Environmental Design Library @ UC Berkeley

Preparing for Thesis & Dissertation Research

Preparing for Thesis & Dissertation Research is a strategic bibliographic guide for city planning, urban design, and landscape architecture graduate students beginning their professional report, thesis, or dissertation work at UC Berkeley. The guide will be especially helpful to students starting a literature review. Architecture students should use the guide Preparing for Thesis Research: Architecture. For additional assistance please consult the Environmental Design Library reference staff, 210 Wurster Hall.

UC Berkeley faculty, registered students, and staff who are off campus may use items marked UCB Only or UC Only by using The Library's off-campus access services.

Content reviewed: June 2010. Compiled by Deborah Sommer.

Getting Started

To get started, check out Library Services for Graduate Students for a description of the many practical library support services available. As your research takes you into unfamiliar disciplines remember to identify the library subject specialist(s) best placed to help you.

• Write down your topic. Be brief!
  
• Ask the 6 journalist's questions about your chosen topic: Who?, What?, Where?, When?, Why?, How?
  Do your best to answer these questions. Remember to include alternative spellings.
  For example:
  Who designed/authorized/regulated the project? / Who are/were the client(s)? / Who paid for it? / Who were the intended users?
  What type of land use is it? / What were the design/regulatory/financial constraints?
  Where is the project located? (city, state, neighborhood, country)
  When was it constructed? (date completed, century, historical period)
  Why was the project approved or rejected?
  How did the public/client/intended audience respond to the project?
• Pay attention to the questions you can't answer about your topic. Look for for the answers in the specialized reference sources in the following section.
• Add to your 'deconstruction notes' as you learn more about your topic.
• For additional ways to explore the concepts and social factors influencing your topic, see Finding Information on Buildings and Placeshttp://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/research_buildings.html.

• Developing effective research proposals, by Keith F. Punch, 2nd ed. London: Sage, 2006. Particularly helpful to students writing professional reports. Online table of contents.
  EnvDesign H62 P92 2006
• Proposals that work: a guide for planning dissertations and grant proposals, by Lawrence F. Locke, Waneen Wyrick Spirduso, Stephen J. Silverman, 5th ed. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Press, 2007.
  EnvDesign, Bios, Moff LB2369 T8 2007 Reference & circ.

• Completing your qualitative dissertation: a roadmap from beginning to end, by Linda Dale Bloomberg and Marie Volpe. Los Angeles: Sage Publications, 2008.
  EnvDesign, Bus & Econ H62 B58555 2008
• The Dissertation journey: a practical and comprehensive guide to planning, writing, and defending your dissertation, by Carol M. Roberts. Thousand Oaks: Corwin Pr., 2004.
  EnvDesign, Ed/P, CompEthn LB1742 R63 2004
• Guide to the successful thesis and dissertation: a handbook for students and faculty, by James E. Mauch and Jack W. Birch, 5th ed. NY: M. Dekker, 2003.
  Online ed.: 1998 ed.: http://www.netlibrary.com/summary.asp?id=12607; print ed.: EnvDesign, Educ/Psyc, Main Stack LB2369 M377 2003
• Line by line: how to edit your own writing, by Claire Kehrwald Cook. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1985.
  EnvDesign, Moffitt PE1441 C66 1985
• A Manual for writers of research papers, theses, and dissertations: Chicago style for students and researchers, by Kate L. Turabian, 7th ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2007. Online table of contents.
  EnvDesign Q180.55 P7 L63 2007 Reference
• On writing well: the classic guide to writing nonfiction, by William Zinsser, 7th ed., rev. & updated. NY: HarperCollins, 2006.
  EnvDesign PE1429 Z5 2006
• A Practical guide to the qualitative dissertation, by Sari Knopp Biklen and Ronnie Casella. NY: Teachers College Pr., 2007. Online table of contents.
  EnvDesign, Educ/Psych LB2369 B49 2007
• Surviving your dissertation : a comprehensive guide to content and process, Kjell Erik Rudestam; Rae R Newton. SAGE Publications, c2007.
  Environmental Design, Business, Optometry LB2369 .R83 2007
• Writing the winning thesis or dissertation: a step-by-step guide, by Allan A. Glatthorn and Randy L. Joyner. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press, 2005. Online table of contents.
  EnvDesign, Bus&Econ, Main LB2369 G56 2005
• Writing to change the world, by Mary Pipher, 2nd ed. NY: Riverhead Books, 2006.
  EnvDesign PN145 P486 2006

• The Dissertation: an architecture student's handbook, by Iain Borden and Katerina Ruedi. Boston: Architectural Pr., 2006. Useful for dissertations with an urban design flavor.
  EnvDesign NA2108 B67 2006
• Ethnographic writing research: writing it down, writing it up, and reading it, by Wendy Bishop. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, 1999.
  EnvDesign, Anth GN307.7 B57 1999
• Making sense: a student's guide to research and writing geography & environmental sciences, by Margot Northey, David B. Knight, Dianne Draper, 4th ed. Don Mills, Ont.: Oxford Univ. Pr., 2009.
  EnvDesign, Main G70 N67 2009
• A Short guide to writing about art, by Sylvan Barnet, 9th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson, 2008.
  EnvDesign & Art/Classics N7476 B37 2008 Reference
• Writing empirical research reports: a basic guide for students of the social and behavioral sciences, by Fred Pyrczak and Randall R. Bruce, 6th ed. Glendale, CA: Pyrczak Pub., 2007. Includes chapter on writing the literature review.
  EnvDesign LB2369 P97 2007
• Writing for design professionals: a guide to writing successful proposals, letters, brochures, portfolios, reports, presentations, and job applications for architects, engineers, and interior designers, by Stephen A. Kliment. NY: Norton, 2006.
  EnvDesign, Bus&Econ NA1996 K57 2006
• Writing for social scientists: how to start and finish your thesis, book, or article, by Howard S. Becker, 2nd ed. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Pr., 2007. Online table of contents.
  EnvDesign H61.8 B43 2007

• Conducting research literature reviews: from the Internet to paper. Arlene Fink Los Angeles: SAGE,2010.
  EnvDesign, Educ/Psych Q180.55.M4 F56 2010
• Doing a literature search: a comprehensive guide for the social sciences, by Chris Hart. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE, 2001.
  EnvDesign, Main H62 H2567 2001
• Preparing literature reviews: qualitative and quantitative approaches, by M. Ling Pan, 3rd ed. Glendale, CA: Pryczak Pub., 2008.
  EnvDesign Q180.55 E9 P36 2008
• Systematic approaches to a successful literature review / Andrew Booth, Diana Papaioannou, Anthea Sutton.
• Systematic reviews in the social sciences : a practical guide / Mark Petticrew and Helen Roberts. Malden, MA ; Oxford : Blackwell Pub., 2006.
  EnvDesign H62 .P457 2006
• Writing literature reviews: a guide for students of the social and behavioral sciences, by Jose L. Galvan, 3rd ed. Glendale, CA: Pyrczak, 2006.
  EnvDesign H61.8 G34 2006; Soc Welfare H61.8 G34 2006 Desk

• The Chicago manual of style, 15th ed. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Pr., 2003.
  EnvDesign Z253 U69 2003 Reference Desk
  2006 online ed.-UCB Only
• Cite right: a quick guide to citation styles--MLA, APA, Chicago, the sciences, professions, and more, by Charles Lipson. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Pr., 2006.
  EnvDesign PN171 F56 L55 2006
• Citing your sources (UC Berkeley, Library) Includes helpful tables comparing bibliographic citation and footnote reference styles.
  http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/instruct/guides/citations.html
• Columbia guide to online style, by Janice R. Walker and Todd Taylor, 2nd ed. NY: Columbia Univ. Pr., 2006. One of the most thorough guides to citing electronic resources available.
  EnvDesign PN171 F56 W35 2006 Reference
• The MLA style manual and guide to scholarly publishing. 3rd ed. NY: Modern Language Assoc. of America, 2008.
  EnvDesign PN147 G444 2008 Reference Desk

• EndNote: A proprietary bibliographic management software and a powerful tool for reseachers. EndNote, Version 5, is available in the DCRP computer lab. Citations saved in RefWorks can be exported to EndNote.
• RefWorks - UCB Only: RefWorks is a web-based bibliographic management service licensed by The Library for use by all current UCB faculty, staff and students. Although it lacks the power of EndNote, its ease of use makes it attractive. RefWorks also serves as a complement to EndNote, since citations saved to RefWorks can later be exported to EndNote. To sign up for an individual account, use the RefWorks New User form.
• Tutorials:
  • The Library offers drop-in classes on both EndNote and RefWorks. Please note: Due to budget reductions, this program has been put on hiatus for the 2009-2010 academic year.
    http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/Help/library_workshops_tours.php
  • Online tutorials (UC Berkeley, Library) Here's a helpful directory of online tutorials for using EndNote and other bibliographic management software.
    http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/PUBL/endnote.html

Research Methods

Find more: Search the library catalogs by subject: Social sciences--Methodology or Research--Methodology.

• Basics of qualitative research: techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory, by Juliet Corbin and Anselm Strauss, 3rd ed. Thousand Oaks: Sage, 2003. Online table of contents.
  EnvDesign, Bus&Econ, PubHlth HA29 S823 2008
• Collecting and interpreting qualitative materials, Norman K. Denzin, Yvonna S. Lincoln, eds., 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks: Sage, 2003.
  EnvDesign, Anth, Bus&Econ, Main H62 C566 2003
• Doing qualitative research: a practical handbook, by David Silverman, 2nd ed. London: SAGE, 2005.
  EnvDesign, Bus&Econ H62 S55 2005
• The Craft of research, by Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb, Joseph M. Williams, 3rd ed. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Pr., 2008.
  EnvDesign, Engin, Main, Opto, Bus&Econ Q180.55 M4 B66 2008
• Finding historical primary sources (UC Berkeley, Teaching Library)
  http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/instruct/guides/primarysources.html
• Foundations of mixed methods research: integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches in the social and behavioral sciences, by Charles Teddlie and Abbas Tashakkori Los Angeles: SAGE, 2009.
  EnvDesign H62 T294 2009
• Handbook of research design & social measurement, by Delbert Miller. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2002. Online table of contents.
  EnvDesign, Main, Educ/Psych H62 M44 2002
• International handbook of survey methodology, Edith D. de Leeuw, Joop J. Hox, Don A. Dillman, eds. NY: L. Erlbaum Associates, 2008.
  Bus&Econ HA31.2 I565 2008
• A Practical guide to behavioral research: tools and techniques, by Robert Sommer, Barbara Sommer. 5th ed. NY: Oxford Univ. Press, 2002.
  EnvDesign, Main, Ed/Psych H62 S724734 2002
• Practical research: planning and design, by Paul D. Leedy, Jeanne Ellis Ormrod. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill, 2010.
  EnvDesign Q180.55 M4 L43 2010
• The Practice of social research, by Earl Babbie. 12th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage, 2008[?].
  EnvDesign H62 B2 2008
• Qualitative research methods for the social sciences, by Bruce L. Berg, 6th ed. Boston: Pearson/Allyn & Bacon, 2007.
  EnvDesign, Main H61 B4715 2007
• Quantitative research methods in the social sciences, by Paul S. Maxim. NY: Oxford Univ. Pr., 1999. Online table of contents.
  Bus&Econ HA29 M2968 1999
• Research design: qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches, by John W. Creswell, 3rd ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2009. Includes chapter on writing the literature review.
  EnvDesign, Bus&Econ, PubHealth H62 C6963 2009
• Research in recreation, parks, sport, and tourism, by Carol Cutler Riddick, Ruth V. Russell. 2nd ed. [Champaign, IL?]: Sagamore Pub., 2008.
  EnvDesign GV181.46 R53 2008
• Research methods for community change: a project-based approach, by Randy Stoecker. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications, 2005. Online table of contents. Table of contents also issued online.
  Main, Soc Welfare HN49 C6 S76 2005
• Research skills for policy and development: how to find out fast, Alan Thomas and Giles Mohan, eds. Los Angeles: SAGE, 2007. Online table of contents.
  EnvDesign HD77 R476 2007
• The SAGE handbook of applied social research methods, Leonard Bickman, Debra J. Rog, eds. Los Angeles: SAGE, 2009.
  EnvDesign, Main, Opto/Health Sciences Res., Writing & Style guides H62 H24534 2009
• The SAGE handbook of online research methods, Nigel G. Fielding, Raymond M. Lee, and Grant Blank, eds. Los Angeles: Sage Publications, 2008.
  EnvDesign ZA4228 S24 2008
• The SAGE handbook of qualitative geography, Dydia DeLyser, [et al.], eds. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE, 2010.
  EnvDesign GF21 S24 2010
• The SAGE handbook of qualitative research, Norman K. Denzin, Yvonna S. Lincoln, eds., 3rd ed. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications, 2005. Online table of contents.
  EnvDesign-Library Use Only, Anth H62 H2455 2005
• Social research methods: qualitative and quantitative approaches, by W. Lawrence Neuman, 6th ed. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 2006.
  EnvDesign HM571 N48 2006
• The Survey research handbook, by Pamela L. Alreck, Robert B. Settle, 3rd ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill/Irwin, 2004.
  EnvDesign, Main, Bus&Econ HN29 A46 2004
• Tricks of the trade: how to think about your research while you're doing it, by Howard S. Becker. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Pr., 1998.
  EnvDesign, Main H91 B38 1998

Case Study Methodology
• Applications of case study research, by Robert K. Yin, 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications, 2003.
  EnvDesign, Main, Bus&Econ H61 Y56 2003
• Case research in public management, by David E. McNabb. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe, 2010. Includes some case studies.
  EnvDesign JF1338 A2 M378 2010
• Case study research: design and methods, Robert K. Yin, 4th ed. Thousand Oaks: Sage, 2009. Online table of contents.
  EnvDesign, Bus&Econ, Ed/Psych H62 Y56 2009
• Case study research: principles and practices, by John Gerring. NY: Cambridge Univ. Pr., 2007.
  EnvDesign H62 G47 2007
• Qualitative research methods for the social sciences, by Bruce L. Berg, 6th ed. Boston: Pearson/Allyn & Bacon, 2007. See Chapter 10: Case Studies.
  EnvDesign, Main H61 B4715 2007

Case Study Sources
• Development case studies (Urban Land Institute) - UCB Only Provides detailed case studies of completed projects ranging from low-income housing to mixed-use downtown developments to commercial and industrial sites. Formerly titled Project reference file, 1971-1997; the older PRF case studies are indexed on the web by topic and project, 1971-1996, by the MIT Rotch Library.
• Request User ID and Password at the Environmental Design Library Reference Desk.
• IMPORTANT: Click the LOGOUT button after every session; otherwise the database is unavailable to everyone.
Online ed.: 1985-; http://casestudies.uli.org/
print ed.: 1971-1997; EnvDesign NA9000 U725 P7 Reference
• PapersFirst via FirstSearch/OCLC - UC Only Contains 580,000+ citations for papers presented at worldwide conferences, symposia, meetings, expositions, congresses, and workshops received at The British Library. Excellent source for interdisciplinary work; the index covers disciplines in the social sciences, sciences, arts, and the humanities.
  Coverage: October 1993--
• Planning through projects: moving from master planning to strategic planning: 30 cities, M. Carmona, [ed. in chief] in collaboration with R. Burgess and M.S. Badenhorst and others. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Techne Press, 2009.
  EnvDesign HT166 P5432 2009
• Urban design: a typology of procedures and products, by Jon Lang. Burlington, MA: Elsevier/Architectural Pr., 2005. Illustrated with more than 50 case studies.
  EnvDesign HT166 L328 2005

• The Charrette handbook: the essential guide for accelerated, collaborative community planning, by the National Charrette Institute. Chicago, IL: American Planning Association, 2006.
  EnvDesign HT167 N37 2006
• Data collecting methods and experiences: a guide for social researchers, Manohar Pawar, ed. Elgin, IL: New Dawn Pr., 2004.
  EnvDesign, Main, Bus&Econ H62 D24 2004
• Design charrettes for sustainable communities, by Patrick M. Condon. Washington, DC: Island Pr., 2008.
  EnvDesign HT166 C62135 2008
• Development fieldwork: a practical guide, Regina Scheyvens and Donovan Storey, eds. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE, 2003. Online table of contents.
  Electronic book: UCB Only; print ed.: EnvDesign H62.5 D44 D48 2003
• A Handbook for social science field research: essays & bibliographic sources on research design and methods, Ellen Perecman, Sara R. Curran, eds. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2006. Online table of contents.
  EnvDesign H62 H24528 2006
• Methods in behavioral research, by Paul C. Cozby. 8th ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2004. Online table of contents.
  Bus&Econ BF76.5 C67 2004
• Quick ethnography, by W. Penn Handwerker. Walnut Creek, CA: AltaMira Press, 2001.
  EnvDesign, Anth GN345 H39 2001
• Real world research: a resource for social scientists and practitioner-researchers, by Colin Robson. 2nd ed. Madden, MA: Blackwell Publishers, 2002.
  Main H62 R627 2002
• Research methods for the behavioral sciences, by Frederick J. Gravetter, Lori-Ann B. Forzano. 3rd ed. Belmont, CA : Wadsworth Cenage Learning, 2009.
  Educ/Psych BF76.5 G73 2009

• Architecture everywhere: investigating the built environment of your community, by Joseph A. Weber. Tucson, AZ: Zephyr Pr., 2000.
  EnvDesign NA705 W43 2000
• Close-up, how to read the American city, Grady Clay. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Pr., 1980.
  EnvDesign HT153 C585 1980
• Getting to know your 20th-century neighborhood, by Greta Terrell. Washington, DC: National Trust for Historic Preservation, 1996. Historic Preservation Information Booklet. Focuses on American neighborhoods developed from 1900-1950; identifies architectural styles and landscaping trends.
  EnvDesign NA7208 T47 1996
• The Hieroglyphics of space: reading and experiencing the modern metropolis, Neil Leach, ed. London: Routledge, 2002.
  EnvDesign HT111 H45 2002
• Looking at cities, by Allan B. Jacobs, Cambridge, MA: Harvard Univ. Pr., 1985. See especially Chapter 3, "Clues," pp.30-83. Very useful presentation of the physical indicators that help the observer interpret an urban environment.
  EnvDesign HT166 J262 1985 Reserve & circulating
• Real places: an unconventional guide to America's generic landscape, by Grady Clay. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Pr., 1994. Includes 124 common places, for example, bypass, district, hangout, lovers leap, parade route, porno district, shortcut, and skyline.
  EnvDesign, Moff E169 04 C57 1994
• Studying cultural landscapes, Iain Robertson and Penny Richards, eds. London: Arnold, 2003.
  EnvDesign GF26 S78 2003

• Creative interviewing: the writer's guide to gathering information by asking questions, by Ken Metzler, 3rd ed. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1997.
  EnvDesign, Moff PN4784 I6 M4 1997
• Interviewing as qualitative research: a guide for researchers in education and the social sciences, by Irving Seidman, 3rd ed. NY: Teachers College Pr., 2006.
  EnvDesign H61.28 S45 2006
• Handbook of interview research: context & methods, Jaber F. Gubrium, James A. Holstein, eds. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2002.
  EnvDesign, Anth Reference, Ed/P 1-day Reserve, Main, PubHlth H61.28 H36 2002
• Interviewing for social scientists: an introductory resource with examples, byHilary Arksey and Peter Knight. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications, 1999. Online table of contents.
  EnvDesign, Main HM526 A75 1999
• Interviews: an introduction to qualitative research interviewing, by Steinar Kvale. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications, 1996.
  EnvDesign, Main HM48 K9 1996
• Learning from strangers: the art and method of qualitative interview studies, by Robert S. Weiss. NY: Free Pr., 1995.
  Moffitt, GradServ Reserves HN29 W42 1995
• Qualitative interviewing: the art of hearing data, by Herbert J. Rubin and Irene S. Rubin, 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks: Sage Pubications, 2005.
  EnvDesign, Anth, Bus&Econ H62 R737 2005
• The Research interview, by Bill Gillham. NY: Continuum, 2000.
  EnvDesign, Ed/Psych BF637 I5 G55 2000
• The Research interviewing [electronic resource]: the range of techniques, by Bill Gillham. NY: Open Univ. Pr., 2005. - UCB Only

• The Short road to great presentations: how to reach any audience through focused preparation, inspired delivery, and smart use of technology, by Cheryl Reimold and Peter Reimold. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Interscience, 2003.
  EnvDesign, Engin HF5718.22 R44 2003

• Nearby history: exploring the past around you, by David E. Kyvig and Myron A. Marty, 2nd ed. Walnut Creek, CA: AltaMira Pr., 2000. Excellent, well-organized manual.
  EnvDesign E180.5 N98 2000
• Public places: exploring their history, by Gerald A. Danzer. Nashville, TN: American Association for State and Local History, 1997.
  EnvDesign E180 D36 1997

• Copyright: Respect copyright law when using published images. Here're a couple of web sites that may help.
  Copyright. U.S. Copyright Office, Library of Congress. Primary web site on U.S. copyright. Includes FAQs and forms.
  Copyright term and the public domain in the U.S., by Peter B. Hirtle. Cornell University. 2005. Provides a nicely organized table of materials in the public domain (and therefore not subject to copyright).
• Design drawing - resources for skill development (UC Berkeley, Library) Selected and recommended core sources for developing drawing skills in environmental design.
  http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/research_drawing.html
• Designed maps: a sourcebook for GIS users, by Cynthia A. Brewer. Redlands, CA: ESRI Pr., 2008.
  EnvDesign, Earth Sci GA105.3 B73 2008
• Eyewitnessing: the uses of images as historical evidence, by Peter Burke. Ithaca, NY: Cornell Univ. Pr., 2001.
  EnvDesign, Anth, Main, & Moff H61 H83 2001
• Fire insurance plans as a data source in urban research: an annotated bibliography of examples, by Cathy Moulder, IN: Art reference services quarterly, 1:3 (1993), pp.49-62. Annotated bibliography. See Plat maps for fire insurance plan sources.
  Main Z675 A85 A78
• Image-based research: a sourcebook for qualitative researchers, Jon Prosser, ed. Bristol, PA: Falmer Pr., 1998.
  EnvDesign, Anth GN347 I43 1998
• Mapping it out: expository cartography for the humanities and social sciences, by Mark Monmonier. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Pr., 1993.
  EnvDesign, Earth Sci, Main GA108.7 M66 1993
• Researching the visual: images, objects, contexts and interactions in social and cultural inquiry, by Michael Emmison. London: Sage, 2000.
  EnvDesign, Main HM500 E56 2000
• Visual anthropology: photography as a research method, by John Collier, Jr., and Malcolm Collier. Rev. and expanded ed. Albuquerque: Univ. of New Mexico Pr., 1986.
  Online ed.: http://www.netlibrary.com/summary.asp?id=22737
  print ed.: EnvDesign GN347 C64 1986
• Visual methodologies: an introduction to the interpretation of visual materials, by Gillian Rose. [2nd ed.] Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2007. Online table of contents
  EnvDesign, Anth P93.5 R67 2007
• Visual methods in social research, by Marcus Banks. London: Sage, 2001.
  EnvDesign, Anth, Main HM500 B35 2001

Finding the Basics

We don't own what you need?: we'll try to borrow it from another library. Use the Interlibrary Borrowing Service - UCB Only. Make your request at any reference desk or online. UCB faculty and grad students may also request materials directly from Stanford University and the University of Texas, Austin, via the Research Library Cooperative Program.

• Melvyl. The Melvyl catalog is your best first place to look for books on your topic. It contains millions of holdings of books, journals, online resources, etc., in the University of California campuses and selected other libraries, including the California Historical Society and the Center for Research Libraries.
• Subject headings: Hints: Subject headings can be combined. Modify headings with the addition of place names and standard terms, e.g.:
Bibliography
Case studies
Design and construction
Economic aspects
Economic conditions
Environmental aspects
Government policy
History
Methodology
Pictorial works
Social aspects
Social life and customs
• Current awareness service: Once you have created a successful search in Melvyl keep yourself informed as new items are added to the catalog that match your original search. Use the update feature in Melvyl. Note that you can have several update profiles simultaneously.
• UC-eLinks Citation Checker. Use the Citation Checker to locate a copy of a needed book. From the Library's home page select Other library catalogs.
• WorldCat database - UCB Only. A database of more than 88 million records in all disciplines from more than 57,000 libraries worldwide, presenting 400 languages. Request items through Interlibrary Borrowing via any library reference desk or the web.
• Other catalogs: You can identify resources not in the UC system by using the catalogs of other U.S. and international libraries. On The Library's SunSITE visit Libweb: Library Servers via WWW for links to over 7900 pages from libraries in over 146 countries.

• UC-eLinks Citation Checker. When you have an article citation (for instance, from a bibliography) use the Citation Checker to locate a copy of the article or the journal itself. From the Library's home page select Other library catalogs.
• Google scholar: Lists journal articles, books, preprints, and technical reports in many subject areas; some listings include links to related articles and to other sources that cite the item. Includes full text content from free resources as well as subscription resources. REMEMBER that Google Scholar includes only scholarly publications; does NOT include journals published by Elsevier; and makes no claims to comprehensive coverage.
• Full-text articles (electronic): For a list of full-text journals available electronically at UC Berkeley, see The Library home page and select Electronic Resources. Here's a selection of available full-text journal article databases. Note that these databases are available for UCB students, faculty, & staff only.
  • AltPress watch via ProQuest A full-text resource that covers newspapers, magazines, and journals of the alternative and independent press. Good for environmental justice and environmental policy issues.
    Coverage: Generally begins with 1995.
  • ECO (FirstSearch Electronic Collections Online) Includes the full text of scholarly journals in a variety of subject areas. OCLC/ECO includes all of the original content, images, and bibliographic information for all journals.
    Coverage: Varies
  • IngentaConnect Provides full-text access to domestic and international scholarly & academic publications, in a wide range of subject areas.
    Coverage: Varies
  • JSTOR A full-text archive of interdisciplinary scholarly journal literature, including sociology, African-American studies, ecology, and political science.
    Coverage: Varies
  • Lexis-Nexis academic Provides access to thousands of full-text news, business, and legal sources. This web product is not the full version of Lexis-Nexis.
    Coverage: Varies
  • PolicyFile Indexes research and publication abstracts addressing the complete range of public policy research. Access to home pages, electronic mail addresses, and selected full-text articles are made available within the individual abstracts.
    Coverage: 1990--
  • Urban studies & planning Provides indexing to and full text of 12 journals published by SAGE Publications and participating societies, some journals going back 37 years.
    Coverage: Varies
• Journal article indexes: See the following web guides for descriptions of the core journal article indexes for landscape architecture, environmental planning, city planning, and architecture.
  • Architecture: Indexes & abstracts http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/architecture_articles.html
  • City planning indexes & abstractshttp://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/planning_articles.html
  • Environmental planning indexes & abstracts http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/environmentalplanning_articles.html
  • Landscape architecture indexes & abstractshttp://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/landscape_articles.html
• Current awareness service - UCB or UC Only Once you have created a successful search in a periodical index or database, keep yourself informed as new items that match your original search appear. Some online indexes and databases (e.g., Sociological Abstracts and Environmental Sciences and Pollution Management) provide an 'alert' service, that sends an e-mail notifying you of new citations added to the database on your topic.

• Access world news via NewsBank Provides selected full-text articles from regional, national, and translated international news media, including newspapers, wire services, and broadcasts.
  Coverage: 1991 (U.S.) or 1996 (international)
• Ethnic NewsWatch via ProQuest Full-text coverage of approximately 100 newspapers and other periodicals published by ethnic and minority presses in the U.S. Includes articles published in African-American, Hispanic, Latino, Chicano, Native American, Asian, Jewish, Arab, and European/Eastern European publications.
  Coverage: 1960--
• Factiva General and business news and information from more than 9,000 sources, including newswires.
  Coverage: Varies
• Lexis-Nexis academic Includes full-text newspapers.
  Coverage: Varies
• World news connection (WNC) & Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) Electronic Index Contains full-text translated transcriptions and summaries of radio and television broadcasts, newspaper articles, conference proceedings, periodicals and non-classified technical reports, from all over the world. Note: from the primary link for FBIS, scroll down to the detailed link.
  Coverage: WNC,1996-- ; FBIS, 1975-1996

• Aerial photos: The Earth Sciences & Map Library (EART) has an excellent collection of aerial photos of California, 1939--present. A master index is available in EART.
• Aerial photography and image interpretation, by David P. Paine, James D. Kiser. 2nd ed. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley, 2003. Online table of contents.
  Bioscience & Earth Sci TR810 P25 2003
• Some digitized aerial photos of the San Francisco Bay Area are available on The Library's SunSite.
  http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/EART/aerial2.html
• Microsoft Research Maps (MSR Maps) Searchable repository of aerial photographs and satellite images.
  http://msrmaps.com/
• Cities and buildings database (Univ. of Washington Libraries) An international image database of cities and buildings; search the database by country, city, style, title, architect, date of construction, as well as other fields.
  http://content.lib.washington.edu/cities/
• Environmental design videotapes in the Media Resources Center (UC Berkeley, Library) A guide to environmental design videos at UC Berkeley.
  http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/MRC/EnvidesignVid.html
• Image sources for the built environment (UC Berkeley, Library) A selective list of books that provide views, plans, sections, elevations, and/or details of important buildings and sites.
  http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/research_images.html
• Plat maps, also called fire insurance maps, show a variety of details, including actual lot boundaries, special uses, building materials and building footprints. For a bibliography on using fire insurance maps in research, see Fire insurance plans in this guide.
  • Digital Sanborn maps, 1867-1970 (UMI) - UCB Only Site provides digital access to more than 660,000 large-scale maps of more than 12,000 American towns and cities. The maps "are large-scale plans containing...information such as the outline of each building, the size, shape and construction materials, heights, and function of structures, location of windows and doors. The maps also give street names, street and sidewalk widths, property boundaries, building use, and house and block numbers."
    http://sanborn.umi.com/
  • Fire insurance maps (UC Berkeley, Library) Links to description of and indexes to fire insurance maps.
    http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/EART/sanborn.html
  • Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, San Francisco, California, 1899/1900, courtesy of San Francisco Genealogy. The black and white maps presented here are from six volumes that covered San Francisco in 1899 and 1900. To locate a specific location, consult the various indexes to locate the correct Map Sheet. Then select the appropriate link.
  http://www.sfgenealogy.com/sf/sanborn/sanborn.htm
  • Insurance maps of Berkeley, California, Sanborn Map Company. NY: The Co., 1911. Includes Albany and parts of Emeryville and Oakland.
    EnvDesign fffG1529 B6 S3Rare v.2 only, 1911 corrected to 1933
• San Francisco Maps, courtesy of San Francisco Genealogy. Guide and links to historic, street and other maps.
http://www.sfgenealogy.com/sf/sfmaps.htm
• SPIRO, Architecture Visual Resources Center, Univ. of California, Berkeley. The visual online public access catalog to approximately 20% of the Architecture Slide Library's collection of over 250,000 35mm slides. The collection is available to UCB faculty and graduate students.
  http://www.mip.berkeley.edu/spiro/
• DSC Image Service Collections (UC Image Service) UCB Only Provides 330,000 high resolution, zoom-able digital images in about a dozen image collections including the David Rumsey Historical Map Collection. Cross-disciplinary coverage. [Note: The collections in the UC Image Service can be viewed in two ways: the Insight Browser allows users to view the collection using a web browser; the Luna Insight software provides greater functionality including cross-search all collections but must be downloaded.]
  http://www.imageservice.cdlib.org/
• U.S. historical city maps Digitized maps from the Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection at the Univ. of Texas, Austin.
  hhttp://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/historic_us_cities.html

• The Chicago guide to writing about numbers, by Jane E. Miller. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Pr., 2004. Online table of contents.
  EnvDesign, Engin, Doe/Refe, Bus&Econ T11 M485 2004
• Data collecting methods and experiences: a guide for social researchers, Manohar Pawar, ed. Elgin, IL: New Dawn Pr., 2004.
  EnvDesign, Main, Bus&Econ H62 D24 2004
• Statistics: a tool for social research, by Joseph F. Healey, 7th ed. Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth, 2005.
  EnvDesign HA29 H39 2005
• Statistics & data for city planning: United States and International (UC Berkeley, Library) Here are two bibliographic research guides to statistical sources for city planning. See especially the U.S. guide for its section on "Using Statistics."
  http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/planning_statistics_usa.html
  http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/planning_statistics_international.html

• Architecture reference sources http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/architecture_reference.html
• Art information: research methods and resources, by Lois Jones. 3rd ed. Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt Pub. Co., 1990.
  EnvDesign N85 J64 1990 Reference
• Building & landscape types http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/Precedents.html
• City planning reference sources http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/planning_basics.html
• Finding local information http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/research_local.html
• History and Literature of Landscape Architecture http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/alacarte/course-guide/80
• History of city planning http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/planning_history.html
• Landscape architecture reference sources http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/landscape_reference.html
• Urban design http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/urbandesign.html

• RSS: RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a technology that delivers frequently-updated content on the web. Websites that change often, such as article databases, news sites, and blogs, almost always have an RSS feed available, which brings the updated information to you. Subscribe to the RSS feeds of sites that you visit frequently using an RSS feed reader, a web or desktop application that allows you to view all of your RSS feeds in one, convenient location. Look for these common icons that indicate an RSS feed is available: To learn more about RSS feeds and feed readers, see Introduction to RSS (UC Berkeley, Bioscience Library), as well as an excellent 3.5-minute video: RSS Feeds in Plain English (Common Craft).
• Web 'catalogs': Consult the excellent guide Recommended Subject Directories or Catalogs & Indexes for lists of web catalogs. Here's an example:
  ipl2 - the result of a merger of the Internet Public Library (IPL) and the Librarians' Internet Index (LII). A subject guide to Internet resources constructed by librarians. Includes more than 20,000 links. http://www.ipl.org
• Web tutorials: Enhance your web searching skills and discover the 'Invisible Web.'
  • Evaluating web pages (UC Berkeley, Teaching Library)
    http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Evaluate.html
  • Finding information on the Internet: a tutorial (UC Berkeley, Teaching Library) Comprehensive, well-organized, clearly written.
    http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/FindInfo.html
  • Searching the Web (Yahoo!) Links to approximately 30 sites with online web searching tutorials.
    http://www.yahoo.com/Computers_and_Internet/Internet/World_Wide_Web/Information_and_Documentation/Tutorials__Demos__Talks/
  • UCB Library Instruction. Library-sponsored drop-in classes.
    http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/instruct/
• Gateway sites:
  • Architecture and building (Univ. of Nevada, Libraries) Topics covered include architecture, building and construction, design, planning, preservation, energy and the environment, and landscape architecture.
    http://library.nevada.edu/arch/rsrce/webrsrce/contents.html
  • City planning online (UC Berkeley, Library) Lists a selection of thematic web guides pertaining to city & regional planning.
    http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/planning_links.html
  • Environmental planning online (UC Berkeley, Library) Lists a selection of web sites pertaining to the environment and sustainable development.
    http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/environmentalplanning_links.html
  • Landscape Architecture Online (UC Berkeley, Library) Lists a selection of web sites pertaining to landscape architecture.
    http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/landscape_online.html
  • Planetizen: the planning and development network "A public-interest information exchange for the urban planning and development community....a daily, one-stop source for urban planning news, job opportunities, commentary and events."
    http://www.planetizen.com/

Here's a selection of campus libraries; see also the comprehensive list of libraries and collections and a map of campus libraries.

• The Bancroft Library
• Bioscience & Natural Resources
• Business Library
• Doe Reference Center
• Earth Sciences & Map
• Environmental Design
• Institute of Governmental Studies
• Institute of Transportation Studies
• Law
• Library Data Lab
• Media Resources Center

Specialized Research Resources

• Using archival materials For information on locating and using archives and special collections, see these research guides.:
  • How to research in an archive (Univ. of Texas, Austin, Alexander Architectural Archive) An excellent introduction to effective and efficient use of an archive.
    http://www.lib.utexas.edu/apl/aaa/instruction.html
  • Using archives, a practical guide for researchers (Library and Archives Canada) Another good guide to using archives for research.
    http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/04/0416_e.html
  • Library research using primary sources
    http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/instruct/guides/primarysources.html
• Finding archival materials
  • Architectural records in the San Francisco Bay Area: a guide to research, California Cooperative Preservation of Architectural Records, Waverly B. Lowell, project director. NY: Garland, 1988.
    EnvDesign NA2125 C22 S2631 1988 Reference Desk
  • Architecture archives (Carnegie Mellon Univ. Library) Links to numerous architectural archives in North America.
    http://andrew.cmu.edu/user/ma1f/ArchArch/
  • Archives finder (Chadwyck) - UCB Only. A directory of manuscript repositories, records from the National Union Catalogue of Manuscript Collections, and the names and detailed subject indexing of over 206,200 collections
    http://archives.chadwyck.com/home.do
  • Archives of American gardens, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Contains thousands of photographic images, searchable through the Smithsonian's archives and manuscripts catalog. The major collections in the Archives are: Garden Club of America Collection and others.
    http://gardens.si.edu/horticulture/res_ed/AAG/home.htm
  • Municipal archives: Municipal archives can be a fabulous source of primary research material. Many cities, counties, etc., maintain archives of historical municipal records, ranging from meeting and office records to maps, vital records, photographs, plans, parks and recreation planning, and much more. These archives are managed in diverse ways: as a separate department, as a function within an individual department, as part of the public library, etc. Search H-Urban discussion logs for "municipal archives" for a sampling of the type and quality of municipal archives available.
  • Online archive of California (Calif. Digital Library) Contains more than 120,000 images; 50,000 pages of documents, letters, and oral histories; and, 8,000 guides to archival collections. Includes finding aids for architectural manuscripts and drawings in the UCB Bancroft Library, Environmental Design Archives, and many other California collections. Can search all collections at once.
    http://www.oac.cdlib.org/
  • Repositories of primary sources (Univ. of Idaho Library) International list of over 5,000 web sites describing holdings of manuscripts, archives, rare books, historical photographs, and other primary sources.
    http://www.uiweb.uidaho.edu/special-collections/Other.Repositories.html
• Archival collections and primary source databases Go to The Library's home page: go to Electronic Resources; select "Electronic resources: A-Z," and choose Archival Collections and Primary Source Databases. Here're a couple of links from that list:
  • American memory (Library of Congress) Digitized documents, photographs, recorded sound, moving pictures, and text from the Library's Americana collections.
    http://lcweb2.loc.gov/amhome.html
  • ArchivesUSA - UCB Only Indexes over 130,000 archives and special collections of primary source material.
    http://archives.chadwyck.com/home.do
• Selected archival collections in California
  
  The Bancroft Library (UC Berkeley) http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/
  
  California State Archives
  1020 O Street, Sacramento http://www.sos.ca.gov/archives/archives.htm
  
  California State Library, California History Section
  900 N Street, Room 200, Sacramento http://www.library.ca.gov/calhist/index.html
  
  California State Library, Sutro Library
  480 Winston Drive, San Francisco http://www.library.ca.gov/collections/index.html#sutro
  
  Environmental Design Archives (UC Berkeley)
  By appointment only
  230 Wurster Hall http://www.ced.berkeley.edu/cedarchives/
  National Archives, Pacific Region (Laguna Niguel) Maintains "retired records from Federal agencies and courts in Arizona, southern California, and Clark County, Nevada."
  24000 Avila Road, Laguna Niguel, CA http://www.archives.gov/pacific/laguna/
  
  National Archives, Pacific Region (San Francisco) Holdings are "comprised of Federal records from northern and central California, Nevada (except Clark County), Hawaii, American Samoa and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands."
  1000 Commodore Drive, San Bruno, CA http://www.archives.gov/pacific/san-francisco/
  
  San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
  Historic Documents Department, Fort Mason Center Building E, San Francisco http://www.nps.gov/safr/

• Online guides to biographical resources in the UC Berkeley libraries or on the web:
  
  • Biographical Resources on Architects (UC Berkeley, Library)
    http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/architecture_biography.html
  • Biographical information on city planners (UC Berkeley, Library)
    http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/planning_biography.html
  • Biographical information on landscape architects (UC Berkeley, Library)
    http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/landscape_biography.html

• Book review sources for environmental design (UC Berkeley, Library) Bibliographic guide to book reviews on architecture, city planning, and landscape architecture. Includes search instructions.
  http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/research_bookreviews.html

• The following citation indexes help you discover in which journal articles a particular article is cited. The indexes are available on the Web at http://www.isiknowledge.com/wos. Also useful as journal article indexes.
  • Arts & humanities citation index - UCB Only Indexes 1,100 journals, as well as selected items from over 6,800 major science and social science journals.
    Online ed.: 1975-- ; print ed.: 1976-- ; Doe Refe AJ3 A7 Reference Stack
  • Science citation index expanded - UCB Only Indexes 5,300 major journals across 164 scientific disciplines.
    Online ed.: 1900-- ; print ed.: 1961-- ; Bioscience Q151 A12 S35 Index Area
  • Social sciences citation index - UCB Only Indexes 1,700 journals spanning 50 disciplines, as well as selected items from over 3,300 scientific and technical journals.
    Online ed.: 1956-- ; print ed.: 1956/65-- ; Doe Refe H71 A12 S6 Reference Stack
• Google scholar Allows you to discover in which journal articles and books a particular article or book is cited. REMEMBER that Goolgle Scholar includes only scholarly publications; does NOT include journals published by Elsevier; and makes no claims to comprehensive coverage.
  http://scholar.google.com/

• Dissertations & theses (ProQuest) - UCB Only Includes citations for materials ranging from the first U.S. dissertation, accepted in 1861, to those accepted as recently as last semester. Some abstracts included. Many titles are available full-text.
• How to find a UCB thesis or dissertation (UC Berkeley, Library) Provides browsable call numbers to locate College of Environmental Design (CED) professional reports (PRs), theses, etc.
  http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/research_theses.html
• Index to theses - UCB Only Contains abstracts (vol. 36 onward; vol. 42 onward for Doctorate theses only) of theses accepted for higher degrees by the universities of Great Britain & Ireland. The database includes theses accepted from 1970-1996.
  http://www.theses.com/idx/registered_users/quick.html
• Inside field statement. 1971-- . Field statements by students in the Dept. of City and Regional Planning, University of California, Berkeley. Finding Aid: EnvDesign HT110 I57 Reference Desk.
  EnvDesign HT110 I57
• WorldCatDissertations - UC Only. Contains more than 5 million listings for dissertations, masters theses, and publications based on dissertations or theses. Go to WorldCat; click on the Databases tab. Deselect WorldCat and select "WorldCatDissertations" at the end of the list.
  Coverage: pre-1861--

• Environmental impact reports (EIRs), also known as environmental impact statements (EISs), are usually the end product of an environmental impact assessment process. EIRs document the site conditions for specific proposed projects or developments, and can be extremely valuable sources of data about current and past site conditions. EIRs may be found in many campus libraries. To locate them, search the Melvyl catalog, using the subject environmental impact statements in combination with a place or site name. Public libraries also collect local EIRs.
• CEQAnet database (Calif. Governor's Office of Planning and Research) Contains key information from all California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) documents submitted to the State Clearinghouse for state review since 1990. Includes summaries, but not full text, of EIRs, EISs, and other documents. Use the database to discover the existence of a report; then search the library catalog or use interlibrary borrowing service to locate a copy.
  http://www.ceqanet.ca.gov/

• General and area plans are often good sources of neighborhood histories, maps, and basic socio-economic statistics. See the research guide Finding general plans (UC Berkeley, Library).

• Some directories are available in the Environmental Design Library and many organizations have web sites. See also the following online guides for listings as noted:
  • Finding local information for selected links to California and San Francisco Bay Area libraries and historical societies.
    http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/research_local.html
  • City & environmental planning professional practice for professional associations.
    http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/planning_practice.html
  • Landscape architecture professional practice for professional associations.
    http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/landscape_practice.html

• PapersFirst via FirstSearch/OCLC - UC Only Contains 580,000+ citations for papers presented at worldwide conferences, symposia, meetings, congresses, etc., received at The British Library. Excellent source for interdisciplinary work; the index covers all disciplines.
  Coverage: October 1993--
• Proceedings via FirstSearch/OCLC - UC Only Indexes worldwide conferences, symposia, meetings, expositions, and congresses, in many disciplines.
  Coverage: 1993--

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