Best Bets for Starting Your Research in...

:: Psychology ::

Use databases to find articles on your topic. These databases are the best place to start.

• PsycINFO
  Citations and abstracts to journals, book chapters, and dissertations in the field of psychology. Citations link to PsycARTICLES for full-text.
  Date coverage: 1872-present
  

• ProQuest Psychology Journals
  Encompasses a wide range of topics from leading psychology and psychosomatic publications. In addition to clinical and social psychology, it also provides coverage of related disciplines including genetics, psychology of business and economics, communication, criminology, addiction, neurology, and social welfare.
  Date coverage: 1971-present
  

• Social Sciences Full Text
  Covers the latest concepts, trends, opinions, theories, and methods from both applied and theoretical aspects of the social sciences, including the literature of anthropology, economics, geography, law and criminology, political science, social work, and sociology
  Date coverage: 1983-present
  

• Academic OneFile
  A premier source for peer-reviewed, full-text articles from leading journals and reference sources. With extensive coverage of social sciences, the arts, theology, literature and other subjects.
  Date Coverage: 1980-present
  

Tips: When searching databases, use AND, OR, and parentheses to focus your search.

The asterisk * symbol will search for all variations of a word. For example: basket* will search for baskets and basketry. Using quotes will search for a phrase.

Combine synonyms with OR and put them inside parentheses, like this:

(psycholog* OR "mental health") AND (adolescent* OR teen*)

Here's another example:

("mental illness" OR "mental health") AND (counseling OR therapy)

 

Already have the citation? Find an article with citation linker!

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Find books using the library catalog. Browse these subjects to get general information on your topic.

1. Psychology
2. Psychology– Clinical
3. Developmental Psychology
4. Social Psychology

Search the library catalog! Find books, media materials, and more.

Other searches:
Browse | Advanced Search

Tips: When searching the library catalog with keywords, use the dollar sign ($) to search for a word and all of its variations.

For example: Latin Americ$ will search for Latin America and Latin American

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Reference tools such as dictionaries and encyclopedias are good places to start your research because they provide an overview of the topic as well as keywords, dates, and facts.

Dictionaries, Encyclopedias, and Handbooks

• Dictionary of Psychology (E-Book)
  
  
• Understanding Statistics in the Behavioral Sciences (E-Book)
  
  
• Corsini Encyclopedia of Psychology and Behavioral Science
  Ref BF31.E52 2001 V.1 – V.4
  
  
• Encyclopedia of Applied Developmental Science
  Ref HQ 767.84 E52 2005 V.1 – V.2
  
  
• Encyclopedia of Applied Psychology
  Ref BF636. E52 2004 V.1 – V.3
  
  
• The Encyclopedia of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Psychoanalysis
  Ref RC437. E49 1996
  
  
• Encyclopedia of Psychology
  Ref BF31 E52 2000 V.1 – V.8
  

Tips: Try looking at the bibliography at the end of the entry for a list of other sources such as relevant journal articles and books.

When you have found books on your topic, look at the books on the shelf nearby to see if they are related to your topic.

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These web sites have been evaluated by librarians (that's a good thing) for your use in an academic setting.

• American Psychological Association
  http://www.apa.org
  The American Psychological Association (APA) is a scientific and professional organization that represents psychology in the United States. Site provides quick links to psychology topics, publications, current news, and APA Style Guide.

• National Institute of Mental Health
  http://nimh.nih.gov/
  The National Institute of Mental Health includes information on news and events, clinical trials, funding opportunities, and information for the public, practitioners, and researchers.

• Center for Disease Control
  http://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth
  The website includes information on funding, treatment questions, mental health organizations by State, data and statistics, publications, and resources.

• Social Psychology Network
  http://www.socialpsychology.org
  Social Psychology Network (SPN) is an educational organization with more than 1,600 Members worldwide. Includes more than 3,500 searchable links and three affiliated partner sites: the Society of Experimental Social Psychology (SESP.org); the Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP.org); and Research Randomizer (Randomizer.org, a web-based tool for random sampling and random assignment).

  
  
  Tips: Any web site can be changed without notice, so be sure to evaluate every site you use.

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Use these short e-learning modules to get quick answers!

• Find a video/DVD in the catalog
• Find an e-book in the catalog
• APA Style Guide
• Generate a bibliography automatically using RefWorks
  • RefWorks import/export directions
  • RefWorks login information
  • Refworks tutorial

Still have questions?

• Get help 24/7! Via Web chat at http://www.fairfield.edu/lib_askalibrarian.html
  

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