Subject Guides: Psychology Subject Guide: Finding Background Information

Encyclopedias, Handbooks, Literature Reviews, and More

Credo Reference This link opens in a new window
Hundreds of authoritative dictionaries, encyclopedias, fact books, guides, companions and more from respected publishers across dozens of major subject areas.

To find more print and online reference books for general psychology, as well as specific subjects within or related to psychology, search Encompass Search or ask for help.

Annual Review of Psychology
Literature reviews providing summary and analysis of research in the field of psychology, published annually. Good for an overview of the state of research on a given topic. Full text is available online for 1950-present.
Encyclopedia of Neuroscience
Encyclopedia of Psychology
Location: Main Collection (Ref.) 150.3 E563o vol. 1-8 (Level A)
In-depth entries on a wide variety of psychological topics.
Handbook of Psychology
Location: Main Collection (Ref.) 150 H236o vol. 1-12 (Level A)
In-depth entries on a wide variety of psychological topics.

Social Psychology, Third Edition by Paul A. M. Van Lange (Editor); E. Tory Higgins (Editor); Arie W. Kruglanski (Editor)
ISBN: 9781462544004
Publication Date: 2020-10-06

DSM

DSM-IV-TR: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Location: Ready Reference 616.89 A512d4 2000 (Level A)
Information about and criteria for the classification of mental disorders. (Published in 2000.)
DSM-IV Sourcebook
Location: Main Collection (Ref.) 616.89075 A512d4, Suppl. vol. 1-4 (Level B)
Explains the rationale and evidence used to develop the criteria set forth in the DSM-IV.
DSM-5: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Location: Ready Reference 616.89 A512d5 (Level A)
Information about and criteria for the classification of mental disorders. (Published in 2013.)

Resources for Newspapers and Magazines

Academic Search Complete This link opens in a new window
A database of both scholarly and popular publications in a wide variety of disciplines and subject areas, including psychology. Most full text is linked directly in the database; otherwise use the Get It links to find the library's other full text or physical copies.
ScienceDirect Journals This link opens in a new window
A collection of 2,000+ full-text journals published by Elsevier 1995 to the present in the areas of health, life, and physical sciences, engineering, social sciences, and humanities.

Websites

American Psychological Association
Links to scholarly research, related news, and more, organized by psychological topic.
Association for Psychology Science: Psychology Links
Links to U.S. and international psychological societies and related organizations, U.S. government agencies, and more.
National Institute of Mental Health
Information on signs, symptoms, treatment, as well as statistics and more regarding mental health disorders and issues.

Getting Started with Reference Resources

The resources on this page can help you to brainstorm topic ideas, narrow your topic to make it more manageable, or learn background information about a topic you have picked.