PsycINFO

PsycINFO is a comprehensive database of psychology literature, covering topics such as cognitive psychology, social psychology, clinical psychology, and neuropsychology, with contributions from renowned researchers like Sigmund Freud, B.F. Skinner, and Jean Piaget. It is produced by the American Psychological Association and is widely used by researchers, students, and professionals in the field of psychology at institutions like Harvard University, Stanford University, and University of California, Berkeley. The database is also utilized by organizations such as the National Institute of Mental Health and the World Health Organization to inform their research and policy decisions. PsycINFO is often used in conjunction with other databases like PubMed and Scopus to provide a comprehensive overview of the literature.

Introduction

PsycINFO is a vital resource for researchers, providing access to a vast array of literature on psychology and related fields, including psychiatry, neurology, and sociology, with notable researchers like Albert Bandura, Mary Ainsworth, and Urie Bronfenbrenner contributing to the field. The database contains over 4 million records, including journal articles, book chapters, and dissertations, from sources like Journal of Abnormal Psychology, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, and Neuropsychologia, published by prominent publishers like Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, and Wiley-Blackwell. PsycINFO is used by researchers at institutions like Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Oxford, and University of Cambridge to stay up-to-date with the latest research and developments in the field. Additionally, organizations like the American Psychiatric Association and the British Psychological Society rely on PsycINFO to inform their practice and policy decisions.

History

The history of PsycINFO dates back to the 1960s, when the American Psychological Association began developing a database of psychology literature, with early contributors like Carl Rogers, Abraham Maslow, and Erik Erikson helping to shape the field. The database was initially called Psychological Abstracts and was published in print form, with notable publications like Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology and Developmental Psychology being indexed. In the 1980s, the database was converted to an electronic format and renamed PsycINFO, with the National Library of Medicine and the National Science Foundation providing support for the project. Today, PsycINFO is one of the most widely used databases in the field of psychology, with users from institutions like University of Michigan, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and University of Washington relying on it for research and education.

Content

PsycINFO contains a vast array of content, including journal articles, book chapters, dissertations, and conference proceedings, from sources like Annual Review of Psychology, Trends in Cognitive Sciences, and Current Directions in Psychological Science, published by prominent publishers like Elsevier, Springer, and Taylor & Francis. The database covers topics such as clinical psychology, cognitive psychology, social psychology, and neuropsychology, with notable researchers like Daniel Kahneman, Amos Tversky, and Elizabeth Loftus contributing to the field. PsycINFO also includes content from related fields like psychiatry, neurology, and sociology, with organizations like the World Psychiatric Association and the International Sociological Association providing input. The database is updated regularly, with new content added from sources like Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, and Neuron, published by prominent publishers like American Psychological Association, Cambridge University Press, and Oxford University Press.

Search Interface

The PsycINFO search interface is designed to be user-friendly, allowing researchers to quickly and easily locate relevant literature, with features like Boolean searching and keyword searching enabling precise searches. The database can be searched using a variety of fields, including author, title, and keyword, with options to limit searches to specific publication types, languages, and dates. PsycINFO also offers advanced search features, such as citation searching and author searching, with tools like EndNote and RefWorks available to help researchers manage their citations. The database is accessible through a variety of platforms, including EBSCOhost, ProQuest, and Ovid, with institutions like University of California, Los Angeles, University of Texas at Austin, and University of Wisconsin–Madison providing access to their students and faculty.

Impact and Usage

PsycINFO has had a significant impact on the field of psychology, providing researchers with a comprehensive and up-to-date source of literature, with notable researchers like Stephen Pinker, Daniel Gilbert, and Timothy Wilson relying on the database for their work. The database is widely used by researchers, students, and professionals in the field of psychology, with institutions like Columbia University, University of Chicago, and University of Pennsylvania using PsycINFO to inform their research and practice. PsycINFO is also used by organizations like the National Institute of Mental Health and the World Health Organization to inform their research and policy decisions, with the database playing a critical role in shaping the field of psychology and related fields like psychiatry and neurology. Additionally, PsycINFO is used in conjunction with other databases like PubMed and Scopus to provide a comprehensive overview of the literature, with tools like Web of Science and Google Scholar available to help researchers track citations and impact.

Database Features

PsycINFO offers a range of features that make it a valuable resource for researchers, including citation tracking, author profiling, and keyword searching, with tools like Journal Citation Reports and Scopus available to help researchers track the impact of their work. The database also includes features like search alerts and RSS feeds, allowing researchers to stay up-to-date with the latest research and developments in the field, with institutions like University of Southern California, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and University of Minnesota providing access to these features. PsycINFO is also integrated with other databases and tools, such as EndNote and RefWorks, making it easy for researchers to manage their citations and references, with organizations like the American Psychological Association and the Association for Psychological Science providing support for these tools. Overall, PsycINFO is a powerful tool for researchers in the field of psychology, providing access to a vast array of literature and features that support research and education, with notable researchers like Elizabeth Phelps, Joseph LeDoux, and Antonio Damasio contributing to the field. Category:Psychology databases