Psychology Research Resources: Home

 Accessing the Databases 

• You can access the Databases using the link above or by going to https://proxy.lirn.net/AmerAcadOfArt
• If you are off-campus, you will need the Login/Password. Ask your instructor or contact the librarian (librarian@aaart.edu)

 Locating Psychology Databases 

• You can find the Psychology Databases grouped together

 Coming up with Search Terms 

• You can help determine what information you need by coming up with a Research Question
  • Think of all the questions you might ask to understand your topic. Consider questions that require you to think critically about the topic, or about a specific element or certain angle on your topic.
  • Try filling in this prompt: I'm studying ______ to investigate ______ in order to understand ______ 
• Create a list of keyword associated with your topic that you can type into the database search box
  • What else could it be called? What describes it specifically? What is it related to broadly?
  • Topics can be narrowed or broadened depending on your search terms:

General: monkeys

Narrower: howler monkeys

Broader: primates

 Getting the Full-Text of an Article 

• Many articles that you find during your database search will be available in full-text for you to download.
• However, not every article that you come upon will be available for a full-text download. If you would like to obtain the full-text of an article that the library does not have access to, we can try to order it from another library through Interlibrary Loan. Bring the article citation to the library, or contact the librarian (librarian@aaart.edu) 

 Too Many Results? 

• Try narrowing down your results by using the database filters (usually located on the left menu of your search result page)
  • You can narrow down to selections like Document Type (Ex. Scholarly Journals) and Date Range (Ex. Search for research articles from the past 10 years only)
• Maybe your search is too broad (general)
  • Try using narrower search terms (more specific keywords that describe your topic)
  • Try combining more keywords together in your search

 Not Enough Results? 

• Maybe your search is too narrow (specific)
  • Try using broader search terms (more general keywords that describe your topic)
  • Maybe you have too many keywords in your search. Try a simpler search with less keywords.
• Were you able to find at least one good article? Look for Related Articles. Many databases will automatically suggest other articles when you select an article.
• Were you able to find at least one good article? Take a look at the References at the end of the article, you might be able to find more relevant articles here. 

 When do I need to Cite? 

If you incorporate or refer to others’ words or ideas in your paper, you must give credit to the author. A parenthetical citation in the text of your paper and a Works Cited entry are required for all of the following:

• Direct quotations (entire sentences or phrases)
• Paraphrases (rephrased or summarized information)
• Words or phrases coined by an author to describe his or her research, theories, or ideas
• Use of an author’s argument or line of thinking Historical, statistical, or scientific facts Articles or studies referred to in your paper 

 When Is It OK Not to Cite? 

There are a few instances where information is so well known that a specific source does not need to be credited. The following types of information do not require a citation. However, these categories can be vague (especially “common knowledge”). When in doubt, it’s always a good idea to cite the source.

• Proverbs, axioms, or sayings
• Well-known quotations
• Common knowledge
• Statistics and information that can be found in several sources and are not likely to vary from source to source

 Use a Database to create an APA citation 

• Many databases can automatically create a citation for you. 
• IMPORTANT:  Always double-check auto-generated citations against the examples in an appropriate style guide.  While database auto-cite features are a good time-saving tool, errors are common (capitalization, punctuation, date, etc.).  You'll need to fix those error by hand!
• Using a Library Database to Generate a Citation: A step-by-step guide on how to use the citation tools available in library databases. From the Richard G. Trefry Library LibAnswers.

Examples of where you can find citation tools in a database:

 Consult an APA Style Guide 

• Purdue OWL - APA Style Guide
  • From Purdue University's Online Writing Lab 

 Use a Citation Generator Tool 

• EasyBib
  • A citation generator tool that helps you make citations quickly and easily. Make sure to double check your citations against a style guide (such as the APA style guide from the Online Writing Lab, linked above!)

Need writing or citation help? You can talk to a tutor from the Writing Resource Center (WRC)

• The WRC is available to help students with their grammar, spelling, citations, and more. You can book an appointment online, see their hours, and get more help on the Writing Resource Center page.