Marilyn Kuzsma
Psychology 101

Books

Magazine & Journals

Research Tips

Web Tips

Web Sites

There are many resources through the library and the Internet to do your research on psychology topic. Here are just a few suggestions:

Books:

Most of the books on Psychology are in the BF section of the library. The books on Psychiatry, Mental Health and Substance Abuse are in the R section.

Do a subject search using the CCBC Dundalk Library Catalog to find books on your topic. Use the index or table of contents in the books to narrow your search. (Hint- Start with a subject search on your topic, ex:phobias or "obsessive compulsive disorder". If you can't find anything on your topic, try a keyword search ex: "drug abuse" and teenagers.)

Books and Reference Material:

A few Reference books that might get you started on different topics:
Companion encyclopedia of psychology - REF. BF31 .C66 1994 V.1&2
The Corsini Encyclopedia of Psychology and Behavioral Science Ref. BF31 .C67 2001
Encyclopedia Of Mental Health - REF. RA790.5 .E53 1998 V.1-3
The Encyclopedia Of Psychiatry, Psychology, And Psychoanalysis - REF. RC437 .E49 1996
Encyclopedia Of Psychology - REF. BF31 .E52 1994 V.1-4
Learning and Memory Ref. BF 318 .E53 2002
A Dictionary Of Mind And Body : Therapies, Techniques, And Ideas In Alternative Medicine, The Healing / REF. R733 .W377 1995
The International Dictionary Of Psychology - REF. BF31 .S83 1996
Mental Health Disorders Ref RC454.4.M458 2000
The Oxford handbook of memory REF. BF371 .O84 2000
Psychiatric Dictionary. - REF. RC437 .H5 1996
Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Ref. RC 440.V536 2004


Magazine, Journals, & Newspapers:

Difference between magazines and journals:
They are not all Magazines: Difference between Magazines and Journals
Virginia Commonwealth University:  What is a Scholarly Journal?
Auraria Library, University of Denver Journal vs Magazine

Use the Periodical Databases to find focused articles on your thesis.
Go to the List of all databases or find more information on the Magazine & Journal page.

The best databases for Psychology & Social Science journal articles are in: 

• Proquest Direct includes:  Psychology Journals and Research Library that has modules in psychology, & social sciences. There is a tab to see scholarly articles only.

• In EBSCO click on Academic Search Premier, PsychArticles and /or PsychInfo for psychology & general journal articles. Click on the advanced search and click on Scholarly (Peer Reviewed) Journals for each database.

• Science Direct has psychology journals and Science Direct has encyclopedia articles in your field.
• Opposing Viewpoints by Gale has some topics in your field.
• For Databases by subject use the List of Databases by Subject or the Psychology Databases.
• For magazine and journal articles try the General Interest Periodical Databases such as: CQ Researcher , Research Library, Academic Search Premier, Opposing Viewpoints, and SIRS.
• Instructions for off-campus access from home.
• Search Tips for Databases - Remember to try different search words to find information. Use your particular topic or use broad terms (Example: hypnosis, "sleep disorders" to look for topics.)

Research Tips :

How to Do Research - helpful link on research
How to Write a Research Paper - From OCLC Hot Topics - June 5, 2002
Plagiarism - What is plagiarism and links on how to avoid it.

Citing Sources -Make sure you use the correct citation for your research material. You will be using APA format.
Use the APA Guideline for citing your resources such as:
Towson State University- APA Style Basic Rules
University of Wisconsin-Madison - APA in text, APA in reference, APA Formatting
Brigham Young University - APA Reference Style

  Web Resources:

Use Evaluative Web Guides, such as Librarian's Index to the Internet to find evaluated web sites in your field.
Use Search Engines, such as Google to focus your search for web sites on your topic.
To get better results connect your terms with the Boolean term "and" (ex: hypnosis and smoking,) or put quotes around a phrase (ex:"sleep disorders ".)
See Performing Precise Searches on web searching.

Evaluate: Evaluate your material for its relevance and authenticity. See evaluation criteria for web sites.

Suggested Web Sites:
Many of these sites were from the Librarians' Index to the Internet. *denotes better web sites

*National Institute of Mental Health http://www.nimh.nih.gov/healthinformation/index.cfm- information from NIMH about the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of mental illnesses. Included are brochures and information sheets, reports, press releases, fact sheets, and other educational materials.

*American Psychiatric Association (APA) http://www.psych.org/public_info Let's Talk Facts pamphlet series & APA Fact Sheets includes information on various mental health diseases, mental illness health coverage issues, links to check out psychiatric medications and more. Part of APA Online.

Internet Mental Health http://www.mentalhealth.com - This site makes good use of frames to organize hundreds of entries on mental disorders, medications, and other topics. Click on a disorder, and you're taken to a menu that includes descriptions, treatments, research, magazine articles, and links to related sites.

*MEDLINEplus -Government directory to help the public find resources with information on their health questions. Includes MEDLINE, links to self-help groups, (USP) drug database, NIH consumer-related organizations, ...& search databases on topics such as clinical trials, nutrition, AIDS, cancer, etc.

APA Help Center http://helping.apa.org/ The American Psychological Association (APA) offers information on "How To Find Help with Life's Problems," including when to seek help and where to find it, workplace psychology, stress, depression, family problems, and the connection between mind and body.

Mind and Body: René Descartes to William James http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/Mind/Table.html This historical essay traces "major contributions to theories of mind, body and their relationship. Starting with Descartes ...through the 17th and 18th century... 19th century mind/brain theorizing to progress in understanding the brain as the 'organ of mind' and the mind as a powerful source of physical illness and cure." From a psychology professor.

Psych Web http://www.psychwww.com/ Contains brochures, links for the APA style guidelines and tutorials, full-text print resources including pamphlets, career information...searchable database of links to online journals with some free, full-text access. Includes annotated directory of related resources and articles on topics including hypnosis, sports psychology, states of consciousness, and more. By a Georgia Southern University professor of psychology.

Facts for Families The AACAP (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) developed Facts for Families to provide concise and up-to-date information on issues that affect children, teenagers, and their families.

PsychCrawler http://www.psychcrawler.com/The mental health disorders search engine of the American Psychological Association. Look at the list of Psych Crawler Sites. Some of the search results are not as helpful as others.

Current Topics in Psychology http://www.fenichel.com/Current.shtml - This directory is a well-organized, quick reference collection of articles, Web sites, and research tools. The page is divided between a section listing more comprehensive resources and a section of links to more specific topics (articles on ergonomics, Internet addiction, etc.). Maintained by a clinical psychologist. Some links are better than others.

Mental Health and Psychology Resources Online http://psychcentral.com/resources/ - Annotated and rated directory of nearly two thousand psychology and mental health resources on the Internet. Part of the Psych Central pages maintained by Dr. John Grohol, a psychologist and computer consultant.

Encyclopedia of Psychology http://www.psychology.org/ - Links to psychology sites on the Web divided into various categories such as Environment Behavior Relationships, People and History, and Paradigms and Theories. There are also links to psychological organizations and publications and a section on careers in the field of psychology. Available in nine languages. From the Department of Psychology, Jacksonville (Alabama) State University.

Great Ideas in Personality http://www.personalityresearch.org/ - "How do people tend to think, feel, and behave--and what causes these tendencies?" This site covers explanations and theories including attachment theory, interpersonal theory, intelligence, cognitive social theories, behavior genetics, the Five Factor and Penn models, and more. Each topic has basic information (with associated Web links) and a bibliography. There are also tips and resources (including a glossary) for students and professionals. Searchable.

University of Illinois Counseling Center Brochures has developed a series of self-help brochures on a variety of topics of interest to students. These brochures include general information as well as helpful tips on dealing with the issue addressed.