To find information, try the following search techniques at search engines. A search engine searches documents by keywords and returns a list for linking to the documents. Four search engines are Google, Alltheweb, Yahoo and Altavista. Notice that the advanced search tool allows choices for language, domain, etc. If you choose to use the basic search tool, i.e. Google, you must use the + sign, quotes, and an asterisk with your keywords to refine a search: +"psychology " +case stud*

Different engines have different techniques so it is best to click on "Help" for detailed search instructions for the engine you use. Try typing in " psychology clearinghouse " to retrieve a list of Internet sites that link to many other sites. Internet terms that are interchangable with "clearinghouse" are "gateway," "metasite," "pathfinder" and "directory," i.e. "psychology" +metasite -domain:net -domain:com (the - sign eliminates the domains .net and .com for this sample). Some search engines limit searches to specific Internet domains. Carefully look at each menu and type in information requested. Also, deep web searching, such as requesting specific file types, i.e "father of psychology" +filetype:pdf is useful. If one search engine does not retrieve satisfactory results, switch to another search engine. Whatever data you find, it is always wise to evaluate information.

Listed below are miscellaneous search strategies that you may tailor to the search instructions of the engine you use.

Need speech by a United Nations representative on mental health: +"mental health" +"United Nations" +speech
Need bibliography on Christian counseling: +"Christian counseling " +bibliography
Need a poem about depression by John Milton: +"depression" +"John Milton" +poem
Need an online language conversion dictionary for Spanish: +language dictionary +"Spanish"
Need to see if Stanford has some case studies on psychology: +host:stanford +"case studies" +"psychology"
Need to see if there is a list for salaries of psychologists +"salaries" +"psychologists" +list
Need to find a picture, video or audio? Use Altavista search engine's Search screen and click choice at top

Specialized Databases

Research Central accesses specialized fulltext and bibliographic electronic databases that you are encouraged to use during your studies with the university. However, you must have a southern.edu e-mail account to access the databases. PsychoInfo is a journal database for psychology. Digital Dissertations is an excellent full text source. NetLibrary contains full text of books. Other databases are multidisciplinary and may contain fulltext for your assignments and research.

Other Resources

Digitized formats of valuable reference resources are slowly being added to the Internet but many are still in print form on library shelves. Research Subject Guides is a valuable resource for in-house use of reference materials at local libraries. Following are some online reference and other bibliographic and fulltext resources:

Electronic Ref Journals Resource Center Internet Resources APA Style Psych Index Online Books & Journals

More information, contact Ann Greer