WRTG: Consumerism Research
* "I shop, therefore I am"
(Click to run targeted Subject searches in the IC Library catalog)
The Way We Live Now:
United States--Economic conditions
United States--Economic conditions--1981-
The Way We Live Now:
United States--Economic conditions
United States--Economic conditions--1981-
United States--Economic conditions--2001-
United States--Economic conditions--2009-
Cost and standard of living--United States
Income--United States
Income distribution--United States
Occupy movement--New York (State)--New York [Occupy Wall Street]
United States--Economic conditions--2009-
Cost and standard of living--United States
Income--United States
Income distribution--United States
Occupy movement--New York (State)--New York [Occupy Wall Street]
Wealth--United States
Middle class--United States
Poor--United States
Poverty--United States
Wages--United States
Saving and investment--United States
Credit cards--United States
Middle class--United States
Middle class--United States--Economic conditions
Working poor--United States Working class--United States
Working class--United States--Economic conditions
Poor--United States
Poverty--United States
Wages--United States
Saving and investment--United States
Credit cards--United States
Consumer credit--United States
Credit--United States
Debt--United States
Finance, Personal--United States
Economic security--United States
Finance, Personal--United States
Economic security--United States
Mortgage loans--United States
Mortgages--United States
Needs & Desires:
Consumption (Economics)
Lifestyles--United States
Materialism--United States Materialism -- Social aspects -- United States
American Dream
Quality of life--United States
Social values--United States
Hours of labor--United States
Leisure--Sociological aspects
Happiness
Happiness
Consumption (Economics)
Consumption (Economics)--Environmental aspects
Consumption (Economics) -- Moral and ethical aspects
Consumption (Economics)--Political aspects
Consumption (Economics)--Political aspects
Consumption (Economics) -- Social aspects
Consumption (Economics)--United States
Consumption (Economics)--Social aspects--United States
Consumption (Economics)--Social aspects--United States
Consumption (Economics)--United States--History--20th century
Shopping--Psychological aspects
Consumers.
Shopping--Psychological aspects
Consumers.
Consumers -- United States
Consumers--United States—Attitudes
Consumer behavior
Consumer behavior -- United States
Consumer credit--United States
Consumers' preferences
Consumers' preferences -- United States
Advertising -- Psychological aspects
Advertising -- Psychological aspects
Advertising--Social aspects
Marketing -- Social aspects -- United States
Marketing--United States
Branding (Marketing)
Brand name products
Brand choice
Brand choice -- United States
Resource Consumption:
Natural resources--Management
Natural resources--United States--Management
Nature--Effect of human beings on
Environmental degradation
Environmental degradation--Economic aspects
Pollution--Economic aspects
Pollution--Environmental aspects
Pollution--United States
Automobiles--Environmental aspects
Greenhouse gases--Environmental aspects
Branding (Marketing)
Brand name products
Brand choice
Brand choice -- United States
Costs of Doing Business:
Business enterprises--Environmental aspects
Corporations--Environmental aspects
Industries--Environmental aspects
Petroleum industry and trade--Environmental aspects
Fossil fuels--Environmental aspects
Factory and trade waste--Environmental aspects
Industrial management--Environmental aspects
Industrial management--Environmental aspects--United States
Economic development--Environmental aspects
Globalization--Economic aspects
Globalization--Environmental aspects
Agriculture--Environmental aspects
Pesticides--Environmental aspects
Food industry and trade--Enviornmental aspects
Social responsibility of business
Corporations--Environmental aspects
Industries--Environmental aspects
Petroleum industry and trade--Environmental aspects
Fossil fuels--Environmental aspects
Factory and trade waste--Environmental aspects
Industrial management--Environmental aspects
Industrial management--Environmental aspects--United States
Economic development--Environmental aspects
Globalization--Economic aspects
Globalization--Environmental aspects
Agriculture--Environmental aspects
Pesticides--Environmental aspects
Food industry and trade--Enviornmental aspects
Social responsibility of business
Social responsibility of business--United States
Economics--Moral and ethical aspects
Natural resources--Management
Natural resources--United States--Management
Nature--Effect of human beings on
Environmental degradation
Environmental degradation--Economic aspects
Pollution--Economic aspects
Pollution--Environmental aspects
Pollution--United States
Automobiles--Environmental aspects
Greenhouse gases--Environmental aspects
Climatic changes--Economic aspects
Climatic changes--Environmental aspects
Refuse and refuse disposal--United States [garbage, landfill]
Waste electronic apparatus and appliances [in most databases use Electronic waste]
Waste electronic apparatus and appliances [in most databases use Electronic waste]
Environmental toxicology
Resource Renewal:
Environmentalism
Environmentalism--United States
Environmental protection--United States
Environmental economics
Environmental policy--United States
Conservation of natural resources--United States
Energy conservation--United States
Energy development
Energy development--Environmental aspects
Renewable energy sources
Sustainable development [sustainability]
Sustainable development--United States
Recycling (Waste, etc.)
Green technology
Green products
Green movement
Environmentalism
Environmentalism--United States
Environmental protection--United States
Environmental economics
Environmental policy--United States
Conservation of natural resources--United States
Energy conservation--United States
Energy development
Energy development--Environmental aspects
Renewable energy sources
Sustainable development [sustainability]
Sustainable development--United States
Recycling (Waste, etc.)
Green technology
Green products
Green movement
ProQuest Research Library : is another comprehensive database with substantial full text. Use the "Thesaurus" (above the search slots) to preview what Subject Headings are available. Subect searching can be a more efficient way to search than with only Keywords, since it guarantees that the articles retrieved actually be about the Subject--not just use a particular word.
Note that to the right of your search results you can limit your retrieval by "Source Type" (including Magazines, Newspapers, Scholarly Journals), "Document Type," (including Cover Story, Editorial, or Interview), "Document Feature" (including Photographs, Illustrations), and "Location."
Above each set of articles you retrieve ProQuest will display related Subject searches to help either broaden or narrow your focus.
User Advisory: ProQuest is fussy about entering Subject searches in the designated search slot. If your subject is a person, enter the name--last name first--in the "Person" slot; if a named group of any kind--Microsoft, the Catholic Church, Radiohead, the New York Mets--enter it in "Co/Org"; if a place enter it in "Location."
General OneFile : is the most user-friendly of our comprehensive databases, covering almost any topic from a wide range of disciplinary angles and offering lots of full text. Use the default Subject search to find the best subject heading for your topic (and when you find a good one be sure to look at the "Related Subjects" to see if there's something even better).
When you settle on a subject heading, open the "Subdivisions" link below it. Most General OneFile subject searches produce very large retrievals and the "subdivisions" help you narrow your search to a particular aspect: "Economic aspects," "Environmental aspects," "Ethical aspects," "Forecasts and Trends," "History," "Media Coverage," "Political aspects," "Psychological aspects," "Social aspects," and "Statistics," to name only a few.
If the best available subdivision is still too broad, open it and add your own Keywords in the "Search within these results" slot at the upper left.
User Advisory: When first viewing your retrievals in General OneFile, note that you are seeing only the "Magazines" (popular articles) and must click on the tabs for "Academic Journals" (scholarly articles) or "News" (newspaper articles) to see those results.
Academic Search Premier Comprehensive subject coverage with considerable full text. Note that there is a “Subject Terms” link just above the search boxes, allowing you to search the index of Subject Headings--often a good first stop for more efficient Subject searching whereby you are guaranteed that your topic is indeed a main subject of the articles retrieved.
Note that to the right of your search results you can limit your retrieval by "Source Type" (including Magazines, Newspapers, Scholarly Journals), "Document Type," (including Cover Story, Editorial, or Interview), "Document Feature" (including Photographs, Illustrations), and "Location."
Above each set of articles you retrieve ProQuest will display related Subject searches to help either broaden or narrow your focus.
User Advisory: ProQuest is fussy about entering Subject searches in the designated search slot. If your subject is a person, enter the name--last name first--in the "Person" slot; if a named group of any kind--Microsoft, the Catholic Church, Radiohead, the New York Mets--enter it in "Co/Org"; if a place enter it in "Location."
General OneFile : is the most user-friendly of our comprehensive databases, covering almost any topic from a wide range of disciplinary angles and offering lots of full text. Use the default Subject search to find the best subject heading for your topic (and when you find a good one be sure to look at the "Related Subjects" to see if there's something even better).
When you settle on a subject heading, open the "Subdivisions" link below it. Most General OneFile subject searches produce very large retrievals and the "subdivisions" help you narrow your search to a particular aspect: "Economic aspects," "Environmental aspects," "Ethical aspects," "Forecasts and Trends," "History," "Media Coverage," "Political aspects," "Psychological aspects," "Social aspects," and "Statistics," to name only a few.
If the best available subdivision is still too broad, open it and add your own Keywords in the "Search within these results" slot at the upper left.
User Advisory: When first viewing your retrievals in General OneFile, note that you are seeing only the "Magazines" (popular articles) and must click on the tabs for "Academic Journals" (scholarly articles) or "News" (newspaper articles) to see those results.
Academic Search Premier Comprehensive subject coverage with considerable full text. Note that there is a “Subject Terms” link just above the search boxes, allowing you to search the index of Subject Headings--often a good first stop for more efficient Subject searching whereby you are guaranteed that your topic is indeed a main subject of the articles retrieved.
A good initial strategy in this database is to search a likely topic in the Subject Terms and when you find it “explode” the term by double clicking it--this brings up a list of related Subject terms. You can check as many terms as you like before "adding" them to your search by AND-ing or OR-ing them together.
User Advisory: For any retrieved set of articles, there will be a box displayed on the left that will limit the articles to “Scholarly” journals—just check the box and click the “Update Results” button below.
SocINDEX with Full Text : As the name implies, an excellent database for social issues. Click on the "Subject Terms" link above the search slots to find which Subject Headings will work here. Double click any Heading for a list of broader, narower, and related Subject Terms. And note that you can check the boxes to select as many Headings as you like and then "add to search using or" and run the search--all without even retyping the terms back on the home page.
Business Source Premier (Special Business Interface) : Our largest database of newspaper, magazine and journal articles on all aspects of business and management.
PsycINFO : The American Psychological Association use their own Subject vocabulary (called "Descriptors"), so a visit to the "Thesaurus" below the search slots is a good idea. If you find an article on exactly what you want, be sure to check the assigned "Descriptors" on the right of the citation for more ideas about useful search terms.
PsycINFO deals only with scholarly literature, much of it assuming a graduate-level understanding of the discipline. But among these you may find interesting, accessible articles on your topic.
User Advisory: If what you're searching for are "journal articles" in "English," it's a good idea to check those boxes below the search slots ("journal articles" is a menu choice under "Document Type").
ScienceDirect : Because it’s a large database with a great deal of full text, the absence of Subject searching means that your Keyword searches will often retrieve large sets of articles, many of which mention but don’t discuss your search term(s). One way around this is to limit your initial search to the “Abstract Title Keyword” field. Once you have found an article that sounds on-target, click the “Related Articles” link beneath the citation This will open a range of articles on the same topic.
User Advisory: Don't settle for the default "Quick Search"--open "Search" for the full range of options. Among thse you can uncheck "All books," which is recommended if you're looking for articles. And if you open the "Dates" drop-down menu you'll find a much wider range of options than the default 10 year span.
LexisNexis Academic News: Offering a keyword search of 100% full text from a vast number of national and international newspapers, this is an easy database to use poorly and a bit tricky to use well. In order not to be overwhelmed with articles in which your search terms are mentioned anywhere—first or last paragraph—or any number of times—once or ten times—use commands to target articles in which your topic words are mentioned early or mentioned often.
Use the hlead command (headline and lead paragraphs) to target articles in which your topic words occur in the prime news-story position of headline or first paragraphs. For example: hlead(fracking and pollution) will retrieve just the articles in which the words “fracking” and “pollution” are used in the headline or first paragraphs. Note: the term or terms to which you want this command to apply must be put in parentheses after hlead, with no space between.
Use the altleast command to target articles in which your topic words occur a set number of times. For example: atleast5(“gay marriage”) will retrieve only the articles where this phrase is used at least 5 times—indicating that it must be a main topic. You can plug in any number after atleast—atleast3 or atleast7. Note: the term or terms to which you want this command to apply must be put in parentheses with no space between the number you choose and the first parenthesis.
Use the date range offered under Advanced Options. Because this is a large database of 100% full text, one of the most effective ways to retrieve fewer than 1000 hits is to set up a time frame. Note: if you use the calendar icons to set beginning and end dates, you need to choose a year, a month, and a day for each. Without the day, the date won’t register.
SocINDEX with Full Text : As the name implies, an excellent database for social issues. Click on the "Subject Terms" link above the search slots to find which Subject Headings will work here. Double click any Heading for a list of broader, narower, and related Subject Terms. And note that you can check the boxes to select as many Headings as you like and then "add to search using or" and run the search--all without even retyping the terms back on the home page.
Business Source Premier (Special Business Interface) : Our largest database of newspaper, magazine and journal articles on all aspects of business and management.
PsycINFO : The American Psychological Association use their own Subject vocabulary (called "Descriptors"), so a visit to the "Thesaurus" below the search slots is a good idea. If you find an article on exactly what you want, be sure to check the assigned "Descriptors" on the right of the citation for more ideas about useful search terms.
PsycINFO deals only with scholarly literature, much of it assuming a graduate-level understanding of the discipline. But among these you may find interesting, accessible articles on your topic.
User Advisory: If what you're searching for are "journal articles" in "English," it's a good idea to check those boxes below the search slots ("journal articles" is a menu choice under "Document Type").
ScienceDirect : Because it’s a large database with a great deal of full text, the absence of Subject searching means that your Keyword searches will often retrieve large sets of articles, many of which mention but don’t discuss your search term(s). One way around this is to limit your initial search to the “Abstract Title Keyword” field. Once you have found an article that sounds on-target, click the “Related Articles” link beneath the citation This will open a range of articles on the same topic.
User Advisory: Don't settle for the default "Quick Search"--open "Search" for the full range of options. Among thse you can uncheck "All books," which is recommended if you're looking for articles. And if you open the "Dates" drop-down menu you'll find a much wider range of options than the default 10 year span.
LexisNexis Academic News: Offering a keyword search of 100% full text from a vast number of national and international newspapers, this is an easy database to use poorly and a bit tricky to use well. In order not to be overwhelmed with articles in which your search terms are mentioned anywhere—first or last paragraph—or any number of times—once or ten times—use commands to target articles in which your topic words are mentioned early or mentioned often.
Use the hlead command (headline and lead paragraphs) to target articles in which your topic words occur in the prime news-story position of headline or first paragraphs. For example: hlead(fracking and pollution) will retrieve just the articles in which the words “fracking” and “pollution” are used in the headline or first paragraphs. Note: the term or terms to which you want this command to apply must be put in parentheses after hlead, with no space between.
Use the altleast command to target articles in which your topic words occur a set number of times. For example: atleast5(“gay marriage”) will retrieve only the articles where this phrase is used at least 5 times—indicating that it must be a main topic. You can plug in any number after atleast—atleast3 or atleast7. Note: the term or terms to which you want this command to apply must be put in parentheses with no space between the number you choose and the first parenthesis.
Use the date range offered under Advanced Options. Because this is a large database of 100% full text, one of the most effective ways to retrieve fewer than 1000 hits is to set up a time frame. Note: if you use the calendar icons to set beginning and end dates, you need to choose a year, a month, and a day for each. Without the day, the date won’t register.
Few databases offer 100% full text. Most retrieve a mix of full text articles and article "citations"--article title, author(s), publication info, and usually an "abstract" or one-prargraph summary of the content. When a citation makes you want the full text, look below it for this icon:
Clicking "GETIT" checks (almost all) the IC Library's other databases to see if any offers the full text of the article--or if the Library has a print subscription to the journal in which the article appeared.
Clicking "GETIT" checks (almost all) the IC Library's other databases to see if any offers the full text of the article--or if the Library has a print subscription to the journal in which the article appeared.
- "GETIT" will usually find the full text in another database and open it in a new window.
- If none of our databases can access the full text but we have a print subsciption to the journal, "GETIT" will retrieve the Library catalog record for the journal so that you can see if the date of the article falls within the date range we have on hand.
- If full text is not available from any database or from a print subsciption, "GETIT" will provide a link to the IC Library's Interlibrary Loan. Log in (same as your IC e-mail)--and set up your account if you've never used it before. "GETIT" will have populated the article request form with all the necessary information and you simply submit the request elecrtonically. Most articles are supplied as digital files and will be sent to you via e-mail when they arrive.
- Ebrary
- Citation
- Interlibrary Loan
- Plagiarism Tutorial
Log-in required
- Cheap : The Real Cost of the Global Trend for Bargains, Discounts & Consumer Choice
- Shadows of Consumption : Consequences for the Global Environment
- Worlds of Consumption : Decoding Modern Consumer Societies
- Communities and Consumption
- Work, Consumerism and the New Poor
- Identifying Consumption : Subjects and Objects in Consumer Society
- Globalizing Responsibility : The Political Rationalities of Ethical Consumption
- Shopping Our Way to Safety : How We Changed from Protecting the Environment to Protecting Ourselves
- Prosperity for All : Consumer Activism in an Era of Globalization
- How Much Is Enough? : Buddhism, Consumerism, and the Human Environment
- Consumer Society
- Advertising and Consumer Citizenship : Gender, Images and Rights
- Politics of Consumption : Material Culture and Citizenship in Europe and America
- Making of the Consumer : Knowledge, Power and Identity in the Modern World
- Child and teen consumption
- Explorations in the Sociology of Consumption : Fast Food, Credit Cards and Casinos
- Globalizing Responsibility : The Political Rationalities of Ethical Consumption
Log-in required.
- Buying Green: Does It Really Help the Environment?
- Teen Spending: Are Teenagers Learning to Manage Money Wisely?
- Consumer Debt
- Regulating Credit Cards
- "Occupy" Movement
- Global Problems and the Culture of Capitalism: Support site for the book of the same name, this is particularly useful as a gateway to relevant Internet Resources.
- All-Consuming Passion: Waking Up from the American Dream: Some of these statistics and comparisons could start you thinking, but keep in mind that they date from the early-mid nineties.
- Story of Stuff Project: A 20-minute video on trash went viral in 2007 and spawned this support site in 2008. Take a look at some of the other "Movies" available here.
- Disposable Planet: Web site for a BBC series on whether the earth can sustain a globalized consumer society.
- Pulbic Citizen's Commerical Alert: I've linked to the "issues" index for this group whose motto is "protecting communities from commercialization."
- Center for a New American Dream: Anti-consumerism site. Check the Articles and Videos under "Learn More" as well as the archive of news letters under "News."
- Affluenza: Support site for the PBS series.
- Consumer Federation of America: A consumer advocacy group, the CFA site offers some interesting content under Issues and Studies.
- National Consumer Law Center: at Boston University, I've linked to the "Issues" index.
- Pew Research Center Publications on Economics: Outstanding publications on a wide range of current economic issues.
- Economic Policy Institute: A non-partisan economic think tank with a great deal of content available at their site. See especially "Areas of Research" and "Publications."
- Adbusters: A magazine agitating for a radical overthrow of the "commercial forces" that dominate our lives. There's only a little access to the magazine here, but it's worth a look--and a keyword search may turn up links to interesting content elsewhere.
- Environmental Protection Agency: Under "Issues" take a look at the EPA's data on Waste or Green Living.
MLA is the citation style used by most disciplines in the Humanities. The guides below use the most recent 2008/9 standards.
