social Trends
HRDC: Indicators of Well-being in Canada: Family Life Overview
A review of family life in Canada. Includes statistics. Follow the link to detailed discussion paper “Canadians in Context – Households and Families”.
The Vanier Institute of the Family: Research
Articles on family trends and emerging issues.
Philosophy
Searching for Encyclopedias or Reference Books?
Some major figures in psychology are,
| Plato | Socrates | Voltaire |
| Spinoza | Kant | Descartes |
| Schopenhauer | Confucious | Nietszche |
| Bertrand Russell | Marx | Derrida |
Encyclopedia of Values and Ethics
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Searching for Books?
Books about ancient philosophy
Books about Chinese Philosophy
Books about Christian Philosophy
Books about the Philosophy of Identity
Books about the Philosophy of Science
Routledge Series: Great Philosophers
For any philosophy-related topic, go to the catalogue and search for "philosophy and your topic" (such as "philosophy and religion").
Other titles
Major Philosophers - Biographies
Why is there something rather than nothing? : 23 questions from great philosophers
A good introduction to the "big" questions such as "Do we have free will" and "Is there good and evil?" with essays by the major philosophic thinkers.
Searching for Audiovisual material?
Discovering the philosopher in you [compact disc] : the big questions in philosophy
Great Courses: Philosophy and Intellectual History
Searching for Magazine, Journal and Newspaper Articles?
Using Information Databases, you will find articles published in magazines, newspapers and academic journals that you can’t find using the Internet. All our databases are listed on our website but we recommend you try the ones below first.
*If you are using a computer that isn’t in the library, you’ll be asked to type in your library card number.
Recommended Websites
Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
NOESIS- Philosophical research on-line
Poverty and Homelessness
Searching for Encyclopedias or Reference Books?
Canadian Encyclopedia Online: Poverty
Searching for Resources 
Resources on Homeless Youth
Resources in Homelessness and Canada
Resources on Poverty and Canada
Films on Homelessness and Poverty
Searching for Magazine, Journal and Newspaper Articles?
Using Information Databases, you will find articles published in magazines, newspapers and academic journals that you can’t find using the Internet. All our databases are listed on our website but we recommend you try the ones below first.
*If you are using a computer that isn’t in the library, you’ll be asked to type in your library card number.
Canadian Points of View Reference Centre
- You may search by word or phrase
- Click on "View all Topics" tab to see collections of articles on topics such as Homelessness and Youth and Substance Abuse.
See all Information Databases.
Recommended Websites
Canadian Council on Social Development
A non profit organization that provides access to its research and statistics on poverty and social issues.
The Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative
The Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) is a research centre within the University of Oxford. This site is good for a global look at poverty.
The Homeless Hub
An online library of information related to homelessness and Canada. One of the most extensive sources for articles and information on this subject.
Hunger and World Poverty
See a brief, simple display about world poverty. Animated maps show how often people die of hunger, AIDS, malaria, and preventable diseases.
Psychology
This guide focuses on the academic study of psychology. If you are looking for information about living with mental heath issues, please visit the Health and Wellness section of this website.
Searching for Encyclopedias or Reference Books?
World Book Encyclopedia Online: Search for psychology to see a list of all entries with the word Psychology in them. The article "Psychology" nicely summarizes the history of psychology and the main psychological theories. Also you may search by name of theory, such as Gestalt psychology, or the name of theorist.
Some major figures in psychology are,
| Sigmund Freud | Ivan Pavlov | Marian Woodman |
| Jean Piaget | Carl Jung | Abraham Maslow |
| B.K. Skinner | Claude Levi-Strauss | Erik Erikson |
| Karen Horney |
Encyclopedia of Multicultural Psychology
APA Dictionary of Psychology
Developmental Disabilities in Ontario
Searching for Books?
Here are some samples of the range of psychology books at the library. You may also search the catalogue by the name of the individual theorist.
Books about Gestalt psychology
Other titles
The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Human Growth and Development
Includes a chapter on behavioural and cognitive development.
Identity and the Life Cycle
A description of the stages of ego development.
Psychology of the unconscious : Mesmer, Janet, Freud, Jung, and current issues
Searching for Audiovisual material?
The Great Ideas of Psychology (DVD)
Searching for Magazine, Journal and Newspaper Articles?
Using Information Databases, you will find articles published in magazines, newspapers and academic journals that you can’t find using the Internet. All our databases are listed on our website.
*If you are using a computer that isn’t in the library, you’ll be asked to type in your library card number.
See all Information Databases.
Recommended Websites
About.com- Psychology
Offers a collection of articles on basic psychology topics (development, personality, psychological theories etc.), a psychology blog and an option to sign for a newsletter.
Classics in the History of Psychology
A web site developed by Christopher D.Green, a professor of psychology in the York University, offers a collection of public domain scholarly documents of psychology: over 25 books, 200 articles and over 200 links to the works posted on other sites.
Intute-best of the web
Choose psychology from the browse menu.
Other?
Racism
Searching for Encyclopedias or Reference Books? 
Human Rights Violations
The Canadian Encyclopedia: Racism
The Canadian Encyclopedia: Prejudice and Discrimination (Canadian examples)
Searching for Resources?
Resources on racism and Canada
Films about racism
Searching for Magazine, Journal and Newspaper Articles?
Using Information Databases, you will find articles published in magazines, newspapers and academic journals that you can’t find using the Internet. All our databases are listed on our website but we recommend you try the ones below first.
*If you are using a computer that isn’t in the library, you’ll be asked to type in your library card number.
Canadian Points of View Reference Centre
- You may search by word or phrase
- Click on "View all Topics" tab to see collections of articles on topics related to racism in Canada, such as Racial Profiling and Discrimination against Aboriginal People.
Also try:
Canadian Business and Current Affairs
See all Information Databases.
Recommended Websites
Amnesty International- Canada
The website offers access to AI publications, descriptions of priority concerns and major campaigns.
Canadian Race Relations Foundation
The Canadian Race Relations Foundation is Canada's leading agency dedicated to the elimination of racism in the country. It’s website offers media center with news releases and daily news scan, overview of current programs, several related publications: papers and fact sheets and links to acts and human rights organizations.
Global Issues
Provides an overview of the selection of social issues, related articles, news, videos, reading lists and more.
Ontario Human Rights Commission
The website provides fact sheets and general information on many topics related to discrimination, series of guides, access to the Human Rights Code and more.
Understanding prejudice
UnderstandingPrejudice.org was established in 2002 with funding from the National Science Foundation and McGraw-Hill Higher Education. The purpose of the site is to offer educational resources and information on prejudice, discrimination, multiculturalism, and diversity. The page offers a collection of related links, organizations and readings.
Religion
Searching for Books? 
General books about World Religions
Books about Christian Theology
Books about early Christian church history
Recommended Websites
Anglican Church of Canada
The Anglican Church's official site, it has links to the church's annual General Synod, the Anglican Journal magazine and news items concerning the church.
Baha'i
A good introduction to the Baha'i faith.
Beliefnet
One of the most popular religion sites, beliefnet has articles by leading journalists.
Buddhist.ca
This site includes links to pages from many Buddhist traditions
Canadian Jewish News
Canada's premier Jewish weekly newspaper.
Catholic Canada
Canada's premier source for all things Catholic.
Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist Churches in Canada
The official site of the five hundred Fellowship Baptist churches in Canada.
Hinduism Today
A web window to a leading Hindu newspaper online.
Islam.ca
This popular site features news stories, Islamic TV clips and an Ask the Scholar section.
Jvibe
Jewish teenagers from around the globe discuss what is happening today's world.
National Study of Youth and Religion
The NSYR studies the shape and influence of religion on today's American adolescent.
Presbyterian Church in Canada
This site has links to the office of the General Assembly, as well as the various ministries and missions of the national church.
SikhNet
Devoted to sikhism worldwide, this site includes radio, chat and discussion forums.
The Greek Orthodox Church in Canada
The official site of the Greek Orthodox Church in Canada.
Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada
The UOCC's official site, it includes information, upcoming events and links.
United Church of Canada
The site for Canada's largest Protestant denomination has links to worship resources, regional offices and the Observer magazine.
Vision TV
A Canadian non-profit public broadcaster, Vision TV offers programming based on values, ethics, social justice, faith and spirituality
Young Muslims
An Islamic organisation working for and with Muslim youth in Canada.
Lectures on video
Scriptural Reasoning at Huron University College
In 2009, the Centre for Abrahamic Religions at Huron University College presented "Not Consensus but Friendship: the Performance and Practice of Scriptural Reasoning." The presentation featured Professor Peter Ochs.
Role of Women
Searching for Encyclopedias or Reference Books?
The Canadian Encyclopedia: Women and the Law
The Canadian Encyclopedia: Women in the Labour Force
The Canadian Encyclopedia: Women's Movement
The Canadian Encyclopedia: Status of Women
Searching for Resources?
Resources on gender roles
Resources on Women’s rights in Canada
Resources on women in the Canadian workplace
Searching for Magazine, Journal and Newspaper Articles?
Using Information Databases, you will find articles published in magazines, newspapers and academic journals that you can’t find using the Internet. All our databases are listed on our website but we recommend you try the ones below first.
*If you are using a computer that isn’t in the library, you’ll be asked to type in your library card number.
Canadian Points of View Reference Centre
- You may search by word or phrase
- Click on "View all Topics" tab and then click on Women's Issues to see collections of articles on topics related to women in Canada.
- Search "women and sex roles", "women and rights", "women and discrimination"
See all Information Databases.
Recommended Websites
Status of Women Canada
Status of Women Canada (SWC) is a federal government organization that promotes the full participation of women in the economic, social and democratic life of Canada. The page is providing access to news releases, some related statistics and descriptions of commemorative dates .
Human Rights Watch
The Human Rights Watch is one of the world’s leading independent organizations dedicated to defending and protecting human rights. The site provides a lot of information in its news, publications and multimedia sections. There is an option to browse by region, country or topic.
Nobel Women’s Initiative
The Nobel Women’s Initiative was established by six women Nobel Peace Prize Laureates to promote the work of women’s rights activists worldwide addressing the root causes of violence. The page provides news section, articles on related issues and links to other websites.
Sociology
Searching for Encyclopedias or Reference Books?
Major Sociological Theorists
| Emile Durkheim Frederich Engels Irving Goffman Jurgen Habermas Karl Marx |
George Herbert Mead Thelma McCormick Dorothy Smith Emanuel Wallerstein Max Weber |
Encyclopedia of Social Theory
Encyclopedia of Values and Ethics
Dictionary of the Social Sciences
Searching for Books? 
Books about Sociology (general)
Books about the effect of education on socialization
Books about the socialization of children
Books about the social impact of aging
Books about social class in Canada
Books about social policy in Canada
Searching for Magazine, Journal and Newspaper Articles?
Using Information Databases, you will find articles published in magazines, newspapers and academic journals that you can’t find using the Internet. All our databases are listed on our website but we recommend you try the ones below first.
*If you are using a computer that isn’t in the library, you’ll be asked to type in your library card number.
Canadian Points of View Reference Centre
- You may search by word or phrase
- Click on "View all Topics" tab to see collections of articles on topics related to social issues and society in Canada, such as Media Bias , Discrimination against Aboriginal People and Violence in Schools.
Also try,
Recommended Websites
Canadian Social Research Links
This page is an index to Canadian and international government statistics on issues such as homelessness, immigration, poverty, role of women, employment, education, crime and more.
Canadian Social Trends
Incorporating data gathered by Statistics Canada, this quarterly publication has indepth articles on current social trends and their impact on different groups and institutions in Canada. Topics include aging, education, immigration, leisure, income and more. This is an excellent source of information.