Research Tips

Quality research is the foundation for any scholarly writing. This section provides basic research tips and a general overviews on how to use the internet in the research process. Please contact the librarian with specific questions.

Library of Congress Call Numbers

The ICSW library uses the Library of Congress classification system, which is commonly used in academic institutions. The Library of Congress system, like the Dewey system, is designed to shelve books of similar content in proximity. If you find a book that you like, you can browse nearby shelves to find similar books.

Structure of the spine label: The first line, RC 495, is the classification number, which indicates the subject. If you are interested in learning what each letter represents, see the Library of Congress Classification Outline.

The second line, .L634, is the Cutter number, which is usually derived from the author's last name. Note the decimal point at the beginning of the line. Letters are in standard alphabetical order; this book would shelve after after .L1234, and before .L7.

The third line, 2000, is the date of publication. If there is a lack of room on the spine label it may be omitted.

Compound Cutter Number:Sometimes the Cutter number is used both to indicate the author's last name and as a further subject classification. This produces a compound Cutter number as shown in the two middle lines on the spine label to the left.

For the sake of convenience, a compound Cutter number is usually split on a label, but since there is only one decimal point, it is treated as a single number; in this case .P253P3. This book would shelve after .P253 and before .P253Q1

Computer Principles

Let the User Beware: There is an astounding amount of excellent information on the internet, however, you must use discretion. Sites that will be most useful and accurate are sponsored by colleges, universities, professional organizations, governmental bodies, etc. Commercial sites may be promoting products and personal web pages can be unintentionally misleading.

Resources

There is a wealth of information available to those who actively seek it out and know where to find it. The list below is a good place to start.

Academic Libraries: Most college and university libraries will admit anyone who wants to use their collections or databases in-house. There are a few exceptions though, such as the University of Chicago or Northwestern. Most academic libraries have online catalogs that allow you to see if they have the book or periodical you need before you visit.

Amazon.com:Amazon.com now has the full text or excerpts of many books available for free online.

EBSCO: EBSCO is a suite of databases accessed through the ICSW Digital Library. You can search several databases at once by selecting those that might be useful when you do a search. Instructions for use and an automated tutorial can be found at the EBSCO site. EBSCO's Academic Host Elite and Health Search: Nursing/Academic Edition databases are the best sources ICSW has for retrieving the full text of periodical articles. Students can also access PsycINFO through EBSCO, which is the best indexing source for clinical social work.

FirstSearch: FirstSearch is another suite of databases that is available through the ICSW Digital Library. You can search several databases at once by selecting those that might be useful when you do a search. Instructions for use are on the site. To retrieve full text periodical articles, the EBSCO suite listed above may be more satisfactory. The ECO and WilsonSelectPlus databases may also be useful for full text periodical articles.

ICSW Digital Library:The ICSW digital library is available from any computer. Some indexes and full text resources are proprietary and require a user name and password. These are only given to students and faculty. If you've forgotten them, please stop by the library to receive this information; it cannot be given over the telephone.

ICSW Llibrarian: The Institute employs a librarian to collect and organize research materials of all kinds. The librarian can help you devise a search strategy and identify resources. This is also covered in Research Methods (RM 111). The best way to get in touch with the librarian is by email. Appointments can also be scheduled for those in need of assistance.

ICSW Library: You can search ICSW's L.K. Fischer Library's collection via our electronic catalog. We carry over 40 journals in hard-copy and maintain every dissertation submitted to the Institute.

PEP Archive (Psychoanalytic Electronic Publishing) :The PEP Archive provides the full text of 12 premier psychoanalytic journals from their beginnings (as far back as 1920) to 1998 on CD-ROM. The PEP Archive is available in the ICSW library and online through the ICSW Digital Library. The PEP website provides more information about the database and how to use it. Usage instructions are also posted by the student computer in the library.

PSYCINFO: PSYCINFO is a comprehensive index recommended for literature searches. It can be accessed online through the ICSW Digital Library. Consult the PsycINFO web site for more information and instructions.

Public Libraries: Although they are not set up for advanced research, most public libraries have interlibrary loan programs through which you can obtain a wide range of books and articles. The books will usually arrive within a matter of weeks with a borrowing period of approximately one month. Renewals can be hard to get, so it is recommended that you order only the number of books you will be able to use in that amount of time. Printouts of articles, however, are usually yours to keep.

Search Strategy

First, define the information you are looking for. When searching, it is advisable to begin with a general search and then narrow down your findings to get the results you want.

General: A very thorough search will include all of the sources available to you:

  • Books often cover the basics that articles omit and have the space needed to go into greater depth. If you need something handy, use the ICSW library catalog or a local public or college library. Use the Library of Congress catalog to complete a thorough literature search.
  • Dissertations are usually narrow and thorough. Information often appears in dissertations before published books. ICSW's dissertations are cataloged by subject so that you can find them in the in the library catalog. This is not the case, however, in most libraries. The Dissertation Abstracts database, which may be available at a local college, is good resource for a thorough search.
  • Journal articles usually cover a small idea in a concise manner. Because journals focus on current topics, they are a good resources for information about developing ideas. For more information about journal articles, please see Computer Search for Articles below.
  • Papers presented at conferences offer the most current perspectives and information in a concise, focused format. These are often overlooked by researchers. To find papers we recommend FirstSearch PapersFirst feature.
  • Proceedings of conferences or scholarly organizations are also current. To find proceedings we recommend FirstSearch's ProceedingsFirst feature.

Computer Search for Article:

  1. 1. Use PsycINFO (found in ICSW's Digital Library) to identify articles that might be useful to you. (PsycINFO will not, however, provide full text for them.)
  2. 2. Use EBSCO's Academic Host Elite (found in ICSW's Digital Library) to find full text articles.
  3. 3. If EBSCO does not have the article you are searching for try FirstSearch: Wilson Select Plus (found in ICSW's Digital Library).
  4. 4. For psychoanalytic articles older than four years, use the PEP Archive (found in ICSW's Digital Library) .
  5. 5. If that still doesn't work, you have several options:
    • Check ICSW's serial holdings online. You cannot retrieve the articles online, but the library may have them for you to use on-site.
    • Go to your local public library and request the article through interlibrary loan. It will be helpful to the librarian assisting you if you provide a printout of the PsycINFO article citation.
    • Check at local college libraries. Most college libraries allow the general public to use their materials in-house. Locally, however, the University of Chicago and Northwestern restrict entry.
  6. 6. We do not recommend getting articles from the web even though you can sometimes find them there. You have little or no assurance that you are seeing the original, unaltered article.