Youth Gangs Research paper

BACKGROUND

Street gangs are active in many of America’s cities, promoting and perpetuating violence and fear. The causes are often attributed to racism, economic status, and illegal drug activities. Experts in the field are searching for effective methods of dealing with teenage gang violence, one of our most desperate social problems.

BROWSE FOR BOOKS ON THE SHELF USING THESE CALL NUMBERS

364.1–364.106

302.34

LOOK UNDER THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS IN THE CATALOG (CARD OR COMPUTER)

Gangs

Gangs—United States

Violence—United States

REFERENCE MATERIALS THAT MAY HELP (BOOKS OR CD-ROMS)

Corsini, Raymond J., ed. Encyclopedia of Psychology, 1994.

CQ Researcher, October 11, 1991.

Facts on File

Knox, George W. National Gangs Resource Handbook: An Encyclopedic Reference, 1995.

PERIODICAL INDEXES TO SEARCH (BOOKS OR CD-ROMS)

EBSCO Magazine Article Summaries

InfoTrac

NewsBank and other newspaper indexes

Readers’ Guide to Periodical Literature

SIRS (Social Issues Resources Series)

WILSONDISC

ONLINE DATABASES TO SEARCH

America Online

CompuServe

Dialog
Internet

Prodigy

KEY WORDS AND DESCRIPTORS FOR PERIODICAL INDEX AND ONLINE SEARCHES

Gangs

Teenage gangs

Women in gangs

Youth and firearms

VIDEOTAPES ON THIS TOPIC

American Me. MCA Universal Home Video, 1992.

Boyz in the Hood. Columbia TriStar Home Video, 1992.

Fort Apache, the Bronx. Vestron Video, 1982.

West Side Story. CBS/Fox Video, 1984.

FICTION BOOKS RELATING TO TOPIC

Bonham, Frank. Durango Street, 1983.

Hinton, S. E. The Outsiders, 1967.

Myers, Walter Dean. Scorpions, 1988.

Peck, Richard. Bel-Air Bambi and the Mall Rats, 1993.

SUGGESTIONS FOR NARROWING THIS TOPIC

Evaluate the depiction of gangs in motion pictures and television.

Find out the symbols of gang membership and discuss their importance.

Report on a particular city; e.g., gangs in New York, Los Angeles.

Research a specific gang; e.g., Black Disciples, Bloods, Crips, Hell’s Angels.

SUGGESTIONS FOR RELATED TOPICS

Gang rape

Graffiti

Harley subculture

School violence

This RESEARCH TOPIC GUIDE is intended to help the library user find information and materials on a particular topic in many sources throughout the library. Resources on this topic are not limited to those described and availability will depend upon the individual library. Feel free to ask a librarian for assistance.