Dictionaries and Introductions to Terms of Art in Your Field
If your professors or peers are using terms about which you do not have a precise understanding, know that you do not have to remain in the dark. There are helpful resources that explain key terms in every field. Often these resources will point you to the foundational texts from which, and theorists from whom, these concepts or terms emerged and developed. Consult your faculty, a librarian in your field, or a local bookseller, for recommendations.
The following are some examples of the kinds of resources that help students and scholars better understand key concepts in their fields. Similar texts are published in virtually every discipline. Note the difference between dictionaries, which provide definitions, and brief overviews of a field (sometimes referred to as ‘handbooks,’ ‘primers,’ or ‘introductions’), which will likely identify key theorists who have developed disciplinary concepts, as well as foundational texts, and current debates.
In all, your goal should be to gain, over time, a multifaceted understanding of vocabulary in your discipline—particularly the key words that surround your research questions and methodology.
Cultural Studies, Critical Theory, Literary Theory
- Cultural Theory: The Key Concepts , Andrew Edgar, et al.
- Cultural Studies: A Critical Introduction, Simon During
- SAGE Dictionary of Cultural Studies, Chris Barker
- Columbia Dictionary of Modern Literary and Cultural Criticism, Joseph Childers, et al.
- Dictionary of Critical Theory, Ian Buchanan
- Keywords for American Cultural Studies, Glenn Hendler
- Beginning Theory: An Introduction to Literary and Cultural Theory, Peter Barry
- Penguin Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory, J. A. Cuddon, et al.
- Literary Theory: A Very Short Introduction, Jonathan Culler
- Literary Theory: An Anthology, Julie Rivkin, et al.
- Critical Theory Today: A User-Friendly Guide, Lois Tyson
- How Literature Works: 50 Key Concepts, John Sutherland
- Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature, Wilfred Guerin
- Oxford Handbook of Modernisms, Peter Brooker, et al.
- Postmodernism: A Very Short Introduction, Christopher Butler
- Poststructuralism: A Very Short Introduction, Catherine Belsey
- Postcolonialism: A Very Short Introduction, Robert J. C. Young
- Foucault: A Very Short Introduction, Gary Gutting
International Relations and Global Studies
- Oxford Handbook of International Relations, Christian Reus-Smit
- Penguin Dictionary of International Relations, Graham Evans, et al.
- International Relations: The Key Concepts, Martin Griffiths, et al.
- Globalization: A Very Short Introduction, Manfred Steger
- Oxford Handbook of Genocide Studies, Donald Bloxham, et al.
Political Science
- Concise Oxford Dictionary of Politics, Iain McLean, et al.
- Palgrave Macmillan Dictionary of Political Thought, Roger Scruton
- Oxford Handbook of Political Science, Robert E. Goodin
- Oxford Handbook of Political Theory, John S. Dryzek, et al.
- Politics: A Very Short Introduction, Kenneth Minogue
- Oxford Handbook of Comparative Politics, Carles Boix, et al.
- Oxford Handbook of Political Methodology, Janet M. Box-Steffensmeier, et al.
- Oxford Handbook of Contextual Political Analysis, Robert E. Goodin, et al.
- Oxford Handbook of Political Behavior, Russell J. Dalton, et al.
- Oxford Handbook of Political Institutions, R. A. W. Rhodes
- Oxford Handbook of Political Psychology, David O. Sears
- Oxford Handbook of the History of Political Philosophy, George Klosko
- Oxford Handbook of Political Economy, Barry R. Weingast
- Oxford Handbook of Economic Inequality, Wiemer Salverda, et al.
- Oxford Handbook of the Welfare State, Francis G. Castles, et al.
- Oxford Handbook of Law and Politics, Keith E. Whittington, et al.
- Theories of Democracy: A Critical Introduction, Frank Cunningham
- Marx: A Very Short Introduction, Peter Singer
Philosophy
- Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Simon Blackburn
- Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy, Robert Audi
- Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction, Edward Craig
- Oxford Companion to Philosophy, Ted Honderich
- Oxford Handbook of Contemporary Philosophy, Frank Jackson, et al.
- Oxford Handbook of Presocratic Philosophy, Patricia Curd
- Oxford Handbook of Continental Philosophy, Brian Leiter, et al.
- German Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction, Andrew Bowie
- Oxford Handbook of World Philosophy, Jay L. Garfield, et al.
- Oxford Handbook of American Philosophy, Cheryl Misak
- Epistemology: A Contemporary Introduction to the Theory of Knowledge, Robert Audi
- Oxford Handbook of Epistemology, Paul K. Moser
- Metaphysics: The Key Concepts, Helen Beebee, et al.
- Metaphysics: A Contemporary Introduction, Michael Loux
- Oxford Handbook of Metaphysics, Michael J. Loux, et al.
- Companion to Metaphysics, Jaegwon Kim, et al.
- Dictionary of Existentialism, Haim Gordon
- Historical Dictionary of Existentialism, Stephen Michelman
- Existentialism: A Very Short Introduction, Thomas Flynn
- Blackwell Guide to Philosophy of Mind, Stephen P. Stich, et al.
- Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Mind, Brian McLaughlin, et al.
- Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Time, Craig Callender
- Philosophy of Science: A Contemporary Introduction, Alex Rosenberg
- Philosophy of Science: A Very Short Introduction, Samir Okasha
- Social and Political Philosophy: A Contemporary Introduction, John Christman
Psychology
- Dictionary of Psychology, Andrew M. Colman
- Penguin Dictionary of Psychology, Arthur S. Reber, et al.
- Psychology: A Very Short Introduction, Gillian Butler, et al.
- Primer of Freudian Psychology, Calvin S. Hall
- Oxford Handbook of Political Psychology, David O. Sears
- Oxford Handbook of Evolutionary Psychology, Robin Dunbar, et al.
- Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology, Shane J. Lopez, et al.
- Oxford Handbook of Methods in Positive Psychology, Anthony D. Ong, et al.
- Oxford Handbook of Internet Psychology, Adam Joinson, et al.
Sociology
- Cambridge Dictionary of Sociology, Bryan S. Turner
- Dictionary of Sociology, John Scott, et al.
- Keywords: A Vocabulary of Culture and Society, Raymond Williams
- New Keywords: A Revised Vocabulary of Culture and Society, Tony Bennett, et al.
- Max Weber Dictionary: Key Words and Central Concepts, Richard Swedberg
- Sociology: A Very Short Introduction, Steve Bruce
- Oxford Handbook of Analytical Sociology, Peter Hedström, et al.
- Oxford Handbook of the Sociology of Religion, Peter Clarke
- Handbook of Social Capital, Dario Castiglione
