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Maric KramerLearning & Research Services Librarian
Wheelock College Library
Finding Primary Sources in Psychology
Primary Sources Report original research Report results that have never before been
published Have been reviewed by the author’s peers
(other researchers) before being accepted or rejected by a journal (peer-reviewed)
Secondary Sources
Interpret, analyze, evaluate, or synthesize primary sources
Provide commentary on and discussion of evidence, but do not furnish new evidence
Comparing Source Types
Primary Sources Empirical studies Literature reviews & meta-analyses
Can also be considered secondary sources
Theoretical articles Methodological articles
Secondary Sources A news report that summarizes the results of
a scientific study, or that highlights particular findings from several studies
An encyclopedia or scholarly handbook that synthesizes the research on a given topic
Your course textbook Can also be considered a “tertiary source”
Examples
Can be qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods
Published articles typically consist of introduction method results discussion
Report results of original research, and undergo peer review before publication
How do I tell if something is an
empirical study?
Both primary and secondary sources
may be useful in your research!
Primary sources
Studies on attachment
Studies on temperament
Studies on bedtime
Theories
State of research
People to know
Secondary sources
This student used secondary sources for background information, and to
define her key concepts of “attachment” and “temperament”.
Then she searched PsycINFO for empirical studies that investigate her
key concepts.
• Handbook of Attachment • Cambridge Encyclopedia
of Child Development
Empirical studies investigating key concepts
Attachment
TemperamentBedtime
What to do when you have really
big key concepts(like “attachment” and
“temperament”)
1) Match your terms with the
terms in the database
(In this case, PsycINFO)
Attachment (DE “Attachment
Behavior”)
Temperament (DE
“Personality”)Bedtime
2) Connect your terms with AND
(DE “Attachment Behavior”)
16,372 results
(DE “Personality”)25,288 results
Bedtime
AND
309 results
3) Select an appropriate limit,
such as “age”(limits exclude all results
that don’t fit your criteria)
(DE “Attachment Behavior”)
(DE “Personality”)Bedtime
AND
101 results
Infancy (2-23 mo)
Adolescence Middle age School age
(DE “Attachment Behavior”)
(DE “Personality”)Bedtime
4) Follow your interests when
browsing results(In this case, the student added the
concept of “bedtime” to her search)
Infancy (2-23 mo)
Of course!!! Make an appointment with me by
signing up today Email me at
[email protected] Use the library’s drop-in research
help 7 days/week, 12pm until the building closes
http://www.wheelock.edu/library/research-help
Can you help me to find primary
sources and focus my topic?
This is THE book for psychology
students!The Publication Manual of the American
Psychological Association (6th ed.) contains much of the info summarized in these slides.
You’ll also find guidelines for:Writing
CitingDisplaying results
Formatting your manuscriptPublishing
Available in the library & writing center!
What does that little symbol on the bottom
of your slides mean?The creator of these slides (Maric) has
given them a creative commons license that allows anyone to share or adapt
them for any purpose, as long as they attribute them to her. Find out more
here: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
/