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Brief Introduction to Library Research
Carol Wright, Education Librarian
502 Paterno Library
814-865-0666 ~ caw4@psu.edu


Common Search Tips for using Electronic Databases

Vocabulary
Use the appropriate search terms used by each database. Terms may vary, and will significantly affect the results of your search.
Note the difference between keywords and subject headings.
Subject headings are 'official' terms used to categorize titles under a common topic.
Keywords, conversely, are terms which may appear in any part of a record.
Use of each of these commands will yield significantly different results.
Combining terms

and [so that both terms are retrieved] ....
    ex: heredity and longevity

or   [so that either term is retrieved] .......
    ex: television or radio

not [so that one term is eliminated] ........
    ex: media not advertising

Truncation
The LIAS symbol to truncate for variant endings is $ .
For example, the search: k chil$ retrieves: childhood, Chilcott, etc.
This symbol varies among databases. Internet search engines often use *
Limit
Limit by date, language, etc. See CAT ‘help’ for more information.

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A. INDEXES /ABSTRACTS IN EDUCATION AND PSYCHOLOGY

Education Abstracts Full Text (Wilson)
Covers almost 500 periodicals in primary, secondary, and higher education and behavioral sciences since 1983, with full text for 133 periodicals since 1994.
http://www.lias.psu.edu/dball.html#ERLEDUCABS

Professional Development Collection
A collection of over 515 full text journals, including nearly 350 peer-reviewed titles.
http://www.lias.psu.edu/dball.html#PROFDEV

ERIC -- Educational Resources Information Center (free site-- http://www.eric.ed.gov/)
ERIC , (Education Resources Information Center), is a premier database of journal and non-journal education literature, sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) of the U.S. Dept. of Education.
http://www.lias.psu.edu/entry/eric.html

PsycINFO
PsycINFO, the primary database for psychology and related disciplines, is a database of psychological literature from the 1800's to the present, from 1300 journals from 50 countries. Through SilverPlatter, it provides full text, searchable access to more than 25,000 articles from 42 journals published by APA and allied organizations from 1988 to the present, and links to non-APA full text journals owned in electronic format by the University Libraries. Related subject areas included education, organizational management, psychophysiology, psychiatry, nursing, ergonomics, environmental psychology, human factors engineering, sociology, business, law and more. Published by the American Psychological Association.
http://www.lias.psu.edu/dball.html#PSYCHOVID

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B. INDEXES ABSTRACTS OF RELATED INTEREST

CQ Researcher (contemporary issues)
Weekly "magazine" that explores in-depth a single "hot issue" currently being discussed in the news. Topics include social issues, politics, economics, the environment, education, science, and more. Each issue includes an essay outlining the issue, a pro-con feature, a chronology, and a bibliography. http://www.lias.psu.edu/dball.html#CQRESEARCHER

Ethnic NewsWatch
http://www.lias.psu.edu/dball.html#ETHNICNEWS

GenderWatch
http://www.lias.psu.edu/dball.html#GENDERWATCH

Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center
Provides research and background information on social issues, including essays, statistics, primary documents, links to websites, and full-text magazine and newspaper articles.
http://www.lias.psu.edu/dball.html#OVRC

Proquest [combination of Periodical Abstracts, Newspaper Abstracts and ABI business]
http://www.lias.psu.edu/dball.html#PROQUEST

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C. STATISTICAL SOURCES

National Center for Education Statistics
http://nces.ed.gov/


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D. SELECTED BACKGROUND/ OVERVIEW RESOURCES

Encyclopedia of Education 8 vols.
5th Floor Paterno Ref LB15.E47 2003

Encyclopedia of Psychology 8 vols.
5th Floor Paterno Ref BF31.E523 2000

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E. CITING YOUR SOURCES

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association [APA Style Manual]
5th ed, 2001. BF76.7.A46 at all reference desks in Paterno Library [2nd, 3rd, 4th floors]

The APA [American Psychological Association] Electronic Reference Formats recommended by the American Psychological Association. Includes email
communications web sites, articles and abstracts from electronic databases, and web citations in text.

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