This course guide will assist you in your research for the research projects required for completion of this course.

	Getting started
	Topic overviews/finding books
	Finding quality info on the web
	Finding scholarly journal articles
	Finding videos for Option 2
	Citing in APA style

Getting started

Below is a list of selected sources that provide background information on a variety of issues related to developmental psychology. Browse the library collection by the call number area listed for each book in order to find related resources.

Child development

Encyclopedia of children and childhood

Adolescence in America: an encyclopedia

Boyhood in America : an encyclopedia

Girlhood in America: an encyclopedia

Parenthood in America : an encyclopedia

Handbook of child psychology
BF721 .H242 1998 Reference

Growing up in America : an atlas of kids in the USA
HB1323.C52 U649 1998 

Encyclopedia of family life
HQ534 .E53 1999 Reference

Handbook of contemporary families
HQ536 .H3185 2004  4th Floor Stacks

The encyclopedia of parenting theory and research
HQ755.8 .E526 1999 Reference

Infancy in America : an encyclopedia
HQ774 .I528 2001 Reference

Statistical handbook on adolescents in America
HQ796 .S8237 1996  Reference

Encyclopedia of childbearing : critical perspectives
RG525 .E52 1993 Reference

 

Topic overview/finding books

Books and similar resources provide comprehensive overviews of various issues; and are valuable for your background research.

Consult tables of contents and indexes to find out where in a book your research topic is discussed.

Most academic books have bibliographies that direct you to other resources and journal articles.

      Use the search box below to continue your search for more books in the Library.

• Too many? Add another term: teenage pregnancy--united states
• Too few? Search
• If we don't have an item you can request it through .

Search for:

in

Keyword Author Title Journal & Newspaper Title Subject Heading Genre / Form Call Number Standard Number

• When you find a good source, click on its "Subject Headings" for other items on that topic.

 

 

 

 

Finding scholarly journal articles

Use this database:  PsycINFO  
A comprehensive international database of psychology, covering the academic, research, and practice literature in psychology from over 45 countries in more than 30 languages.
Coverage: 1887→current

 

Research tip	How to
Identify more search terms	Click on Thesaurus
Search by a particular age group	In Advanced Search click on: Refine Search>Age Groups
Search for empirical studies	In Advanced Search click on: Refine Search>Methodology>Empirical Studies
Search for literature reviews	In Advanced Search click on: Refine Search>Methodology>Literature review
Search for word variants e.g. sex*=sexes, sexual, sexism	Use the truncation symbol: *

 

Comparison Chart:  Empirical studies and Literature reviews
Empirical studies: have data that has been collected by such means as experimentation, survey methodology, or observation.  have a methods section because it reports on an experiment. try to measure something: a behavior, reaction, treatment, etc.	Literature reviews: do not have the usual parts of an APA report, since it does not report on a single experiment. briefly summarize and critique each study and discuss how the findings relate to other studies. are useful when learning about the current research on a topic.

 

 

Finding quality info on the web

Much of the information on the web is questionable and not appropriate for a college-level research project.  It is highly recommended that you formally evaluate any web site before choosing to include the information you find in your research project.

• Click here for more information on how to thoroughly evaluate web sites.

Recommended web sites

National Institute of of Child and Human Development
Use the search option as this site has a lot of pages. 

Child and Adolescent Mental Health: National Institute of Mental Health


Developmental Psychology Links: Social Psychology Network
The Social Psychology Network is a large collection of links, so assess any site before using in your research.

Developmental Psychology: Social Science Information Gateway
The Social Science Information Gateway (SOSIG) is a directory and is maintained by librarians. A great source for links, but no guarantee as to accuracy.

Finding videos

Search CSUSM's Media Library for videos. There are viewing rooms available for individuals and groups. Most videos can be checked out.

• When you are in the Media Library, search by keywords that describe the aspect of developmental psychology that you are interested in.
   
• Use the genres below to browse a list of videos.