HOW TO: Conduct a Literature Search
Step 1: Pick a database to start your search
Acceptable Databases |
NOT Acceptable Databases |
PsycINFO** |
Google |
PsycARTICLES |
Yahoo |
Medline |
AOL |
Wiley Interscience |
Any internet site not accessible from the Stony Brook library website |
** Recommended database: PsycINFO
To access PsycINFO from the Stony Brook website:
- Go to the Stony Brook website: www.sunysb.edu. This website has links to:
- Research Databases to access PsycINFO and PsycARTICLES
- Electronic Journals to see if your journal is online
- WebStars to see if Melville library has your journal
- Health Sciences Library Catalogue to see if HSC library has your journal
- Interlibrary Loan to use if Stony Brook doesn’t have your journal
- Click on Libraries
- Click on Frank Melville Jr. Memorial Library
- Click on Databases and E-Journals
- Under Databases and E-Journals click P
- Click PsycINFO
Step 2: Searching for information
I. Different ways to perform a search depending on what information you have:
A. For a subject or topic, a broad
“keyword search” on PsycINFO will provide you with
preliminary information in order for you to narrow your
search.
- For an author’s name, you can perform an “author search” on PsycINFO
(click the “Advanced Search” tab at the top of the page).
- For
a particular journal article, you can search the “Electronic
Journals”—this may save you a trip to the library!
However, if your journal is not online, use either STARS or Health
Sciences Library catalogue to see if the journal is at Melville or HSC
libraries, respectively.
II. Search keywords related to your research topic
- Pick a few broad keywords
For
example, if you are interested in the effects of the media on
children’s aggressive behavior, you might try to search
“media” and “aggression”
- Search
synonyms of the keywords, for example, you might search “violent
behavior” or “conduct disorder” or “delinquent
behavior” or “behavior problems”
Play around with combinations of keywords. Place AND in between each word so that all words are used in the search.
D. If you finding too much, narrow your search with more keywords
E. If cannot find related articles, type in new keywords (or in different combinations)
Step 3: Click on interesting articles
I. This will give you more information about the article, including the abstract
II. Read the abstracts!
** Tip:
Scroll down to the “Subjects” heading on this screen. This
heading will give you more ideas for keywords to search.
** Tip:
In articles that have the full text attached, look at the references.
This will give you more potential sources for your paper.
Step 4: Get the articles that you think might be useful for your paper
I. Click on Link to Fulltext (main results page) or View Links (individual abstract)
If
the West Campus (Frank Melville, Jr.) library has access to the
electronic full text version of the article, this link will
automatically connect you to the article. Then, you can save
and/or print the document
If the journal is not listed in the E-Journals in the Melville library, search the E-Journals at the HSC library
- Go to the library Databases and E-Journals link
- Click on HSC E-Journals
- Look for the journal name in the alphabetical list, or type in the name
- You will need your student ID # to access the journal
If the journal is not in the E-Journals at the Melville or HSC library
- Search for the journal in the STARS catalogue
- If the library owns the journal, you can photocopy the article from the stacks
If the journal is not in the STARS catalogue
- Search for the journal in the HSC catalogue
- If the library owns the journal, you can photocopy the article from the stacks at HSC
TIP:
Main library contains journals more relevant to general psychology
while HSC contains journals related to health psychology or medicine
TIP: Most electronic journals are only available for up to the past five years online (though there are some exceptions)
NOTE: You must search these two databases separately as materials are not cross-listed!!!
Other tips to remember when performing a search:
- If the article is more recent, if may not come up on a PsycINFO search
- Explore the “options” in PsycINFO—some are very handy.
- DO
NOT use Lycos, Yahoo, Google or other general search engines because
they are not limited to literature published in peer-reviewed journal
and therefore the information presented has not been subject to
critical review.
How do I get help with my research?