This list will just get you started. Keep digging for information relevant to your topic and be sure to assess your information sources for reliability, currency and bias.

The following web sites (and 2 search engines) are a place to start, though they offer just a hint of what's out there. 

Search Engines:

• IPL2: the Internet Public Librarian. Use it just as you would use Google. Unlike Google, each site searched with this tool is hand-selected by a librarian. Select Social Sciences to limit your search and then search for specific topics using keywords.

• The SocioWeb: a Search Engine for sociological resources on the web.

Statistics & Government Resources:

• USA.gov: The gateway to the official US web site, with information no laws and legislation, government agencies, and lots more.

• US Census Bureau: Governmental data on how Americans live. You can focus by region or interest.

• 2012 Statistical Abstract: An invaluable resource for statistics on the social, political, and economic organization of the US. It includes data from the US Census Bureau, labor statistics, and other federal and private agencies. You may also search past years.

Public Policy Think Tanks:

• The Annenberg Public Policy Center: A think tank that focuses on the role of communication in politics, youth behavior, child development, health care, civics and other areas of American life.

• Pew Research Center: A fascinating resource for social science studies of American life. Topic areas include US demographics, domestic policy, economics, politics and elections, energy and the environment, global attitudes, immigration, the Internet and technology, public opinion, religion, and social trends. 

• Washington State Institute for Public Policy: Policy areas include child welfare, criminal justice, education, health care, mental health, government, the state economy, and employment/welfare. Each topic links to recent studies and analysis. 

Specific Social Issues:

• Center on Reinventing Public Education: "CRPE engages in independent research and policy analysis on a range of K-12 public education reform issues, including choice & charters, finance & productivity, teachers, urban district reform, leadership, and state & federal reform."

• The Factbook: Eye-opening Memos on Everything Family: Excellent information on topics like Family Roles and Responsibilities, Word and Play, Children, Love and Marriage, Economic Issues, Families in Crisis, and more.

• Gay marriage laws in 50 states: Updated daily, this site gives information on gay marriage laws in all 50 states.

• Menstuff: An online information source on all kinds of topics for men

• National Institute of Health Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research: Studies of the impact of social issues on key health concerns

• U.S. Department of Education: Research, statistics, news, policy, and more information on education in the United States.

• The West Coast Poverty Center: Run through the UW, the Center researches the causes of poverty and effective means to reduce poverty.

• Women and Gender Studies: A portal to a collection of select web sites on women and gender studies.

• XYonline: XY describes its focus as men, masculinities, and gender politics

• Washington State Human Rights Commission - Their mission is to eliminate dsicrimnatino of all kinds in Washington State