SocINDEX: The Ultimate Database for Social Science Research

If you’re a researcher, student, or faculty member working on projects in the fields of public health, sociology, behavioural sciences, or policy, SocINDEX is a powerhouse database you need to know about. It is widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive and high-quality sociology research tools available today. It supports in-depth exploration across a wide range of social issues, making it an excellent resource for anyone interested in understanding the forces that shape society.

What is SocINDEX?

SocINDEX is a scholarly database that offers full-text access to thousands of journals, books, and conference papers related to sociology and the broader social and behavioural sciences. Developed by subject-matter experts, it offers robust indexing and abstracts for both current and historical content, dating as far back as 1895. Whether you’re investigating social determinants of health, cultural norms, family dynamics, gender studies, or public policy, SocINDEX provides the academic grounding necessary to support your work with peer-reviewed, evidence-based sources.

Key Features of SocINDEX

• Extensive Journal Coverage: Full-text access to more than 890 journals and indexing for over 3,200 titles, including top publications like Social Problems, Sociological Quarterly, and Gender & Society.
• Broad Disciplinary Reach: Includes content relevant to anthropology, criminology, gender studies, race and ethnicity studies, social psychology, urban studies, education, public health, and more.
• Subject-Specific Thesaurus: The SocINDEX Thesaurus offers controlled vocabulary terms that support precise, targeted searching—a major advantage for systematic reviews or structured literature searches.
• Author and Cited References Search: Find influential scholars and track how specific studies have been cited in later work.

What Makes SocINDEX Unique?

What sets SocINDEX apart from other databases like PsycINFO is its exclusive focus on sociology and the social sciences, combined with a deep historical archive and strong subject indexing. While PsycINFO excels in psychology and mental health topics, SocINDEX digs deeper into social structures, relationships, and societal systems. SocINDEX also supports interdisciplinary research, making it a great companion database when you’re tackling questions that cross boundaries—for instance, examining the sociological aspects of public health policy, education reform, or health equity.

When Should You Use SocINDEX?

Consider turning to SocINDEX when:

• You’re researching the social context of health behaviors, such as vaccine hesitancy, reproductive rights, or mental health stigma.
• You need to understand the policy or sociocultural underpinnings of public health interventions.
• You’re exploring inequities across race, class, or gender and need solid academic sources.
• You’re conducting a systematic or scoping review involving social science literature.

Get started by searching for SocINDEX in Lane Search on the library website. If you’re unsure how to get started with SocINDEX or want to learn advanced search techniques, reach out to your friendly liaison librarian—we’re here to help!