Below are some pointers for students interested in CMC, games studies, internet studies, etc from a social science perspective. This is by no means a complete list but meant to be a jumping off point.
MIT students should also make sure to take advantage of training and assistance offered via the libraries.
Search Tools & Evaluation
Evaluating Resources and Misinformation (SIFT Method)
MIT Libraries research guides by subject
How do you know a journal is legitimate?
Google Scholar (do not use Google Scholar as a substitute for comprehensive academic searches. Consult your reference librarian for help.)
Citation Practices
Citation Formats, MIT Writing Center
Avoiding plagiarism, MIT Writing Center
Online Research Ethics
Academic Peer-reviewed Journals (Soc/Comm/Media Studies+) on Games, New Media, Immersive Worlds, etc.
Critical Studies in Media Communication
International Journal of Communication
Social Media + Society
Convergence
New Media & Society
Television & New Media
Information, Communication, & Society
Platforms & Society
Journal of Cinema and Media Studies
Media Industries
First Monday
Journal of Computer Mediated Communication
Ada
Transformative Works and Cultures
Games & Culture
Game Studies
American Journal of Play
ROMChip
Press Start
International Journal of Disney Studies
Academic Peer-reviewed Journals on Qualitative Methods
American Ethnologist
Ethnography
Journal of Contemporary Ethnography
Qualitative Inquiry
Qualitative Research
Visual StudiesÂ
Resource Centers, Stats
Pew Internet & American Life Project
Pew Research Center
Social Science Research Network (offers pre-publication and draft papers on many topics)
General Social Survey
OECD
Lumen (resource re: DMCA and related online materials legal issues)
Internet Archive (contains game info, machinima, virtual worlds info, etc. amongst many other great things)
Center for Democracy and Technology
Entertainment Software Association (caution re: industry stats)
Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) Theme and Museum Index (caution re: industry stats)
Organizations (make sure to check their conference proceedings where possible)
American Sociological Association (ASA)
International Communication Association (ICA)
American Anthropological Association (AAA)
Association of Internet Researchers (AoIR)
Digital Games Research Association (DiGRA)
Themed Experience and Attractions Academic Society (TEAAS)
Disney Culture and Research Society Network (DisNet)
Society for the Social Studies of Science (4S)