I. Topic analysis, search strategy, search terms

Identifying and refining a research topic

Identifying relevant information sources

Brainstorming search terms

Constructing effective searches using operators ("and," "or," "not")

II. Finding articles

Use the databases below to find articles as well as books, book chapters, and other publications in a particular field (they may or may not be available full text online, and may or may not be owned by JHU).

Databases that index the professional and scholarly psychology, psychiatry, and counseling literature:
	PsycINFO  (All US JHU)  For psychology and counseling literature. Note limit options to refine your search to research articles. Also includes a thesaurus that can help generate search terms for your topic.
	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center)  (All US JHU)  For educational psychology and education-related literature. Includes an education-specific thesaurus to help find search terms for your topic.
	PubMed For medical and psychiatric literature. Note limit options to refine your search.
Additional databases of interest:
	Social Sciences Citation Index  (All US JHU)
	Use this to look up an author as a cited reference.  Find out who has cited a particular work.
	Digital Dissertations-- new version will begin 7/21  (All US JHU)
	Use this to find master's theses and doctoral dissertations from 1861 - present.
	Mental Measurements Yearbook  (All US JHU)
	Use this to find information and reviews of psychological and educational tests and other measures.
	Find additional databases to search

III. Finding books 

Access to books and other full-length materials (i.e., not articles) owned by the JHU Libraries.  What to do if you need something we don't own.

IV. Citing sources

APA format and lots more. Try RefWorks!

V. Other useful links

• JHU Libraries psychology research guide: Introduction to finding sources in the JHU Libraries and beyond.
• How to Prepare an Annotated Bibliography. Cornell University Library.
• American Counseling Association's Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice
• Contact the Education and Counseling Librarian!

Education & Counseling Research Guide | Blackboard entry page | Dept. of Counseling & Human Services home page