Information Search in Psychology

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Information Search in
Psychology

• Gerrie Kow
• Email clbky_at_nus.edu.sg

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Objectives

• To introduce you to the basics of literature
  search.
• To familiarize you with searching for information
  in PsycINFO.
• Looking for material in LINC/LINC.

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Learning Outcomes

• At the end of the session you will
• Be able to find relevant journal articles in
  PsycINFO.
• Be able to locate relevant material in LINC/LINC

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Outline

• Sources for research
• PsycINFO
• LINC
• Getting help

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Sources for Research

• Books
• Overview of topic with a fair amount of detail.
• Good source for further reading.
• Journals
• Academic/By scholars for scholars
• Latest developments research findings
• Databases
• - Collection of many e-journals, e-books,
  conference proceedings, book chapters,
  statistics, newspaper articles, etc.

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Evaluating Sources

• Authority
• What credentials are listed for the authors?
• Objectivity
• Is the information presented objective or biased?
• Accuracy
• Is the information well supported by references?
• Currency
• Is the information updated?

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Portal (www.lib.nus.edu.sg)
Member Login
Help
Opening Hours
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Accessing E-Resources
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PsycINFO
Quick Reference Guide http//www.ovid.com/site/pdf
/osp/OvidSP_QRC_021108.pdf
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PsycINFO

• American Psychological Association (APA) database
  
• Provides abstracts, citations some full-text to
  psychological literature.
• Provides access to book chapters, journal
  articles, conference reports, dissertations, etc.
  
• Coverage 1806-present.

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Basic Search Identify keywords
To what extent should the corporal punishment of
children be considered a kind of child abuse?
Keywords Corporal punishment, child abuse
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PsycINFO Basic Search
Enter search terms
Check Include...Terms
Use to refine search
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Lets Search!
Discuss gender differences in perception of body
image.
Keywords gender differences, body image Limits
2002-2008, English, Full Text Sort By
Score Target Full Text on screen
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PsycINFO Results Display
Narrow Search
Your Options
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PsycINFO Exporting Records
What do you want to do with the results you have
selected?
What info do you want?
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Lets Search!
Discuss the effects of music on mathematical
ability.
Keywords music, mathematical ability Limits
1998-2008, English Sort By Publication
Year Target Full Text through another vendor
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Advanced Searching

• Identify alternative keywords.

To what extent should the corporal punishment of
children be considered a kind of child abuse?
Keywords would be corporal/physical punishment,
child/children abuse
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Build Your Search Boolean Operators
AND Both terms must appear
punishment
abuse
OR One or other may appear
punishment
abuse
NOT One term may appear but not the other
abuse
punishment
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Build Your Search Use of / and round
parentheses ( )

• Use for variant forms of term
• - child child, children
• - punish punish, punishes, punishment,
  punishing
• Use ( ) for grouping words or phrases
• - (interethnic or interracial) and dating
• interracial dating, interethnic dating
• - (teen or adolescen) and pregnancy
• teenage pregnancy
• adolescent pregnancy

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Search Statement
To what extent should the corporal punishment of
children be considered a kind of child abuse?
corporal/physical punishment
child/children abuse
(corporal or physical) and punishment and child
abuse
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Lets Search (Advanced)!
Discuss the relationship between gender
differences and verbal ability.
Search Statement gender differences or sex
differences and verbal ability Target Narrow
search by Verbal Ability
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Lets Search (Multi-Field)!
Does exposure to media violence and pornography
produce aggression in viewers?
Search Statement media violence and pornography
and aggressi
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PsycINFO Multi-Field Search
Search by combining fields
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PsycINFO Search Tools
Find out more about a term
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Search Tips for PsycINFO

• Basic Search
• Natural language search
• Do not enter Boolean operators, wildcards,
  truncation in search box
• Click on Include Related Terms
• Apply a database limit(s) optional
• Use search aid to narrow search
• Advanced Search
• Allows for more complex and exact searches
• Use Boolean operators, such as OR, AND, NOT
• Use for multi-character wildcard (truncation)
• More information can be found on the Database
  field guide on the top of the screen.

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LINC
Enter keywords/title/name
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LINC Results Display
Your account
By Relevance
Tag Cloud
Facets
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Requesting for books, viewing TOC
See TOC, make requests
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Requesting for Books/Journals in LINC
Click to see all vols.
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Call Numbers in LINC Subject Guides
Psychology guide
Call no. search in LINC
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Subject Guides

• Good starting point for research

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Need Help?

• Advisory Service atInformation Desk,Central
  Library,Level 5
• Email me clbky_at_nus.edu.sg
• Tel [phone]

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Thank you!