Using
PsycINFO to Find Articles
Project Management Web Site
EDIT
6200 - Learning Environments Design I
Tom Cutshall
05/02/2003
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Project Abstract (Instructional Approach) This web based tutorial was created for undergraduate UGA psychology students to learn how to effectively use the PsycINFO database in GALILEO. The tutorial covers search strategies, limiting searches to types of articles, finding full text online articles, getting call numbers for print journals, and provides learner assessment and feedback. The complete interactive tutorial and assessment will take about 30 minutes for the learner to complete. The project was created for Dr. Janet Frick of the UGA Psychology Department. |
15/5's | Summary | Analysis | Goals & Objectives | Flow Chart | Screen Designs & Prototypes | Evaluation |
Rationale | Curriculum Integration | 6210 Participation | Desk Crits | Reading Summaries | Service
This web based tutorial instructs undergraduate UGA psychology students how to effectively use the PsycINFO database in GALILEO. The tutorial covers search strategies, limiting searches to types of articles, finding full text online articles, getting call numbers for print journals, and provides learner assessment and feedback.
Intended Learner Audience
The intended learner audience is undergraduate UGA psychology students ranging from traditional 19 year old first year students and older nontraditional students with limited experience searching online databases to seniors with some experience using online databases but needing more focused advanced searching skills. Most students will have used the Internet to find information before but may be unfamiliar with the concept of searching for article citations then finding the articles. Most learners have the prerequisite skills of using a computer, web browser and mouse.
Client
My client is Janet E. Frick, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the UGA Psychology Department. She teaches 1000 level General Psychology and Introductory Psychology classes and 4000 level Developmental Psychology classes. She feels that instruction in the use of PsycINFO as described in the abstract above would be very useful for all the undergraduate UGA students.
Needs Analysis
It has been the experience of Dr. Frick that undergraduate psychology students often have difficulty using GALILEO and the PsycINFO database to find articles. This echo's my experience in working with undergraduates at the reference desk and in classes. The search interface of PsycINFO appears straight forward but has differences that confuse students (such as the standard search being a phrase search rather than a keyword search, and the results being organized chronologically rather than by relevancy). Many students do not know what to do if their search finds no hits or too many hits of only marginal relevance. Few students know about the capabilities of the Advanced search option to do a multi subject search and limit the search.
A very frequent question at the reference desk is "how do I get from these citations to full text?". Students need to know how to get the full text through PsycINFO, via the Electronic Journal Locator, and how to link to the print journal call number.
Content Analysis
1. Introduction: Why use PsycINFO? Its use to find peer reviewed (define) psychology articles
2. Demonstrate (via text, graphics, or Camtasia/Flash animated screen capture) how to navigate from the GALILEO homepage to the PsycINFO database.
3. Demonstrate with graphics the different types of searching using the Basic search options.
4. Problem solving: model revising a narrow search strategy that did not find enough citations into a more inclusive search strategy that will find relevant results using "*". Include live PsycINFO session for the learner to try revised search.
5. Problem solving: model revising a broad search strategy into a focused search strategy that will find relevant results using "and". Include live PsycINFO session for the learner to try revised search.
6. Illustrate the capabilities of the Advanced search option to do a multi subject search and limit the search by population, age, and content type.
7. Demonstrate (via text and graphics or Camtasia/Flash animated screen capture) linking directly from the PsycINFO citation to a full text online article.
8. Demonstrate (via text and graphics or Camtasia/Flash animated screen capture) effectively searching the Electronic Journal Locator for online availability of the journal beyond PsycINFO.
9. Demonstrate
(via text and graphics or Camtasia/Flash animated screen capture) linking from
the PsycINFO citation to a call number location of the print journal.
10. Assessment and feedback using a multiple choice quiz built with Javascript.
Glossary of important terms (defined and available as popup windows when learner clicks on highlighted word)
Assessment
Assessment and feedback will be given to the learner using a multiple choice quiz built with javascript, live PsycINFO searching and possible Flash simulation of PsycINFO. Quick self tests and live PsycINFO searching may also be included immediately after certain sections for reinforcement.
Instructional Goal:
The goal of this instructional tutorial is to enable undergraduate UGA psychology students to effectively search the PsycINFO database to find relevant articles online or find the call number location of print journals in the Libraries.
Instructional
Objectives:
Upon completion of this tutorial, learners will be able to:
(Click on thumbnail for a larger version of the image)
(Click on thumbnail for a larger version of the image)
Rationale for Computer-Based Delivery
As PsycINFO is an online database delivered through the Internet the tutorial needs to also be Internet based to be as close to the point of need as possible.
Recommendations for Curriculum Integration
The tutorial should be made available to all psychology students in their first year. The students should be reminded of the tutorial when a psychology classes requires literature based research.
15/5's | Summary | Analysis | Flow Chart | Screen Designs & Prototypes | Evaluation |
Rationale | Curriculum Integration | 6210 Participation| Desk Crits | Reading Summaries
| Service |
05/02/2003
Last updated 05/02/2003
Flowchart.doc