{"id":35300,"date":"2024-12-16T10:16:27","date_gmt":"2024-12-16T18:16:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pcc.edu\/library\/?post_type=html_handouts&p=35300"},"modified":"2024-12-16T10:16:27","modified_gmt":"2024-12-16T18:16:27","slug":"how-to-use-psycinfo","status":"publish","type":"html_handouts","link":"https:\/\/www.pcc.edu\/library\/html_handouts\/how-to-use-psycinfo\/","title":{"rendered":"How to use PsycINFO"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

About the Database<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

PsycINFO<\/strong> has book chapters, dissertations in psychology, behavioral science and mental health as well as full text, peer-reviewed scholarly articles from nearly 80 psychology journals published by the American Psychological Association (APA) from 1894 to the present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting Started<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To find PsycINFO:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. On the PCC Library homepage<\/a> click \u201cDatabases\u201d in the \u201cShortcuts\u201d box.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Click \u201cAll Databases\u201d and then click on \u201cP\u201d. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Click the database title, PsycINFO. (If you are off-campus, enter your MyPCC username and password.)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Searching<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Begin with one or several (not more than 5) keywords that describe your topic. Enter your keywords into the search box. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Screenshot<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Limit Your Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Before you click the search button check out the unique ways to limit your search results that PsycINFO offers lower down on the screen. The screenshot below shows a few of the options, like: Publication Name; Publication Year (where you can fill in the start year and end year); Publication Date (with radio button options for “all time”, “Past 12 months” “Custom range”, etc); Tests & Measures; Age Groups; Population Groups; and Methodology. But there are more limiting and filtering options available when you visit the PsychINFO database. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    For example, limiting your search to Population Group: Human <\/strong>will exclude experiments on rats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    You can also select an Age Group, <\/strong>such as Adolescence\u00a0 <\/strong>or Aged.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Or a specific Methodology<\/strong>, such as a Quantitative Study.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Search Tips<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Truncation is an asterisk *<\/strong> and will get multiple versions of the root word. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    cogni*<\/strong> = cogni<\/strong>tive<\/strong> or cogni<\/strong>tion or <\/strong>cogni<\/strong>tively<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Adding \u201cquotation marks\u201d around phrases will find words exactly as you entered them, in that order. For example, \u201cglucose intolerance\u201d will keep those words together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you see “Find It<\/strong> @ PCC<\/strong>” under the “Access options” pulldown, this indicates the full text is not in the PsycINFO database. Click on “Find it @ PCC” to find full text through another library database or to request through Interlibrary Loan (ILL).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Below is an example of one article you might find while searching the database. The screenshot highlights how to tell what type of publication it is, as well as the article title and where to find full text access, and a description follows the screenshot.\u00a0
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Above the title of the article, it should indicate the type of article<\/strong> you’re accessing: e.g. a journal article from a peer reviewed journal<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The title<\/strong> of the article is in blue<\/strong> and hyperlinked<\/strong>. Click on it to get more information about the article, citation and saving tools, and full text access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The \u2018Abstract<\/strong>\u2019 is a summary of the article and its research conclusions. It is important, and part of the article. Read it; then decide if you want the entire article. The abstract may suggest keywords for searching and ideas to focus your topic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Click on \u2018Access Now\u2019 <\/strong>to see the complete article. You can print, save, or email from the PDF or HTML version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Refine Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Click on \u2018All filters\u2019 underneath the search bar to view more advanced search options. Use \u2018All time\u2019 underneath the search bar to choose an acceptable date range for your search.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    If you don\u2019t see what you want in this database, uncheck Full Text<\/strong> to expand your results to include articles available through other databases or ILL.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Save Your Research<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Click on the article title read it and save it. Use the citation tool, indicated by quotation marks, to view and copy a pre-formatted citation for the article. Use the share tool, indicated by an arrow, to email a copy to yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Remember to proofread the citation. Premade citations are very useful, but they will sometimes contain errors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Get Help from PCC Librarians<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Call a Librarian<\/h4>\n\n\n\n