Searching for Information
Where to Search
Depending where you search, you will find different types of information sources. The table below shows some examples of places to search and what you might find there. The table is sorted from broadest to most specialized.
| Place to Search | What It Is | What You Might Find |
|---|---|---|
| Google, Bing, etc. | A search engine | Wide variety of source types of varying quality. Sources like Wikipedia can be useful for getting initial context on your topic, but most search results will not be considered scholarly. |
| Google Scholar | A search engine that aims to find scholarly results | Journal articles, books, informally published articles, conference abstracts, etc. Coverage includes a wide range of subject areas. |
| Search the Library | A search box on the library homepage that searches the library catalogue and about 300 databases | Scholarly books and peer-reviewed journal articles, news and magazine articles, book reviews, films, and some other types of sources. Coverage includes a wide range of subject areas. |
| PsycINFO | A major psychology database | Primarily peer-reviewed journal articles, some scholarly book chapters and dissertations. Coverage is focused on psychology. |
Because of PsycINFO’s strong coverage of psychology research, it is the main database to use for most psychology topics. It and other potentially relevant databases are listed in Augustana Library’s Psychology Subject Guide.
In the next section, you’ll learn how to search PsycINFO effectively.
