Reference Department

Psychology: A Research Guide

Because of its broad scope, psychological research can take a student into almost every library on the Cornell campus. This guide lists major reference works in psychology, emphasizing reference materials available in Uris and Olin Libraries. Sources for parapsychology have been excluded.

The standard citation format for papers in psychology is provided in the latest edition of the American Psychological Association's Publication Manual [see APA Style]. However, the citations in this guide generally follow the MLA format to be consistent with the other guides in this series. Titles labeled "Library Gateway" are networked databases available online.

For further information or to locate titles not listed here, consult a reference librarian.

A companion page, Library Information for Psychology Faculty and Students, provides links to library services and contact information.

To learn about the latest research, events, and the department's faculty, visit Cornell's Department of Psychology web site.

Colman, Andrew M. A Dictionary of Psychology. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2001.

(Olin Ref BF 31 .C64x 2001, also available online)

"The aim of this dictionary is to provide sensible and normative definitions of the most important and difficult words that a reader is likely to encounter in books and articles on psychology." (Preface) Includes terms from neurology, psychopharmacology, statistics, and psychoanalysis. Longer definitions than Corsini's dictionary.

The Corsini Encyclopedia of Psychology and Behavioral Science. 3rd ed. 4 vols. New York: Wiley, 2001. [title of earlier editions: Encyclopedia of Psychology]

(Olin Ref BF 31 .E56 2001; 2nd ed., Uris Ref BF 31 .E54 1994)

A comprehensive encyclopedia that includes both brief descriptive and biographical entries and longer analytical essays. Entries are individually authored, and often include cross-references and bibliographies. Volume 4 consists of name and subject indexes as well as an alphabetical listing by author of all 15,000 bibliographical references in the first three volumes.

Corsini, Raymond J. The Dictionary of Psychology. Philadelphia: Taylor & Francis, 1999.

(Olin Ref BF 31 .C72x 1999)

Brief definitions of a large number of psychological terms.

Kazdin, Alan E., ed. The Encyclopedia of Psychology. 8 vols. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2000.

(Olin Ref BF 31 .E52x 2000; also Uris Ref)

Replaces Corsini as the primary encyclopedia of psychology. Rightfully regards itself as "unmatched in… scope, scholarship, and expertise." (Preface) Includes biographical entries.

International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences. Ed. Neil J. Smelser, Paul B. Baltes. 26 vols. New York: Elsevier, 2001.

(Olin Ref H 41 .I58x 2001; Library Gateway)

The first comprehensive, multi-volume encyclopedia of the social and behavioral sciences since the appearance of the 17-volume International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences in 1968. This encyclopedia is available in print and electronic form, including 3,842 signed articles; 90,000 bibliographic references; and 150 biographical entries. The printed edition is 24 volumes plus 2 index volumes. It is alphabetically organized and extensively cross-referenced throughout and is supported by name and subject indexes.

Longman Dictionary of Psychology and Psychiatry. New York: Longman, 1984.

(Olin Ref + BF 31 .L85; also Mann, ILR)

A standard dictionary of the terminology used by psychologists and psychiatrists.

The MIT Encyclopedia of the Cognitive Sciences. Ed. Robert A. Wilson and Frank C. Keil. Cambridge: MIT Press, 1999.

(Olin Ref BF 311 .M556x 1999)

An interdisciplinary encyclopedia that uses research from psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, philosophy, anthropology, evolutionary biology, computer science, and ethology to build a detailed cognitive science perspective. Detailed and technical.

The Oxford Companion to the Mind. New York: Oxford UP, 1987.

(Uris Ref BF 31 .O98 1987)

Provides signed definitions by numerous authorities on various aspects of the mind, including psychology, biology, and philosophy. Longer articles include references for further reading. There are selected biographies and useful illustrations and diagrams.

Popplestone, John A. Dictionary of Concepts in General Psychology. New York: Greenwood, 1988.

(Mann BF 31 .P83 1988)

Explains the major organizing concepts and ideas in the field of psychology. Lengthy articles give the historical development of the concept and its current meaning. Useful bibliographies with each article trace the history of the idea.

Ramachandran, V. S., ed. Encyclopedia of Human Behavior. 4 vols. San Diego: Academic Press, 1994.

(Olin Ref BF 31 .E54 1994; also Mann)

An excellent background source in psychology. Lengthy, signed essays written by acknowledged experts in the field present an overview of research on each topic. Each essay provides a concise selected bibliography.

Roeckelein, Jon E. Dictionary of Theories, Laws, and Concepts in Psychology. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 1998.

(Olin Ref BF 31 .R625x 1998)

A companion and update to Popplestone's Dictionary of Concepts in General Psychology.

The Blackwell Dictionary of Cognitive Psychology. Oxford: Blackwell Reference, 1990.

(Uris Ref BF 311 .B535x 1990)

A dictionary of terms covering the scope and diversity of contemporary cognitive psychology. Entries summarize topics and are one to several pages in length. Each entry is followed by a brief bibliography for further study.

Blackwell Encyclopedia of Social Psychology. Oxford: Blackwell Reference, 1995.

(Uris Ref HM 251 .B476x 1995)

Articles written by prominent social psychologists define key terms and concepts in the field. Useful as an introduction and as a source of citations to major articles and books. Medium-length articles, brief bibliographies.

Campbell, Robert Jean. Psychiatric Dictionary. 7th ed. New York: Oxford UP, 1996.

(Olin Ref + RC 437 .H66 1996)

Gives brief definitions for thousands of concepts common to psychiatry and such related disciplines as clinical neurology, constitutional medicine, genetics and eugenics, mental retardation and deficiency, social service, and occupational therapy. While it covers terms of historical interest, the emphasis is on terms in current use. The arrangement is alphabetical with bibliographic references occasionally included. This edition is an update of the original published by Dr. Leland Ainsie.

Doctor, Ronald M. The Encyclopedia of Phobias, Fears, and Anxieties. New York: Facts on File, 1989.

(Uris Ref RC 535 .C63 1989; also Mann Ref)

"More then 2,000 short entries list the terms used by psychologists for fears, descriptions of things/situations/feelings that some people fear... and the names of some outstanding people in [this] field." (Foreword) Indexed.

Encyclopedia of Adolescence. 2 vols. New York: Garland, 1991.

(Uris Ref HQ 796 .E56 1991; also Mann)

The social and biological aspects of adolescence are extensively examined in signed articles by scholars. Authors incorporate extensive statistical information and reviews of recent research into the narrative. Bibliographies and cross references accompany each article. Sexuality, drug use, and other medical, social, and psychological issues are thoroughly covered.

Encyclopedia of Human Intelligence. 2 vols. New York: Maxwell Macmillan International, 1994.

(Uris Ref BF 431 .E55 1994; also Mann Ref)

"Contains over 250 articles...dealing with all aspects of human intelligence..., written and edited by the foremost scholars in the world in the field" (Preface). The subject and biographical articles have substantial bibliographies of additional sources. Entries are included for major intelligence tests. Indexed.

Encyclopedia of Learning and Memory. New York: Maxwell Macmillan International, 1992.

(Uris Ref BF 318 .E56 1992; also Mann Ref)

"The 189 signed articles cover various aspects of human and animal research and provide 26 biographical sketches.... Entries of about a thousand words end with bibliographies. This source provides excellent overviews of topics as preparation for in-depth research" (Choice). Thoroughly indexed.

Encyclopedia of Sleep and Dreaming. New York: Maxwell Macmillan International, 1993.

(Uris Ref BF 1078 .E56 1993)

"This excellent encyclopedia treats more than 400 topics.... Each entry contains... clear definitions written and signed by experts, descriptions of current research, references for further reading. Does not include dream interpretation" (Choice).

Freud, Sigmund. Freud: Dictionary of Psychoanalysis. Westport: Greenwood, 1969.

(Uris BF 173 .F88 F8 1969)

A dictionary of Freud's psychoanalytical terms as he originally defined them, and changed or amplified them in his later writings. The books from which the quotations are taken are clearly identified.

Harre, Rom and Roger Lamb. The Encyclopedic Dictionary of Psychology. Cambridge: MIT, 1983.

(Uris Ref BF 31 .E565; also Olin Ref)

The editors have attempted to cover not only the three main areas of contemporary psychology (cogni-tive, psycholinguistic, and neuro) but have also included terms and concepts found "in the theories and practices of lay folk" (Preface). Articles are arranged in alphabetical order and vary from a paragraph to several pages.

Kastenbaum, Robert, ed. Encyclopedia of Adult Development. Phoenix: Oryx, 1993.

(Uris Ref BF 724.5 .E53x 1993; also Mann, ILR)

This reference work explores the psychological, physical and social changes that occur in humans after adolescence until death. Substantial, signed articles with bibliographies.

Nadel, Lynn, ed. Encyclopedia of Cognitive Science. 4 vols. New York: Nature Pub. Group, 2003.

(Olin Ref BF 311 .E53x 2003+)

This four-volume set focuses on traditional problems in psychology but reflects new approaches and techniques that have emerged since the 1980s. The editors provide multiple levels of information so that readers at various levels can benefit from the articles. Some are introductory and provide an overview, others are written at depth and with considerable technical detail. In all cases, however, the attempt is made to avoid jargon and make the material as acessible as possible to the intelligent reader. The articles are ranked (Introductory, Intermediate, Advanced), contain extensive bibliographies, and suggest further readings in most cases.

Rycroft, Charles. Critical Dictionary of Psychoanalysis. Towata, NJ: Littlefield Adams, 1973.

(Olin Ref RC 437 .R99 1973)

Defines the terms necessary to an understanding of the psychological theories and forms of treatment derived from Freud, Jung, Adler, and the existential schools of psychoanalysis.

Buros, Oscar K. ed. Mental Measurements Yearbook. Lincoln: Buros Institute, 1937- .

(Uris Ref Z 5814 .P8 B96 ; also Olin, Mann, and ILR)

Designed to assist users in the fields of education, psychology and industry to make intelligent use of standardized tests. It provides critical descriptions of these tests as well as extensive bibliographic references to books and articles about them. The latest edition is always a completely revised publication supplementing, but not superseding, earlier volumes. The MMY's two volumes consist of Tests and Reviews, which make up the major portion of the publication, and a number of Indexes, located at the end of volume II.

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM IV. 4th ed., revised. Washington: American Psychiatric Association, 1997.

(Uris Ref RC 455.2 .C4 D54x 1997)

The DSM IV provides a classification of mental disorders (e.g. anxiety disorders, eating disorders, paranoid disorders, etc.) and attempts to describe in detail their symptoms, manifestations and etiology when known.

Dyer, Colin ed. Beginning Research in Psychology: A Practical Guide to Research Methods and Statistics. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 1995.

(Uris Ref BF 76.5 .D94x 1995)

This is a guide to experimental, not bibliographic, research methods. It is essentially a textbook for working with numeric data, conducting case studies and observational research, and using statistics.

International Handbook of Psychology. Ed. Albert R. Gilgen. New York: Greenwood, 1987.

(Olin Ref BF 38 .I612)

A country-by-country survey of the state of psychology worldwide. Covers the historical development of the profession, publications, research activities, and the role of psychologists in the society. Useful information on organizations and research institutes is also included.

Lindzey, Gardner and Elliot Aronson, eds. The Handbook of Social Psychology. 4th ed. 2 vols. New York: Random House, 1998.

(Uris Ref HM 251 .L75 1998; also Olin stacks.)

Lengthy, signed essays on the major topics in social psychology are followed by an extensive list of references for further research. There is a separate subject and author index in the back of each volume. For shorter articles on more topics, see The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Social Psychology.

McInnis, Raymond G. Research Guide for Psychology. Westport: Greenwood, 1982.

(Olin Ref Z 7201 .M47)

This research guide, discusses nearly 1200 titles, designed to help both the specialist and the novice. Annotated and cross-referenced, each topical chapter is further divided to facilitate use. Author, title and subject index.

Sources of Information in the Social Sciences: A Guide to the Literature. Edited by William H. Webb, et. al. 3rd ed. Chicago: ALA, 1986.

(Olin Ref Z 7161 .W58 1986; also Mann, ILR)

Nine principal chapters survey disciplines in the social sciences. Each consists of two main sections: 1) Survey of the Field: a bibliographic essay which explains the history and methodology of the discipline and provides citations to important monographs; 2) Survey of Reference Works: annotated lists of reference sources grouped by form, type, or specialization. See Chapter 7, Psychology, p.403 ff.

Yaremko, R.M., et al. Reference Handbook of Research and Statistical Methods in Psychology: For Students and Professionals. New York: Harper & Row, 1982.

(Olin Ref BF 76.5 .R33)

An alphabetically organized reference text for psychology and other behavioral sciences, including "terms and concepts from research methodology, experimental design, testing and scaling, and statistics." Appendixes A - E include: A) Flow diagram guide to statistical analyses, B) Greek letter symbols and their common values, C) Metric symbols and conversion values, D) Table of random numbers and random permutations of the digits 0-9, and E) Statistical tables. For a more recent version, see Dyer, Beginning Research in Psychology… cited above.

The Cornell University Library Catalog includes the holdings of all seventeen libraries on the Ithaca campus, in addition to those of the Geneva Experiment Station. The catalog contains records for all books, newspapers, journals, magazines, serials, government documents, manuscripts, archival materials, maps, musical scores, computer files, sound recordings, and visual materials received and cataloged since 1973 and most pre-1973 items, as well as for items that are currently on order or in the cataloging process. Some materials in the humanities and social sciences acquired prior to 1973 have records that have not yet been converted to digital form. Access to these records is through the card catalog located on the Lower Level of Olin Library.

Connect to the Cornell University Library Catalog

Keyword searches allow you to search for terms in contemporary usage. If a particular term appears in the title or other parts of the library record, the key word search will find the item. However, keyword searches will also miss many books on the same subject--all those that don't happen to have your keyword in their title or other fields.

A good strategy for a comprehensive search is to use keyword searching to find some books on your particular subject, then look at their records to see what standard subject headings were applied to the item, and follow up with a subject search on those terms. Consult with the reference staff for further assistance using the catalog.

Annual Review of Psychology. Stanford: Annual Reviews, 1950- .

(Olin BF 30 .A61; also Mann, ILR Ref BF 30 .A56; Library Gateway)

Contains critical articles reviewing the current year's significant developments in the field of psychology. A cumulative author/title index appears in every fifth volume.

Osier, Donald V. A Century of Serial Publications in Psychology, 1850-1950: An International Bibliography. Millwood: Kraus International, 1984.

(Olin Ref Z 7203 .O81)

A year-by-year bibliography of professional publications in psychology, 1850-1950. Includes an author-title list for major monographic series.

Watson, Robert Irving. Eminent Contributors to Psychology. 2 vols. New York: Springer, 1974-1976.

(Olin Ref + Z 7201 .W34)

The first volume (Bibliography of Primary References) is devoted to the major works of more than 500 individuals living between 1600 and 1967. About 12,000 references are cited, an average of 23 references per person. The second volume (the Bibliography of Secondary References) contains about 55,000 selected secondary references to the work of the same contributors to psychology.

Sills, David, ed. International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences. 17 vols. plus suppl. New York: Macmillan, 1968.

(Uris Ref + H 40 A2 .I61; also Olin)

Though now dated, still an important interdisciplinary source. Articles are devoted to the concepts, theories, and methods of the following disciplines: anthropology, economics, geography, history, law, political science, psychiatry, psychology, sociology, and statistics. Also includes articles on the major societies of the world, and biographies of some 600 persons whose research and writings have had an impact on the social sciences. Volume 17 serves as a comprehensive index for the set. In 1980, an 18th volume was published; it contains 215 biographical essays on major figures, both living and deceased, in the social sciences.

Women in Psychology: A Bio-Bibliographic Sourcebook. New York: Greenwood Press, 1990.

(Uris BF 109 .A1 W87 1990)

Profiles of 185 women who have contributed to and shaped the field of psychology. Each entry consists of a biographical essay followed by works by and about the psychologist.

Zusne, Leonard. Biographical Dictionary of Psychology. Westport: Greenwood, 1984.

(Uris Ref BF 109 .A1 Z96 1984 ; also Olin)

An alphabetically arranged list of psychologists or persons who have contributed to the history of psychology, covering the period 1600-1982. Each entry gives nationality, date and place of birth and death, educational background and honors received as well as one to two page discussions of his or her contributions to the field. A chronological listing at the end of the volume helps provide historical continuity to the biographies.

Child Development Abstracts and Bibliography. Chicago: U of Chicago P, 1927-2001.

(Olin stacks HQ 750 .A1 C532: 1936-1993; Mann Reference Indexes: 1927-2001)

Covers many journals not indexed by Psychological Abstracts; all aspects of child development are covered in a subject arrangement. Issued three times/year; annual author and subject cumulations. Published by the University of Chicago Press for the Society for Research in Child Development.

JSTOR: The Scholarly Journal Archive.

(Library Gateway)

Covers from the beginning of the journal (earliest is 1665) up to within three to five years of the present [the "moving wall"]. Rich in book reviews and review journals for specific subjects and disciplines, JSTOR is a fully-searchable, full-text database containing the back issues of several hundred scholarly journals in the humanities, social sciences, mathematics, music, ecology and botany, business, and other fields. List of journals included and years covered.

ProQuest Research Library . Ann Arbor: University Microfilms International, 1986- .

(Library Gateway)

Indexes and abstracts a large number of periodicals, covering general interest magazines and scholarly journals in the social sciences, humanities, and sciences. Also included are citations and abstracts to selected television and radio programs. The full text of many articles is provided.

PsycARTICLES. Washington: American Psychological Association. 1988- .

(Library Gateway)

A searchable database of full-text articles from journals published by APA and allied organizations since 1988. Covers general psychology and specialized basic, applied, clinical, and theoretical research in psychology. For a broader search use PsycINFO (below).

PsycINFO. Washington: American Psychological Association. 1887- .

(Library Gateway)

Provides access to the international literature in psychology and related behavioral and social sciences, including psychiatry, sociology, anthropology, education, pharmacology, and linguistics. Includes applied psychology, communication systems, developmental psychology, educational psychology, experimental human and animal psychology, personality, physical and psychological disorders, physiological psychology and intervention, professional personnel and issues, psychometrics, social processes and issues, sports psychology and leisure, and treatment and prevention.

Social Sciences Index. New York: Wilson, 1974 - .

(Olin Ref +AI 3 .S67)

An author and subject index to more than 260 of the most important scholarly periodicals in the fields of anthropology, areas studies, economics, environmental science, political science, psychology, public administration, sociology, and related subjects. Only 77 social science periodicals were covered by its predecessor, the Social Sciences and Humanities Index. A feature of the Social Sciences Index is its listing of book reviews at the back of each issue.

Web of Science : Social Sciences Citation Index. Philadelphia: Institute for Scientific Information, 1956- .

(Library Gateway)

A multidisciplinary database with searchable author abstracts covering the literature of the social sciences. It indexes 1,700 journals spanning 50 disciplines, as well as covering individually selected, relevant items from over 3,300 of the world's leading scientific and technical journals. The unique feature of SSCI is that it allows the user to find related material based on where a particular reference has been cited.

NetLibrary is a searchable database of books that have been scanned and made available online. A keyword search on "psychology" turns up 555 electronic books [searched 25 February 2004].

Athabasca University Psychology Resources. Athabasca, Canada: Centre for Psychology, University of Athabasca, 1996-2001.

(Internet resource: http://http://psych.athabascau.ca/html/aupr/psycres.shtml; viewed 08 August 2003)

The Athabasca University Psychology Resources list was designed for AU students majoring in psychology, but it is available to anyone with an interest in psychology. The site contains links to over 20 different sub-fields of psychology from Abnormal to Environmental to Social and Clinical. The site also includes links to demonstrations and tutorials, writing resources, journals, and organizations.

The Encyclopedia of Psychology. Ed. William Palya. [Jacksonville]: Department of Psychology, Jacksonville State University, 2003-.

(Internet resource: http://www.psychology.org/; viewed 08 August 2003)

The Encyclopedia of Psychology is a highly useable and searchable guide to facilitate browsing in any area of psychology.

ETS Test Collection Database. Princeton, NJ: Educational Testing Service, 2003.

(Internet resource: http://www.ets.org/testcoll/; viewed 18 March 2003)

A library of 20,000 tests and other measurement devices providing information on standardized tests. The database is a comprehensive listing of assessment instruments from the early 1900s to the present.

The History of Psychology. Ed. C. George Boeree. Shippensburg, PA: Shippensburg University.

(Internet resource: http://www.ship.edu/~cgboeree/historyofpsych.html; viewed 08 August 2003)

Boeree has built an "e-text" site about the historical and philosophical background of psychology. It was originally designed for his own students but is open to anyone with an intellectual interest in the discipline. It contains sections on the Ancients, the Middle Ages, the 1800s, and the 1900s and includes timelines, maps, biographies of significant people, and articles on major issues in the field.

Psychology Virtual Library. (The World Wide Web Virtual Library) Ed. Gene R. Thursby. [Gainesville]: University of Florida, 1996- .

(Internet resource: http://www.dialogical.net/psychology/index.html; viewed 05 September 2006)

"The Psychology Virtual Library keeps track of online information as part of The World Wide Web Virtual Library. Sites are inspected and evaluated for their adequacy as information sources before they are linked from here." (Home Page) A free Web portal that collects and annotates Web sites of interest to psychologists and psychology students.

Table of Contents: Academic Departments; Basic Academic Psychology; Books and Publishers; Clinical Social Work; Directories or Guides to Psychology Sites; E-Mail Lists and Newsgroups; Employment – Entrepreneurship; History of Psychology; Journals (Electronic and Print); Library Resources Online; Mental Health Resources; Professional Societies; Psychology of Religion; School Psychology; Stress Management; Transpersonal Psychology; What's New in Psychology Sites.

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. 5th ed. Washington: APA, 2001.

(Olin Ref BF 76.7 .P83x 2001; also Uris Ref)

The authoritative style manual for anyone writing in the field of psychology. Its chapters discuss the content and organization of a manuscript, writing style, the American Psychological Association style, and typing, mailing and proofreading. Online APA citation help is available in the Library Gateway at http://campusgw.library.cornell.edu/newhelp/res_strategy/citing/apa.html.

Graduate Study in Psychology. Washington: American Psychological Association, 1992- .

(Uris Ref BF 77 .G73, shelved in Education and Careers section. Latest edition only.)

Information about graduate programs in psychology and related fields as obtained from questionnaires sent to university departments. Organized alphabetically by state or province (Canada is included). Includes a list of programs by type of degree offered and an alphabetical index of schools.

Keith-Spiegel, Patricia. The Complete Guide to Graduate School Admission: Psychology, Counseling, and Related Professions. 2nd ed. Mahwah, NJ: L. Erlbaum Associates, 2000.

(Uris Ref BF 77 .K35x 2000, shelved in Education and Careers section)

Cornell University Department of Psychology. The Graduate Field of Psychology. Ithaca, NY: Psychology Department, 10 October 2005.

Information of interest to students considering graduate study of psychology at Cornell. Includes a list of Graduate Field Faculty, Psychology Graduate Students, and Program Information.

Last update 5 September 2005