Finding Articles:
The library subscribes to a number of databases that provide abstracts (summaries) and often the fulltext of journal, newspaper and magazine articles on topics relevant to this course. Some of the relevant databases are:
See the Databases for more options.
If you already have the citation for a specific article from a specific journal, go to the E-Journal Portal to see if the fulltext is available online or in print at the ECU Libraries. The E-Journal Portal also provides a list of Communications journals that are available online.
You might also want to browse the current issues of journals like:
Web Sites:
- American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry's Facts for Families and Other Resources
Fact sheets that provide concise and up-to-date information on issues that affect children, teenagers, and their families. - Child Trends
A nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization that studies children, youth, and families through research, data collection, and data analysis. - Children Now
An independent, nonpartisan child advocacy organization; one initiative is to improve the quality of news and entertainment media both for children and about children's issues. - Children, Youth & Family Research Links
From Washington State University's School of Communication. - Family-info.info
From the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, North Carolina State University. - Federal Communications Commission
Click on the Media Bureau,which deals with children's television, V-chip and obscenity issues. - Issues and Controversies
This subscription database covers both sides of controversial issues, using essays, tables, charts, poll results, etc. - National Center on Fathers and Families
From the University of Pennsylvania, this includes the FatherLit database and databases of events and programs. - National Institute on Media and the Family
Includes research reports, fact sheets, and video/computer game ratings. - National Parent Information Network
Their mission is to provide access to research-based information about the process of parenting and about family involvement in education. - PFLAG (Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays)
Look under "Education / Issues" for information on parenting and families, as well as links to related sites. - Public Agenda Online: Family
Facts, policy alternatives, and public opinion polls on issues relating to the family. - University of Missouri Outreach & Extension
Covers "family life" and "children & teens," among other topics. - Youth and Family Development
The University of Minnesota Extension Service provides programs address parenting skills, childcare, youth development, family economic stability, finances, consumer education, divorce transition, and change and stress.
Finding Books:
Use the Joyner Library catalog to find books relevant to the topics discussed in this course. Try General Keyword searches like these (the * finds different endings to the root word):
| adolescen* and communicat* | (family or families) and diversity |
| boys and communicat* | family roles |
| girls and communicat* | marriage and communication |
| family and sexuality | mass media and family |
| family communication | media and girls |
| (family or families) and conflict | television and (family or families) |
The following terms are subject headings used in the Joyner Library catalog. Use the Subject Alphabetical search option to see titles listed under each heading and to see related terms:
| Communication in the family | Mass media and culture |
| Computers and family | Mass media -- influence |
| Intergenerational communication | Mass media -- social aspects |
| Interpersonal communication | Mass media -- United States -- influence |
| Mass media and children | Television and family -- United States |
Use the Library of Congress Subject Heading books, located in the Reference Department, to look up additional headings.
Getting Help:
