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PSYC 3401
This document provides an overview of conducting research for a PSYC 3401 Experimental Psychology course. It discusses developing a research strategy, beginning with background research and selecting resources. The document outlines goals for a research session, including devising a strategy, selecting and accessing resources, and critically evaluating them. It also discusses primary, secondary, and tertiary sources; empirical research articles; searching databases; and citation software. Tips are provided for various stages of the research process from defining topics to detailed research.
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PSYC 3401
- 1. PSYC 3401 Experimental Psychology Prof TraciWelch Moritz Public Services Librarian Assistant Professor Heterick Memorial Library
- 2. Goals for today Devise aresearch strategy Begin background research Select and access resources Critically evaluating resources Saving resources found using Bibliographic Citation Software
- 3. How am Igoing to remember everything you are going to tell me?
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- 5. What do Ido first? Take a look at your topic and identify key search terms, Ask a question. Most databases now use an implied Boolean logic search scheme so a keyword search will get you started. Boolean logic is the use of AND, NOT, OR to narrow or expand your search See Research Guide for PSYC 3401
- 6. Research Strategy DEFINING YOURTOPIC Most important part of research is at the beginning
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- 8. Primary Secondary Tertiary In the humanitiesand social sciences, primary sources are the direct evidence or first-hand accounts of events without secondary analysis or interpretation. A primary source is a work that was created or written contemporary with the period or subject being studied. A primary source is an original document containing firsthand information about a topic. Different fields of study may use different types of primary sources. http://www.lib.vt.edu/help/research/primary-secondary-tertiary.html Virginia Tech University Libraries Accessed 08/23/2013
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- 10. Primary Secondary Tertiary Secondary sources analyzeor interpret historical events or creative works. A secondary source contains commentary on or discussion about a primary source. The most important feature of secondary sources is that they offer an interpretation of information gathered from primary sources.
- 11. Primary Secondary Tertiary A 11 tertiary source presents summariesor condensed versions of materials, usually with references back to the primary and/or secondary sources. They can be a good place to look up facts or get a general overview of a subject, but they rarely contain original material. Examples: Almanacs, dictionaries, encyclopedias Indexes, bibliographies Text books Trade publications Newspaper, magazine articles
- 12. Reference Resources Oxford English Dictionary OxfordReference Online Oxford Scholarship See the Databases under “Multidisciplinary” tab for more options
- 13. So what next? • • • • • • Startbig doing background reading Look for patterns Look at reference sources, LC subject heading list, subject headings in research tools Ask a librarian Look at thesaurus in the research tools Narrow your topic for a more focused product
- 14. Scholarly, Peer-reviewed Popular Periodical means the same as Magazine Usually magazines are more “popular” Journals Scholarly or Professional Peer reviewed See Research Guide for PSYC 3401 for this and other Handouts
- 15. Empirical Article -summarizingoriginal research Components of… Abstract – A report of an empirical study includes an abstract that provides a very brief summary of the research. Introduction – The introduction sets the research in a context, which provides a review of related research and develops the hypotheses for the research. Method – The method section is a description of how the research was conducted, including who the participants were, the design of the study, what the participants did, and what measures were used. Results – The results section describes the outcomes of the measures of the study. Discussion – The discussion section contains the interpretations and implications of the study. General Discussion – There may be more than one study in the report; in this case, there are usually separate Method and Results sections for each study followed by a general discussion that ties all the research together. References – A references section contains information about the articles and books cited in the report.
- 16. Language Recognizing Empirical Research measurement psychological aspects reports research statistics usage Length of Article Empirical research articles are usually substantial (more than 1 or 2 pages) and include a bibliography or cited references section (usually at the end of the article).
- 17. Searching for empiricalstudies Hints and Tips 1. Always click on “peer reviewed” and/or “scholarly (peer reviewed) periodicals” link if available 2. Try a search that combines the keyword "empirical" with keywords that represent your topic. Example: social work and empirical. 3. Also try the keywords "research," "experiment," or "study" 4. Some databases will allow you to limit your search to a particular type of publication or content. Use this feature to limit your search to only empirical or research-based articles or case study
- 18. Internet Tools Google andWikipedia aren’t intrinsically evil, just use them for the correct purpose in your research.
- 19. Internet Tools Note: If working off campus please seethe “Google scholar” tab at the Research Guide for PSYC 3401 Google Scholar ONU buys Full-text database OhioLINK Permits Google to link to full-text ONU user sees licensed full-text articles Google asks to link to content Run Google Scholar Search
- 20. Critically analyzing websources Timeliness of the information Depth and importance of the information Source of the information Reliability of the information Possible bias present in the information
- 21. What do Ido next? Use library resources to continue your background research.
- 22. Research Strategy If needed,you will want to get an overview of your topic. Reference works can help as well as general books. DEFINING YOUR TOPIC BACKGROUND RESEARCH
- 23. SEARCH a new way toexplore the library’s resources
- 24. What is included? POLAR Article-level searching for all EBSCO databases Article-level searching for a variety of other databases: JSTOR, Hoover’s, AccessPharmacy, etc. Title-level searching for most other databases: IEEE, CIAO, Proquest Nursing & Allied Health OhioLink central catalog
- 25. Results: Full Text,Polar
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- 27. Results: Find It@ ONU
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- 29. Facets: Limit YourResults
- 30. Things to Remember Facets are your Friend: After you search, limit your results to what you really want A tool not a solution: This is not the solution to everything Ask the librarians for help: We would be glad to help you or your students with best practices There will still be some small changes coming
- 31. Research Strategy DEFINING YOURTOPIC With a basic understanding of your topic, it is time to get more detail BACKGROUND RESEARCH DETAILED RESEARCH
- 32. Research Tools∞Databases Often tools forlocating journal and newspaper articles Most are subject-specific – some multi-disciplinary Many give access to full text of articles Heterick has over 250
- 33. Databases -- SubjectSpecific MEDLINE with Full Text PsycINFO 1967 – present Psychology and Behavioral Science Collection Gender Studies Database PubMed (for off campus access, click on the “off-campus access” flag and log in using first and last name and all 11 digits ONU ID )
- 34. Tools -- BibliographicCitation Software
- 35. Databases -- SubjectSpecific Medline Plus with full text
- 36. Databases -- SubjectSpecific PsycINFO
- 37. Databases -- SubjectSpecific Psychology and Behavioral Science Collection
- 38. Databases -- SubjectSpecific Gender Studies Database
- 39. Databases -- SubjectSpecific PubMed
- 40. Databases -- SubjectSpecific Social Index Sciences Citation
- 41. Citation Databases “General” databases – searchableby subject, title, author, etc. Citation databases – as above but tells you who has cited a particular article - significance
- 42. Citation Databases (ISI) Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED)--1980-present Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI)--1980-present Arts & Humanities Citation Index (A&HCI)--1980-present Combined into product, Web of Knowledge
- 43. General or Subject SpecificDatabase Your Search Terms Keyword / subject Author Title Etc Citation Database Your Search Terms KW / subject Author Title Etc. Sources (citations) used by authors themselves
- 44. Advantages Gauge significance of individual articles& authors Uses expertise of experts in the field Gives insight into research patterns in different disciplines Can save you time – especially when doing more rigorous research
- 45. Detailed Research DEFINING YOURTOPIC BACKGROUND RESEARCH DETAILED RESEARCH FINAL PRODUCT
- 46. QUESTIONS? Ask at the ReferenceDesk Phone the Reference Desk – 2185 Contact us by E-mail reference@onu.edu