Class Resources

Finding Psychology Articles in the PsychARTICLES database
Step by step process.
Locating an article from a citation

Sample articles of different types of publications

The following three types of resources are on the topic of False Memory (psychological phenomenon where a person recalls something that did not happen or differently from the way it happened).

Scholarly journal--empirical research report
Original, scholarly research--as reported to other specialists. This is "primary literature"
Popular magazine--short article
Reports on research results on this topic for non-specialists. This is "secondary literature"
Reference source--encyclopedia article
Gives an overview of the topic for non-specialists. This is "tertiary literature"

Popular vs. Scholarly Articles

ANATOMY OF A SCHOLARLY ARTICLE (from NCSU Libraries)
Exercise: Explore this link (above) first, then evaluate your article below. Is it "scholarly" or not? Find at least 3 reasons to support your decision.
1. “Effect of Dwell Time on the Mental Health of US Military Personnel With Multiple Combat Tours”
2. "What Happy People Do Differently"
3. "Coping with PTSD: Vets Try New, and Unproven, Ways To Heal the Wounds of War"
4. "The Male Advantage"
5. "Why parenting can never have a rule book: Children's genetics significantly affect how they are parented"
7. "Peer Attitudes Towards Adolescent Participants In Male- and Female-Oriented Sports"
9. "The Head and Shoulders Psychology of Success Project: An Examination of Perceptions of Olympic Athletes"
10. "Do Boys and Girls Act Differently in the Classroom? A Content Analysis of Student Characters in Educational Psychology Textbooks"
11. "Divorce in Early Childhood May Harm Adult Ties With Parents: Study"

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Scholarly Vs. Popular

Scholarly vs Non-Scholarly Resources

Your instructor may ask you to use only scholarly resources for your paper.

Scholarly (peer-reviewed) sources include books and articles published in scholarly journals, encyclopedias, and books.

These sources are reviewed by a panel of experts in that particular field, and are often published by a professional association or a university press.
The experts ensure the information published is credible before accepting it for publication.

Non-Scholarly sources include websites, magazines, newspapers, and books that undergo no expert review prior to publishing.