Finding articles with PsycINFO

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Click on the “Databases” link on the left to get to the list of databases.

The databases available are listed in the center of the screen. Scroll down until you see PsycINFO, and click on the name of the database.

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The main search screen for PsycINFO is made up of:

1) Search History: keeps track of what you’ve looked for and how many results you got.2) Search Box3) “Map Term to Subject Heading”: when this box is checked the database will automatically look for the subject that best fits your term.4) Limits: allow you to limit your results to items that fit specific criteria. More limits are available by clicking on “Additional limits”.

Our topic: including an patient’s family in counseling for drug addiction.

Our strategy: search for one concept at a time, and link them later using “Combine Searches”.

1. Type the first term – drug addiction - and make sure the “Map Term to Subject Heading” box is checked.

2. Click the “Search” button.

A list of subjects will come up that could be a match for your term.

Check the boxes beside the terms that best fit the concept you are looking for and click on “Continue”.

The search is listed in the Search History, and the results are listed below the search box (not shown below).

Repeat the process for the next term – counseling.

We can check off any of the terms in the list that might fit our search. Click “Continue” at the top of the page.

Our second search is added to the Search History.

Scroll up and repeat the process for the next term – family.

The third search is added to the list.

Check off the searches you want to combine and click on the “AND” button.

When you use AND your final results will only list articles that that fit all 3 requirements: they are about Drug Addiction AND (Family OR Family Therapy) AND (Counseling OR Rehabilitation Counseling).

The results of the combined search are listed in the Search History. Click on “Display” or scroll down to see the results.

Getting your hands on the article

Some of the entries in PsycINFO have links to the article: to get to the article, click on the “Full Text” link.

The ones that don’t have a link may still be accessible through “Browse Journals A-Z” at www.shirp.ca.

From the main SHIRP website, click on the “E-Journals” link on the left.

Click on “Browse Journals A-Z”.

Search for the journal title using the search box.

In this case the Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions is not available. To place a request for the article we want, we would go back to the main SHIRP page.

To place a request for an article on the SHIRP website, click on “Request an Article”.

This page offers you a link to “Browse Journals A-Z” to check if the item you want is available. If you have checked and you know that the journal is not available, click on the “Article Request Form” link. You may be asked to log in if you have not done so already.

Fill in all of the boxes with the information required and click on the “Submit” button at the bottom of the page (not shown here). The SHIRP office will receive your request and find a copy of the article for you.

Remember, if you run into problems while using PsycINFO or any other

SHIRP resources, call

Christine Neilson at 306-966-1291

Health Information only a click away!