Psychology: Quick Start Guide: Find Articles (Databases)

• Check your spelling.
• Think of different ways to phrase your search (example: teenagers or adolescents).
• Limit your search to articles that are available in full text and that are scholarly or peer-reviewed.
• Read the abstract of an article to get an idea of what it's about.
• Use the subject descriptors to find more articles or to revise your search.

• Databases are used to search for academic journals.
• Databases have a level of quality control which you do not get elsewhere.
• Databases contain research-level materials and articles.
• Anyone can publish anything on the web. Items in academic journals go through a rigorous process before publication. 
• Academic journals contain information that is of high academic integrity.

PORT is a 3-part series of self-paced online tutorials to help psychology students learn:

• how to effectively search the database PsycINFO.
• how to use features of PsycINFO that can enhance psychology literature research.
• how to construct APA style references for journal articles.

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Performing a Search Here is an example of how to perform a search in Psychology and Behavioral Science Collection

• Psychological disorders are a phrase Example: Attention Deficit Disorder
• Connect search terms that are not phrases with AND, OR, or NOT. Examples:  
  • Attention Deficit Disorder AND children
  • ​Attention Deficit Disorder OR Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Brief Record After performing a search you will see a list of brief records. Interpret them like this:

Expanded Record Once you click on a title you find interesting this is what you will see