Psychology
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Topic Development
APA Topics
The APA maintains this site with links to topics of general interest. Each topic has a brief definition and links to additional resources, including; What You Can Do, Getting Help, News, APA Monitor Articles, and Books. Scroll to the bottom of the page for over 80 topic categories.
Topic Guides
Topic Guides are brief handouts designed to demonstrate how APA databases can be used to search for resources in various topic areas. They contain sample search scenarios and a list of selected Index Terms from the APA Thesaurus.
Reference Resources and Background Information
Use reference materials to find background information. Reference books can help you:
- Explore a topic: discover what has been said about this subject, trends, issues, etc.
- Identify and define unfamiliar terms or people in your reading
- Find references to other books and articles on the subject
- Find specific keywords to use in online searches
Using encyclopedias and dictionaries will help you get a quick, reliable overview of your topic, references, specialized vocabulary or keywords, information on theories or theorists, and suggestions for further research. Handbooks offer a more comprehensive overview than an encyclopedia or dictionary and provide information about critical researchers in specific areas of study, keywords, and references to high-quality sources. Those listed here are just a few offered in the ASU Library catalog. You can also view our list of databases for encyclopedias and dictionaries. Need help finding more? Use our ASK A LIBRARIAN chat service.
You can consult the APA Dictionary of Psychology for a quick reference to psychological terms.: https://dictionary.apa.org
How To: Cite a dictionary in APA format: APA Style | Dictionary Entry References
How to search for APA Handbooks:
More specific than an encyclopedia, handbooks contain 'executive summaries' and provide in-depth coverage. The APA publishes over 30 handbooks. Search our APA Ebook Collection and select APA Handbooks on the left menu to access them.
Oxford Handbooks Online also offers several psychology-related options.
Below are a few examples of titles available:
The Oxford Handbook of Political Psychology by Publication Date: 2023
Formulating Your Question
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