Guides: Marketing Research Guide: Encyclopedias & Reference

Encyclopedias and Directories

Encyclopedia of Consumer Culture This link opens in a new window
The more generic term of consumer culture reflects the growing visibility and importance of consumption—of how goods and services are acquired, used, wasted, and desired—and concerns about the ways in which it is organized, experienced, and understood in the everyday lives of people in rich and poor societies.
SAGE Knowledge This link opens in a new window
...or search across dozens of other subject-specific encyclopedias from this publisher using keywords to uncover relevant content.

American Men and Women: Who They Are and How They Live
Examines the multidimensional lives of today's American men and women to help track and understand their evolving lifestyles. Contains demographic data on the number of males and females, their changing age distribution, rising educational attainment, and diversifying racial composition. It also examines changing attitudes, use of time, and the latest labor force projections.

Trade Catalogues and the American Home This link opens in a new window
Illustrated primary source documents portraying commercial tastes, consumer trends, domestic consumerism, and life and leisure in America, 1850-1950.
J. Walter Thompson: Advertising America This link opens in a new window
An archive of the history, operation, and policies of the J. Walter Thompson advertising firm. Includes: print advertisements, publications, business records, and other internal company documents pertaining to a wide range of brands, companies, and industries.
Coverage dates run from the late 19th century to the 1990s.
Bloomsbury Food Library This link opens in a new window
Offers cross-searchable access to encyclopedias, reference works, e-books, images and more in food-related studies. Covers topics in food history, sociology, anthropology, cultural studies, human geography, sustainability, agriculture, culinary arts, literary studies, political science, and development studies.

Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Consumer Protection
Overview of federal laws and regulations pertaining to advertising and marketing.