(Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, Family Studies)

Barbaraella Frazier
Behavioral Sciences Librarian
1222 Harold B. Lee Library
b_frazier@byu.edu
(801)422-6346

Why Use A Research Guide?
This step by step guide has been developed by BYU Librarians to save you time and help you produce a better research paper. It will guide you through the library research process and will inform you of the best resources for your topic. If you need assistance at any point, please ask for help at a Reference Desk.

1. Getting Started:
   1. Select topic
   2. Identify terminology
   3. Locate Background Information
   4. Focus the topic and Form an Issue Question
   5. Organize topic into Concepts
   
   
2. Finding Research Materials
   6. Journal and Newspaper Articles
   7. Books
   8. Internet Resources
   9. Additional Resources:
   10. Evaluate/Select/Cite Resources
   11. Prepare your final paper

[If you are not affiliated with the University, you may not have access to the resources included here.]

1. Getting Started:
   1. Select topic
      Select a broad topic of interest to you, possibly in your major. You will refine and narrow your topic as you go. The following lists will assist you in deciding on a beginning broad topic.
      1. Research Guides (RG) - Broad subject categories, each with a step by step guide created for that subject.
      2. Step-by-Step Research Guides (SSRG) - Each guide includes a tailored four-page worksheet using the library research strategy.
      
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   2. Identify terminology
      It is essential to use the proper and specific terms for your subject, especially as you search electronic resources. Begin a list of terminology which is used in the literature for your topic, adding to it as you go along. There are several good sources to look up terminology.
      1. Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) (Located on all References Desks, and also through the Browse-Subject catalog search--please ask at Reference for assistance.)
      2. Thesaurus of Psychological Terms (Level 1 Social Science Reference)
      3. Thesaurus of ERIC Descriptors (Level 1 Social Science Reference, or the ERIC database)
      4. Thesaurus of Sociological Indexing Terms (Level 1 Social Science Reference)
         
         
   3. Locate Background Information
      Do a brief background search using encyclopedias, general and specialized, and other reference sources to gain a basic understanding of your topic. Look for relevant terminology, how a subject is subdivided, and any useful bibliographies--names of important works/scholars in the field. Names that repeatedly appear in your articles are most likely authorities. Paying attention to their ideas will be very helpful. Be sure to use the index volume to locate the various volumes and pages where articles on the different aspects of your topic can be found. As you read, be alert to questions and issues being discussed and how you might begin to narrow your topic.

      The following are some of the best encyclopedias for background information in the behavioral sciences. Be sure to browse the reference shelves near each of these volumes for other helpful reference resources.
      
      Encyclopedia of Psychology (Social Sciences/Education Reference BF 31 E52 2000)
      Encyclopedia of Human Behavior (Social Sciences/Education Reference BF 31 .E5 1994)
      Encyclopedia of Social Work (Social Sciences/Education Reference HV35 .S6 1995).
      Encyclopedia of Sociology (Social Sciences/Education Reference HM 17 .E5 1992)
      The Encyclopedia of Marriage, Divorce and the Family (Social Sciences/Education Reference HQ 9 .D38 1995)
      

      
      Other Specialized Encyclopedias will be located very near these. Be sure to browse the shelf in the area where you locate any useful source. The Social Sciences/Education Reference Desk also has a helpful list of reference resources.
      
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   4. Focus the topic and Form an Issue Question
      With background gleaned from hte above reference sources, you should have an awareness of the various sub-divisions of your topic, and the issues of your topic that are being discussed and researched. You are now prepared to narrow the scope of your research and then to form and write out an "issue question" which you can research.

      For example: "What causes and treatments exist for schizophrenia?"

   5. Organize topic into Concepts
      Since many research resources are computerized, prepare to do an electronic search by, first, underlining the main or key words in your issue question.

      Example: "What causes and treatments exist for schizophrenia?"

      Using the following chart, place the keywords in separate concept boxes. Add additional synonymous terms from your terminology list within each concept box.

      
      

      Concept 1	AND	Concept 2	AND	Concept 3
      Schizophrenia OR Schizoid Personality		Personal Therapy OR Behavior Modification OR Medical Treatment		Cause OR Etiology

      
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      How to phrase a "keyword" search

      • Use the Boolean operator or between similar concepts.
      • Use the Boolean operator and to link different concepts, (see above).
      • Some root words can be truncated with a symbol ($ in the BYU Catalog, or * in most periodical databases) so that all endings of a root word can be searched at once. For example, schizophrenia, above, could be truncated: schizo* which would result in finding both schizophrenia and schizoid.
      • For more specific search directions, watch for the "tips" or "helps" buttons in each electronic database.
      • When entering a search phrase which uses both Or and And, it is necessary to "nest" the Or'd words:
        Example:
        schizo* and (personal therapy or behavior modification or medical treatment) and (cause or etiology)

2. Finding Research Materials
   
   
   6. Journal and Newspaper Articles

      The researcher uses articles published in current periodicals (magazines/journals) to get the most current research. A variety of periodical indexes (databases) are available on the Library Home Page by selecting Resources by Subject. Select the specific discipline desired, such as Family Science, Psychology, Sociology, and Social Work. Recommended databases are listed first.

      If you have any questions, please check with the subject librarian for assistance. The following periodical indexes are recommended:

      1. ERIC (EBSCO) (ERIC Resources in Education and ERIC Current Index to Journals in Education) - Online from 1969-present. Also available in print on Level 1 Social Sciences index table from 1969-present.
      2. Family & Society Studies Worldwide (NISC) - (Inventory of Marriage and the Family) - Online from 1970-present and in print on Level 1 Social Sciences index table from 1965-1994.
      3. PsycINFO (EBSCO) (Psychological Abstracts) - Online from 1984-present and also in print on Level 1 Social Sciences index table from 1927-present.
      4. Social Work Abstracts (EBSCO) (Social Work Research and Abstracts) - Online from 1977-present and also in print on Level 1 Social Sciences index table from 1967-present.
      5. Sociological Abstracts (ProQuest) - Online from 1974-present and also in print on Level 1 Social Sciences index table from 1929-present.
      6. Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI): Web of Science (ISI) - Part of Web of Science and includes Social Science Citation Index, Science Citation Index, and Arts and Humanities Citation Index.
      
      

      There are also two indexes which may be helpful. These two, ProQuest Research Library and Academic Search Premier (EBSCO), have the advantage of having many articles available in full text. As you find references to journal articles, be sure to list, print out, or down load the full bibliographic information (author, title, name of Journal, vol #, month, year, page, etc.)
      
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   7. Books
      From the Library Home Page, select the Browse Search to find authors and titles related to your topic you found listed in bibliographies. For your combined key word search, select the Advanced Search which provides boxes for you to enter your key word search. The Browse Search also allows you to search valid subject headings as located in the LCSH listing. If you are unfamiliar with how to search the Library Catalog, click on "HELP" or you may consult the instruction booklet Library Research Skills available at General Referene and for purchase at the BYU Bookstore. Remember to copy down or print out complete call numbers and citations as you gather information.
      
      
   8. Internet Resources

      If Internet resources are needed/allowed, first use those recommended by the subject librarian under your subject after selecting "Resources by Subject" from the Library Home Page.

      For example, Links to Interesting Psychology Web Sites, includes psychological organizations, electronic journals, and specific disorders.

      You may also wish to go directly to the home page of Alta Vista or try Yahoo.

      Remember to watch the screens for search "tips" or "helps" or "Advanced Search" buttons which will use many of the Boolean concepts discussed. Sometimes thousands of hits will be found, but remember to use caution, as most will not be reliable or scholarly. As you evaluate Internet resources, you may find clues in the URL (address) which can alert you to the type of agency responsible for that site thus helping you assess its credibility. .edu or .gov (educational or government) are usually more facutal, while .org or .com (organization or commercial) usually express more of an opinion or try to persuade the reader.
      
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   9. Additional Resources: There may be additional resources which could be used in your research.
      1. Bibliographies: When you find good material, pay attention to the bibliographic references listed in that item.

      2. Interlibrary Loan: If our library does not have the title, you can order it on Interlibrary Loan on Level 3. It will average 10 days but could take 2 weeks. The cost to receive articles is $.10/page and books are sent free of charge.

      3. Citation Indexes: Additional material can be found by looking for who has cited the articles and books you consider of value. Find citations in the Social Sciences Citation Index - Level 1 Social Sciences Index Table.

      4. Librarian Assisted Research Service: This service provides the assistance of subject librarians who can help you with searching any topic, and assisting you with using the best databases. It includes the option of doing a search of additional databases available from DIALOG. Contact Marvin Wiggins; phone 422-6346, office 1222 HBLL, email marvin_wiggins@byu.edu
   10. Evaluate/Select/Cite Resources
       Use the following criteria as you attempt to evaluate your resources:
       
       Reliability:
       Is the information scholarly and accurate? What clues are present to help you judge accuracy--footnotes, bibliography, credits, quotations?
       
       Credibility:
       What are the author's qualifications? Is she affiliated with a university or other scholarly institute? Was content peer-reviewed (Scholarly journal)?
       
       Perspective:
       Is this a primary source (author's own research) or secondary? Is she objective, biased, or trying to sway the reader?
       
       Timeliness/Currency:
       How recently was the information published or updated?
       
       

       Prepare your final paper
       Cite resources using the writing style manual recommended by your instructor. The main style manuals can be found at the General Reference Desk, Level 3, or use the online Style Manuals.

       You are now ready to write your paper.

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