You need | 7 peer-reviewed articles, 4 of which are empirical studies |
Database to use | PsycINFO, found on the Databases & Online Resources list |
Class handout | Psychology Research in PsycINFO PDF version or Word version |
References to articles, books, and more on the psychological, social, and behavioral sciences, 1806 to present.
Off campus? Use your NEIU NetID and password to login.
Don't just start typing keywords. Plan your approach first.
Break down your topic into main concepts:
Example Topic: Social media's impact on adolescent mental health
Subject headings are official tags that psychology experts have assigned to each article.
Why subject headings matter: Instead of searching for words that just happen to appear in articles, you're searching for what psychology experts determined each article is actually about.
How to use them:
Your research topic is specifically about adolescents.
Where to find it in PsycINFO: Look for the All Filters button under the search field. Then look for the "Age" options.
Your assignment requires peer-reviewed articles only.
Where to find it in PsycINFO: Look for the "Scholarly (Peer-reviewed)" button under the search field.
Your assignment requires at least 4 empirical studies (original research with data collection and analysis).
Look for these keywords in the abstract:
EMPIRICAL Example: "This study examined the relationship between social media use and anxiety in college students. 234 participants completed surveys measuring social media usage and anxiety levels. Results showed a significant positive correlation (r=.43, p<.01)..."
NOT EMPIRICAL Example:
"This literature review examines current theories about social media's impact on mental health. Previous research suggests several potential mechanisms..."
Too many results?
Too few results?
Results don't look relevant?