Starting Your Research

  • How to find books?

    Search the SOAS Library catalogue . This will find print and electronic books.

    Also check our e-book providers for many more titles relating to Development Studies You can find printed books available in other research libraries in the UK and Ireland by using Library Hub Discover .

  • How do I find journal articles?

    If you are looking for a specific article, search the Library catalogue and/or eJournal and eBook finder for for the title of the journal the article appears in.

    If you want to find what articles have been written on a certain subject then start with EBSCO Discovery searching tool and then move on to more subject-specific databases.

  • How do I find news sources?
  • How do I find data and statistics?

    Other data and statistics resources can be found listed within topics (see the drop down menu on the left)

  • How do I find policy documents and project case studies?
    • eldis is the key gateway to development resources online including: research reports, country profiles, statistics and organisation.
    • R4D Research for Development includes latest information about research funded by DFID including over 40,000 project and document records.
    • Oxfam Policy & Practice Over 3300 publications on Oxfam’s research and policy work in international development – browse by subject, publication type, country and language.
    • Other resources for policy documents and project case studies can be found listed within specific topics (see the drop down menu on the left)
  • What if SOAS Library does not hold what you need?

    Try other libraries:
    For Development Studies the following local libraries are recommended

    Use our Inter-Library Loan service:

    To request books or journal articles from other libraries across the UK or Europe.

    For information on accessing other libraries – including use of electronic resources see Access to other Libraries.

  • How do I cite and reference sources?
    • Citing and referencing is the way in which you provide details of quotations, arguments and ideas of others that you included in your own work. To avoid plagiarism, always keep notes as you go along of what you have been reading. Using a reference organising software (e.g. Zotero ) is recommended.
    • There are a number of different citing and referencing systems. Check with your Department and Academic which referencing system they prefer being used. The key is to be consistent.
    • Referencing guides are available from the Skills for Success site from MOODLE.
    • A comprehensive guide to the Harvard System has been created by Anglia Ruskin University.
  • I’d like further training. Who do I ask?
    • Check the Library Events pages for upcoming training sessions.
    • Try the Moodle Skills for Success Site to develop both your library and study skills. Courses are available to all students and staff but you will need to register the first time you log on. To access go to BLE Moodle and select the Skills for Success tab.
    • Contact the Subject Librarian for Development Studies