Collins Memorial Library: PSYC 101: Introductory Psychology: Getting Started

Recommended Starting Points: Subject Encyclopedias

Building context (and recognizing when you need more context) is an important element in the research process. Tertiary sources, especially subject encyclopedias, are often the best place to start when you are trying to establish some basic scientific, historical, social, or cultural context.

Articles in subject encyclopedias are written by scholars who have deep specialization in the topic and the articles themselves go through a stringent editing process. These resources can help you with:

Identifying a topic of interest
Understanding the scope of a topic
Suggesting ideas for narrowing a topic
Identifying key concepts, terms, dates and names
Listing subject areas related to a topic
Recommending sources for further exploration

In Collins Library, the print reference collection is located on the main floor. Use Primo to identify subject encyclopedias in either online or print format; or ask a librarian for recommendations.

Selecting Topics

Handbook of Psychology by Irving B. Weiner
Call Number: Click on the title above for online access.
Publication Date: 2012
This award-winning twelve-volume reference covers every aspect of the ever-fascinating discipline of psychology and represents the most current knowledge in the field. This ten-year revision now covers discoveries based in neuroscience, clinical psychology's new interest in evidence-based practice and mindfulness, and new findings in social, developmental, and forensic psychology.
21st Century Psychology: A Reference Handbook by William F. Buskist (Editor); Stephen F. Davis (Editor)
Call Number: Click on the title above for online access.
Publication Date: 2008
Via 100 entries, 21st Century Psychology: A Reference Handbook highlights the most important topics, issues, questions, and debates any student obtaining a degree in the field of psychology ought to have mastered for effectiveness in the 21st century.