LSC-CyFair LIbrary Guides: PSYC 2301: Sledge: Finding articles

Finding journal articles on mental health disorders

CyFair Library Databases
This page organizes all of our databases. Try some of the most popular at the top of the page, or scroll down and open a menu to explore databases in that subject area.
Librarian slideshow from class
Use this link or the embedded version below to view the slideshow Jane the Librarian used in class about using library databases to find journal articles.

Recommended databases

Most of these databases have options to limit your search results to full text and scholarly (peer-reviewed) journals. Be sure to check those options so you can limit results to journal articles you can read in full!

Academic Search Complete
Remember: open up your search to more than one EBSCO database by clicking 'Choose Databases' link above search boxes. Keep Academic Search Complete checked, and also check the boxes for:
- Alt Health Watch
- CINAHL Plus with Full Text
- Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition
- MEDLINE
- Psychology / Behavioral Sciences Collection

Directory of Open Access Journals-free web
Collection of 12,000 open access journals with full text "covering all areas of science, technology, medicine, social science and humanities." Created by Lund University in Sweden, DOAJ journals adhere to high standards and peer review.
Gale OneFile: Health and Medicine
Full-text journals and books on medical issues.
SciTech Premium Collection
Full-text scholarly journals, trade and industry journals, magazines, technical reports, and related publications.

Database search tips

Use individual, descriptive keywords instead of lots of terms together. A Basic Search with all your terms grouped as a phrase might not work so well:

So try an Advanced Search and enter one keyword or phrase per line. You should see a big difference in the number of results:

Most databases have options to limit search results to full text, scholarly (peer-reviewed) journals, and by date. Be sure to use those options to limit results to journal articles from the last 5 years you can read in full.

Without limiters checked, we have 210 results. After setting our limiters, we go down to 42 results. Fewer to sort through, and they fulfill our journal and date requirements:

Take the time to read abstracts of the articles to see what they're about before you commit to reading the entire article. To find a primary research study, remember to look for words like study, objectives, methods, participants, n =, trial, results, etc.

This is an example of an abstract that is not a primary research article:

And here's an example of one that is a primary research article. Notice words like "results," "the aim of this study," and "methods/design."

When you find articles that look relevant to your topic, use the tools in the database to work with the articles: email them to yourself, download or print them, and grab the automatic citation in APA. It will save you time in the long run!