LibGuides: Psychology Research: Where to start?

Background Sources

Why use them?

Reference works, like dictionaries, encyclopedias, handbooks, as well as online sources like the ones listed here, can be important sources of background or other information to assist you with research on your term papers. If your interests are broad, this information may help you focus on a manageable research topic. These sources may also suggest books or articles which contain more information on your chosen topics.

Recommended Online Sources

These online web resources may help you in your research.

American Psychological Association
The homepage for the American Psychological Association
Classics in the History of Psychology
An online collection of fulltext resources in the history of psychology. Includes works by Sigmund Freud, B.F. Skinner, William James, and dozens of others.
Google Scholar
Use Google's search engine for "scholarly literature" to find subscribed sources on and off-campus. Go to Menu>Settings>Library Links to enable Bloomsburg University links to view subscribed resources. Look for "FullText@BloomU" links.
Online Readings in Psychology and Culture
Links to essays on the interaction between psychology and culture
Psychology Directory: AmoebaWeb
Links to over 2000 psychology-related resources.
PsychScholar Home Page
A website out of the Hanover College Psychology Department that includes links for conducting research & scholarship, connecting with colleagues, studying for classes, launching a career in psychology, and more.
Social Psychology Network
One of the largest Internet sites devoted to psychological research and teaching, with more than 17,000 links related to psychology.
VassarStats: Statistical Computation Web Site
A website to help you understand and calculate statistics often used in psychology. Includes tools for calculating probabilities, frequencies, chi-square tests, correlations and regressions, t-tests, ANOVA, ANCOVA, and more.

Recommended Sources from our Reference Collection

The Library has a large collection of encyclopedias, atlases, and other specialized reference books, in the Reference Collection on the 2nd floor. Following are a few examples:

DSM-IV Ref RC455.2 .C4 D54 1994

DSM-5 REF RC455.2.C4 D536 2013 (2nd copy in the General Collection, and available online)

Encyclopedia of Alzheimer's Disease (available online)

Encyclopedia of Cognitive Science Ref BF311 .E53 2003

Encyclopedia of Counseling Ref BF636.54 .E53 2008

Encyclopedia of Mental Health Ref RC437 .K34 2008

Encyclopedia of Phobias, Fears, and Anxieties Ref RC535 .D63 2001

Freud Encyclopedia Ref BF173 .F6176 2002

Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology Ref BF31 .G35 1996

Handbook of Child Psychology Ref BF721 .H242 1998

Magill's Encyclopedia of Pscyhology Ref BF31 .M33 2003

Mental Measurements Yearbook Ref BF176 .M46

Steven's Handbook of Experimental Psychology Ref BF181 .H336 2002