Searching PsycINFO - The Essentials

Last update: 20 May 2011,
by Maureen Bell

The notes below are intended to allow you to check specific functions and options on PsycINFO using the EBSCOhost platform. You'll find some short video demonstrations of actual searches on PsycINFO here.

EBSCOhost's PsycINFO help is here.

Below are some brief notes to help you with the essentials of searching in PsycINFO on the EBSCOhost platform.

You can find PsycINFO by searching the catalogue - use the Title option, and select Electronic Resources from the Limit box.

There's also a link on my databases page, and if you right click on this link you can add it to your Favorites for future use.

When searching PsycINFO always choose the Advanced Search option as this will allow you greater searching flexibility.

Boolean Searching

Boolean logic defines logical relationships between search terms. The Boolean search operators AND, OR and NOT allow you to broaden or focus your search results.

The AND operator combines search terms so that each result contains all of the terms.

• For example, social AND behavior will find articles that contain both social and behavior.

The OR operator combines search terms so that each result contains at least one of the terms.

• For example, analgesic OR psychotropic will find articles that contain either analgesic or psychotropic.

The NOT operator is used to exclude search terms.

• For example, analgesic NOT psychotropic will find articles that contain the term analgesic, but not the term psychotropic.

Wildcard (?) and Truncation (*) Symbols

Use the wildcard and truncation symbols in searches using terms with unknown characters, multiple spellings or various endings.
Note: Neither the wildcard nor the truncation symbol can be used as the first character in a search term.

The wildcard is represented by a question mark (?). To use the wildcard, enter the search terms and replace each unknown character with a (?). EBSCOhost® will provide results containing variations of that character set, with the "?" replaced by a letter.

• For example, type ne?t to find all citations containing neat, nest or next. EBSCOhost will not find net because the wildcard replaces a single character.

Truncation is represented by an asterisk (*). To use truncation, enter the root of a search term and replace the ending with an asterisk (*). EBSCOhost will find all available forms of that word.

• For example, type occup* to find the words occupied or occupational - and any other words beginning with occup
  

Proximity Search

A Proximity Search produces results with two or more terms that appear a specified number of words (or fewer) apart in the database(s). The proximity operator is composed of a letter (N or W) and a number (to specify the number of words), placed between search terms.
Near Operator (N)- N5 will find a result if the terms are within five (5) words of each other, regardless of the order in which they appear.

• For example, type eating N5 disorders for results that contain eating disorders, as well as mental disorders and eating pathology.

Within Operator (W) - W8 will find a result if the terms are within eight (8) words of each other, in the exact order entered.

• For example, type eating W8 disorders for results that contain eating disorders, but not mental disorders and eating pathology.

Grouping Terms Together Using Parentheses

Parentheses can be used to protect the logic of your search Without parentheses, a search is executed from left to right. However, words enclosed in parentheses are searched first. Why is this important? See the examples below

• Example 1: eating disorders or depression and self esteem or media
• Example 2: (eating disorders or depression) and (self esteem or media)

In the first example, the search will retrieve everything on eating disorders, results which include both depression and self esteem, and everything on media.

In the second example, parentheses control the query to find only articles about eating disorders or depression that also refer to self esteem or media.

The simplest way to remember how to use parenthesese - if you use "or" use parentheses around the terms

Using Field Codes

These can be used to conduct searches on either Basic or Advanced Search screens. I've compiled a list with examples

• For example, typing AU Brown will produce results that include Brown in the article's Author citation field.
• Typing AU Brown and SO British Journal of Sociology will produce a list of articles that include Brown in the Author citation field only if they are from the British Journal of Sociology.

The examples above are very simple, but the complete list of field codes used in the EBSCOhost PsycINFO interface is quite long, and will allow you great flexibility in searching.

Searching the Thesaurus

The PsycINFO thesaurus contains the subject headings from the Thesaurus of Psychological Index Terms. American Psychological Association indexers use this controlled vocabulary known as index terms or descriptors to indicate the content of each item in the database. Subjects are assigned to every record using major and minor descriptors, which describe the primary and secondary focus of the document. Subject headings, which describe the major focus of a document, are preceded by an asterisk (*) in the PsycINFO record.

For example the article

Brown, Kirk Warren, and Kasser, Tim
Are psychological and ecological well-being compatible? The role of values, mindfulness, and lifestyle.
Social Indicators Research, Vol 74(2), Nov 2005. pp. 349-368.

has the following thesaurus terms assigned to it

Subjects: *Happiness; *Lifestyle; *Personal Values; *Well Being; *Mindfulness; Ecology; Psychology

The Thesaurus is arranged in a hierarchy that permits searching various levels of detail from the most general level to more specific levels, to find the most precise concept.

• You can Explode terms in the thesaurus to include Narrower terms in the hierarchy.
• You can also select Major Concept to ensure that you retrieve only material where the subject is a primary focus of the article

To browse the Thesaurus:

1. Click the Thesaurus button on the at the top left of the screen.
2. Enter search terms in the Browse field.
3. Select either the Term Begins With, Term Contains, or Relevancy Ranked radio button.
4. Click Browse. A list of headings is displayed.
5. As you select headings, you can also mark Explode and/or Major Concept
6. Then add to your search using OR, AND, or NOT
7. Click Search to display a list of results that match your search terms.

I've created a short interactive video to help you learn to use the thesaurus in your searches.

Displaying Search Results

The default display shows records in Brief format, which includes author and title of the article, name of journal, volume number, date, and pages. Only 10 records per screen are displayed.

To change the display options click on Preferences

A page will open showing the options from which you can choose.

Detailed display will allow you to see abstracts for articles. Choose the options you would like, and click on Save.

Saving Search Results to the Folder

Before you can email, print, or export search reults you'll need to save them to the Folder. When your search results appear, a Folder icon will be displayed at the top right of the screen.

• If you want to collect individual articles, click the Add to folder icon for the article.
• To add all items on a page to your folder, click Add (1-10) at the top of the results display.

Continue adding items page by page until you have collected all of the reults you want.

As you add the articles to the folder, you can click the Folder View to review which items have been added.

Emailing, Saving, or Printing Results

When you have finished collecting items click on Folder View

A page will display the list of items with the options available. You can save, email, print, or export results to EndNote

Click on the option you would like, then select:-

• The Field Format in which you would like the references to be saved
• The Citation Format - APA (American Psychological Assoc.)

Exporting Results to EndNote

When you have finished collecting items click on Folder View

A page will display the list of items with the options available

• Select the items you require
• Click on the Export icon, and select Direct Export to EndNote, ProCite, or Reference Manager

• Click on Save.

The program will now open EndNote, and you can select a temporary Library to which to save the results.