Guide to PsycINFO

Description |  How to access  |  Quick tips  |  How to search  |  Locating documents in the library  |  Print/save/email | 

Description

Subjects covered: all aspects of psychology, including applied psychology, psychological disorders, educational psychology, etc.
Publication types: journal articles, books, dissertations, technical reports
Coverage: 1872- present

How to access

  1. Go the MUN Libraries homepage at http://www.library.mun.ca/
  2. If you are at home, click on the Off-campus Login icon at the top right of the home page, and follow the instructions.
  3. Select Article Indexes
  4. Under Indexes by Title, select P
  5. Select PsycINFO

Quick tips

Help top right of screen and the various buttons
Truncation *(asterisk) e.g., reproduc* retrieves reproduce, reproducing, reproduction, etc.
Combining terms use Boolean operators - and, or, not - and parentheses ( ) where necessary. More info
Phrase searching enter words in the order you want them searched e.g., bipolar disorder

How to search

  1. Enter each concept or idea into a separate search box
  2. Select from the drop down menus where to search each concept e.g., Keywords (searches Title, Abstract, Descriptors, Identifiers), Author, Title, Descriptors, etc.
  3. Click on Search

Population
Population contains a standardized description of specific populations. These are: human, animal, male, female, inpatient, outpatient. To search a specific population, enter the word, and click on Population.

Age Groups

Neonatal (birth-1 mo)School Age (6-12 yrs)Thirties (30-39 yrs)
Childhood (birth-12 yrs)Adolescence (13-17 yrs)Middle Age (40-64 yrs)
Infancy (1-23 mo)Young Adulthood (18-29 yrs)Aged (65 yrs & older)
Preschool Age (2-5 yrs)Adulthood (18 yrs & older)Very Old (85 yrs & older)

To search age groups, input the name of the age group, and click on Age.

Publication Type
Identifies the general type of document. Examples of publication types:

BookConference Proceedings/SymposiaLiterature Review/Research Review
Case StudyEmpirical StudyLongitudinal Study
ChapterJournal Article

To search publication type, enter the unique word(s), and click on Publication Type.

Locating documents in the library

To determine if Memorial Libraries owns a journal:
  1. Look for a Full-Text link beside the View Record link.
  2. If there is no Full-Text link, click on Check Your Library at the top right of the record.
  3. Click on the Search box at the bottom.
  4. The library catalogue will appear in a new window - if Memorial has the journal, the record for the journal will appear. Be sure to check that the volume/year of the journal you need is listed, and note if it is in print or electronic format.

Print/save/email

Before you Print, Save or Email your records, you may mark the records you want by clicking in the box at the top left of each brief record.

From the top or bottom of your results list, select Save/Print/Email Records, and select from the options given. If you choose Print, a screen with the text your records will display - use your browser's PRINT icon to print.

For more detailed help, consult with a librarian, or use the Help provided within PsycINFO.

For general help on effective database searching, see our guide on How to Search Successfully.

August 5, 2008