Dictionaries and encyclopedias can help you to:

• define terminology related to the study of social work & human services
  
• find brief, factual information to supplement your research
• build up a context for the topic and ideas to explore

Oxford Reference Online
Subject titles from Oxford University Press - searchable as a set, in subject groups, or by individual title.

Sage Reference Online 
A selection of encyclopedias covering business, communication, health, psychology, science and sociology.

Sage Research Methods Online
Research methodology and design

Te Ara
New Zealand encylcopedia

The following is a selective list of online reference titles:

Animal studies: The key concepts (2021)

Blackwell encyclopedia of sociology (2007)

Encyclopedia of criminology and criminal justice (2014)

Encyclopedia of diversity and social justice (2016)

International encyclopedia of the social & behavioral sciences (2002)

The Blackwell companion to major classical social theorists (2007)

The Blackwell companion to major contemporary social theorists (2007)

The concise encyclopedia of sociology (2011)

The new Blackwell companion to social theory (2009)

The Sage glossary of the social and behavioral sciences (2009)

21st century criminology : a reference handbook (2009)