The Basics:

• Electronic copies of journals and articles are available in a wide variety of databases.
• You can find journals by clicking on the "Find Journals by Title" link on the library homepage.
• Journals are located in print on the 2nd floor and in the basement (compact stacks) of the Pollak Library North.
• Microform copies of journals are available on the 6th floor of the library south.
• Journals in print and in microform are arranged by Library of Congress Call Number  ().

FAQ:

• How do I find articles?
• How do I find periodicals?
• How do I find peer-reviewed articles?
• How do I evaluate my sources?

Resources:

• Psychology databases
• Psychology journals

Handouts:

• Popular vs. Scholarly Periodical Literature

The Basics:

• Look for books in our library using the Pollak Library Catalog or Find Books.
• You can look for books beyond our own collection by searching WorldCat or WorldCat.org.
• Get books from other libraries using LINK+ and ILLiad.
• Books are located on the fourth, fifth, and sixth floor of the Pollak Library South.
• Books are arranged in the library by Library of Congress Call Number.
• Psychology spans several sections of the library. Some of the call numbers you might encounter include:
  • BF: Psychology
  • RC 321-571: Psychiatry
  • HM 251-291: Social Psychology
  • LB 1050.9-1091: Educational Psychology
  • Throughout HD & HF: Organizational Psychology

FAQ:

• How do I find books?
• How do I find e-books?
• How do I check out books?
• How do I use interlibrary loan?
• How do I use the Library of Congress Classification System?
• How many books can I check out?

Resources:

• Find Books
• Books in the library (Library Catalog)
• Books from affiliate libraries (LINK+)
• Books from anywhere (Worldcat.org)

Handouts:

• How to Read a Call Number

The Basics:

• Reference materials often consist of general and subject-specific dictionaries, encyclopedias, handbooks, almanacs, directories, etc.
• Reference materials provide broad explanations, quick definitions, and point to further resources on a given topic. They a great place to start your research.
• Most reference materials in print are located on the first floor of the Pollak Library North and cannot be checked out
• Just like other items in the library, reference materials are arranged by Library of Congress Call Numbers.

FAQ:

• How do I find tests?

Resources

General electronic reference materials:

• Gale Virtual Reference Library
• Oxford Reference Online
• Reference Universe
• Literature Research Center
• Mental Measurements Yearbook

Tests Reviews:

• Mental Measurements Yearbook: ONLINE
• Major Psychological Assessment Instruments:
  • Call Number: BF176 .M35 1985 v. 1-2 ; BF176 .M35 1996
  • Location: Reference
• Mental Measurements Yearbook:
  • Call Number: BF431 .B932
  • Location: Reference
• Measures for Clinical Practice : a sourcebook:
  • Call Number: BF176 .C66 2000
  • Location: Reference
• Test Critiques:
  • Call Number: BF176 .T419 1984 v. 1-11
  • Location: Reference
• Tests : a Comprehensive Reference for Assessments in Psychology, Education, and Business:
  • Call Number: BF176 .T43 2003
  • Location: Reference

Dictionaries and Encyclopedias

• Gale Virtual Reference Library: Online
• Baker Encyclopedia of Psychology:
  • Call Number: BF31 .B25 1985
  • Location: Reference
• The Corsini Encyclopedia of Psychology and Behavioral Science:
  • Call Number: BF31 .E52 2001 v. 1-3
  • Location: Reference
• Encyclopedia of Applied Psychology:
  • Call Number: BF636 .E52 2004 v. 1-3
  • Location: Reference
• Encyclopedia of Human Behavior:
  • Call Number: BF31 .E5 1994 v. 1-4
  • Location: Reference
• Encyclopedia of Psychology:
  • Call Number: BF31 . E52 2000 v. 1-8
  • Location: Reference
• Encyclopedia of Psychotherapy:
  • Call Number: RC475.7 .H47 2002 v. 1-2
  • Location: Reference
• The International Dictionary of Psychology:
  • Call Number: BF31 .S83 1996
  • Location: Reference
• Encyclopedia of statistical sciences:
  • Call Number: QA276.14 .E5 1982 v. 1-9 + Supplement + Update v. 1-3
  • Location: Reference
• The Oxford Companion to the Mind: Online

Research Methodology

• Psychology: a guide to reference and information sources:
  • Call Number: BF 121 .B39 1993
  • Location: 6th FL SOUTH
• Dissertations and theses from start to finish: psychology and related fields:
  • Call Number: BF76.5 C645 1993
  • Location: 6th FL SOUTH
• Research design and methods: a process approach:
  • Call Number: BF76.5 .B67 1996
  • Location: 6th FL SOUTH
• Research methods in human development (2nd ed.):
  • Call Number: H61 .R4657 1999
  • Location: 5th FL SOUTH
• Writing papers in psychology: a student guide:
  • Call Number: BF76.7 .R67 1998
  • Location: 6th FL SOUTH

Handbooks

• Comprehensive handbook of psychological assessment:
  • Call Number: BF176 .C654 2004 v. 1-4
  • Location: Reference
• Handbook of Research Methods in Clinical Psychology:
  • Call Number: RC467.8 .H36 2003
  • Location: 4th FL SOUTH
• Psychologists' Desk Reference:
  • Call Number: RC 467.2 .P78 1998
  • Location: 4th FL SOUTH
• Statistical handbook on the American family:
  • Call Number: HQ536 .S727 1999
  • Location: 4th FL SOUTH

APA is the style used to write research papers in psychology at CSUF. A copy of the Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (5th Edition) is available at the reference desk in the library.

FAQ:

• How do I cite using APA style?
• How do I document sources?

Resources:

• The Late Show: Academic Integrity Tutorial
• Student guide to avoiding plagiarism.

Handouts:

          CSUF APA Citation Style

Some valuable resources are available freely on the web but it is up to you to decide whether a particular site is worthy of using for research.

The following link gives information on evaluating web resources:

• How do I evaluate my sources?

Here are some general web resources regarding the psychology:

• The American Psychological Association
• Open Directory Links
• PsychCentral
• Psych Web
• Social Psychology Network