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PSYC 100: Foundations of Psychology (HC) Spring 2024 - Media Assignment

Psychology 100: Foundations of Psychology (LaTourrette, Schacherer)

Understand the Process

  • Information research is an iterative process, meaning a cycle rather than a straight line.
     
    • Brainstorm search words for a topic -->
    • Explore initial search results -->
    • Develop/refine your research question, and add or remove search words based on your initial search -->
    • Conduct a more targeted search -->
    • Repeat! -->
      <--  <--  <--

Brainstorm Search Words

Example

How is sleep affected in people with brain injuries?

Step 1: Break up this research question into two or three main concepts. Ignore extraneous words.

  • Concept #1: sleep
  • Concept #2: brain injury

Step 2: Conduct an initial search with these words, and quickly scan the results

Step 3: Using information from your initial search, add synonyms, acronyms, and variant spellings.

  • Concept #1: sleep, insomnia, hypersomnolence
  • Concept #2: brain injury, tbi, concussion

Understand Boolean Operators

  • Even if the search engine you are using doesn't require you to enter boolean operators, it is still using them behind the scenes. It will help you to know the logic behind your search
    .
  • AND gives you results that include ALL of your concepts.
     
  • OR gives you results that include ANY of your concepts.
  • Essentially, you are searching:​

(sleep OR insomnia OR hypersomnolence) AND (brain injury OR tbi OR concussion)

*Best Bets*

Use these databases to find scholarly articles.