Subject and Course Guides: Psychology: Dictionaries, Encyclopedias, and Handbooks

Dictionaries and Encyclopedias

Why use psychology dictionaries and encyclopedias?

Reference materials like dictionaries and encyclopedias provide important background information for understanding your topics. If you can't clearly define the theories you are researching, you won't be able to understand the scholarly research. Use these materials before you start reading articles, and then revisit them when concepts are unclear.

The Corsini Encyclopedia of Psychology and Behavioral Science (4th Ed)
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For more than twenty years, this indispensable resource has been the reference of choice for psychologists, researchers, teachers, and students who need up-to-date and comprehensive information in the fields of psychology and behavioral science.
The Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology
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This resource covers the entire spectrum of psychology, including: notable people, theories and terms; landmark case studies and experiments; applications of psychology in advertising, medicine and sports; and career information.
Encyclopedia of Applied Psychology (2004)
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Comprehensive and authoritative study covering the field of applied psychology. Each article (from Academic Failure, Prevention of to Youth, Employment of) provides a focused description of the given topic, intended to inform a broad spectrum of readers, ranging from research professionals through to students and the interested general public.
The Cambridge Dictionary of Psychology.
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Surveys the broad discipline of psychology from an international, cross-cultural, and interdisciplinary focus.

Handbooks

Why use psychology handbooks?

Handbooks offer comprehensive overviews of topics, methods, and procedures, and can be helpful for guiding researchers through their projects.

APA Handbooks in Psychology
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Comprehensive reference works detailing psychology subdisciplines. Titles within this series provide a one-stop shop for both overviews and in-depth analyses of a variety of sub-fields within psychology.
Handbook of Psychology (2nd Ed)
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Named a Best Reference by Library Journal in its first edition, this comprehensive revision now covers discoveries based in neuroscience, evidence-based practice and mindfulness, as well as new findings in social, developmental, and forensic psychology.
Little Blue Books (SAGE Qualitative Research series)
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This series provides short and accessible texts on all kinds of qualitative methods. Brief volumes address a full range of advanced qualitative topics including writing up qualitative research, participatory action research, feminist fieldwork analysis, discourse analysis, and ethnography.
Little Green Books (SAGE Quantitative Research series)
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This series provides short and accessible texts on all kinds of quantitative methods. Brief volumes address a spectrum of advanced quantitative topics including regression, models, data analysis, experimental design, measurement, survey data, and more.
SAGE Research Methods Reference Resources
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Hundreds of titles provide a quick definition of methods to comprehensive exploration of concepts and methods