Study Notes on Literature Reviews and Database Search Methods in Psychology

Library Research Guides

  • Navigate to the library's homepage

  • Click on "Research Guides" section to locate the applicable materials

  • Select the research guide for psychology

    • Note that the class has its own specific guide created by students in 2020

    • The primary focus should be on the main psychology research guide, which contains relevant databases

Psychology Research Resources

  • Main webpage contains psychology examples labeled "Psychology 360 Examples"

    • Examples include Article One and Article Two

  • Alternative search method: utilize QuickSearch feature to find articles by title

Literature Reviews

  • Understanding the role of literature reviews in research articles

    • Literature reviews serve as a precursor to the research study

    • They establish the context and rationale for the research being conducted

    • Researchers must review existing literature before conducting their studies

Standard Sections of a Research Article

  1. Introduction: Overview of the research topic, significance, and objectives

  2. Methods: Detailed explanation of how the study was conducted

  3. Present Study: Description of the specific research being carried out

  4. Results: Findings from the research

  5. Discussion: Interpretation of results, implications,

    • Often contains the literature review as a foundational context

Function of a Literature Review

  • Acts as the setting that presents the research environment

    • Key statement: "No one researches in a vacuum" — research must be contextualized

    • Emphasizes previous studies and how the current research fits within established findings

  • Key Stage: Establishes the groundwork for the present study

Example of a Literature Review in Action

  • Study topic: students' preference and perceptions of greenery and its restorative effects

    • Components of the study include:

    • Preferences for university spaces

    • Perceptions of restoration in outdoor settings

    • Influence of demographic characteristics on preferences and perceptions

  • Encouragement to think critically about different research angles when formulating a topic

Promoting Diverse Angles in Research

  • Important to consider multiple aspects of a research topic to provide a comprehensive view

  • Suggestion: create a list of angles when conducting literature reviews

    • Each angle can become individual sections in the literature review

  • Potential sections based on angles may include:

    • Preference for different types of environments

    • Need for greenery

    • Differences between real and simulated greenery effects

    • Impact of demographics on preferences

Literature Review vs. Annotated Bibliography

  • A literature review synthesizes findings from multiple studies

    • Contrasts with an annotated bibliography, which summarizes articles independently

    • Synthesis: The process of identifying common themes or discrepancies across research articles

    • Importance of presenting a coherent view based on multiple sources in writing

Methodological Frameworks

  • Articles may represent:

    • Literature reviews: summaries of existing research

    • Systematic reviews or meta-analyses: comprehensive overviews that utilize a methodological approach for literature searches

  • Useful to locate existing literature reviews as they often compile research effectively

Designing a Synthesis Chart

  • Synthesis Chart: a tool to organize insights from multiple articles

    • Each article is represented in either a row or column

    • Captures key details that aid in writing literature reviews effectively

    • Well-structured synthesis charts help prevent redundant reading of sources

  • Recommendations for chart development include:

    • Use specific elements from each article for easy reference later

    • Construct categories or themes based on significant findings of articles

Searching and Keyword Application

  • Keywords: Critical for effective database searching

    • Use of Boolean operators (AND, OR) to refine searches

    • Logical combinations help produce relevant results across different databases

  • Encourage creativity in search methods, including:

    • Root word searching with asterisk (*) to include variations

    • Utilizing quotation marks for phrases

Recommended Databases for Psychology Research

  • PsycINFO: Extensive resource containing scholarly articles, dissertations, and some non-scholarly sources

  • PsycARTICLES: Focused on articles from APA journals; fewer total results compared to PsycINFO

  • MEDLINE: Broad medical database, substantial overlaps with psychology articles; includes diverse health-related studies

  • ScienceDirect: Major database that provides vast research articles under one publisher; minimal overlap with other databases

  • Sociological Databases: Such as Socindex, to cover interdisciplinary angles of psychology topics

  • Educational Databases: For research related to teaching and student psychology

Importance of Citation in Research

  • Emphasizes correct citation styles (e.g., APA format)

    • Ensure proper formatting for authors, article titles, journal information

    • Pay special attention to capitalization rules and page number formatting

  • Tips for citation:

    • Use sentence case for article titles

    • Include authors' last names, year of publication, and journal specifics

    • Distinguish between article numbers and page numbers for digital publications

Practical Exercise

  • Task: Cite an article from the literature in APA format, focusing on clarity and adherence to standards