PennState – DelawareCounty Campus – Vairo Library

Selected Databases for HDFS 249 – Research Projects

The following databases will lead you to journal articles relevant to your HDFS 312W research topic. To connect to the databases below: (a) Go to the Delaware Campus Library home page (

(b) Click on: ARTICLES to go to the E-RESOURCE LIST (A-Z)

(c) Highlight the database name or category and Click on Go There.

Peer-Reviewed/ Scholarly Research Journals

Peer-reviewed/scholarly research journals publish original research or original scholarly analysis. To ensure high quality, scholars review the accuracy and validity of the author’s methodology and conclusions before approving an article for publication. Research articles are written in a scientific style that includes details of the methodology and analysis.

PsycINFO (WebSPIRS)

PsycINFO, the most comprehensive database for psychology and related disciplines, contains citations and abstracts of journal articles, book chapters, books, technical reports, and dissertations. Journal coverage includes more than 1,300 periodicals written in over 25 languages. PsycINFO also includes more than 25,000 full-text articles from 42 journals published by APA and direct links to non-APA full text journals of other LIAS databases.

To connect to PsycINFO, select the database namefrom the E-Resource List (A-Z)

Social Sciences Abstracts (WebSPIRS)

Social Sciences Abstracts includes citations and abstracts of articles in a broad array of social sciences journals.

To connect to Social Sciences Abstracts, select the database namefrom the E-Resource List A-Z.

Sociological Abstracts (CSA - Cambridge Scientific Abstracts)

Sociological Abstracts indexes the international literature in sociology. It includes citations and abstracts of journal articles, books, book chapters, dissertations, and conference papers.

To connect to Sociological Abstracts, select the database namefrom the E-Resource List A-Z. In CSA, check the Sociological Abstract box.

ERIC - EducationalResourcesInformationCenter (CSA - Cambridge Scientific Abstracts)

ERIC database is the world's largest source of education information, containing over 950,000 abstracts on education research and practice. ERIC covers both scholarly and professional journal and non-journal literature, such as full text reports called “ERIC Documents,” curriculum guides, theses, conference papers, standards, etc.

To connect, select“Education Databases”from the E-Resource List A-Z. In CSA, check the ERIC box.

Education Abstracts Fulltext (WebSPIRS)

Education Abstracts FullText covers almost 500 periodicals in primary, secondary, and higher education and in the behavioral sciences since 1983. Full text is available for 133 periodicals since 1994.

To connect toEducation Abstracts Fulltext, select the database namefrom the E-Resource List A-Z.

MEDLINE/PubMed

Medline is the National Library of Medicine’s premier bibliographic database. It indexes research journals in the fields of medicine, nursing, dentistry, the health care system, and the preclinical sciences

To connect to Medline, select the database namefrom the E-Resource List A-Z.

ProQuest

ProQuest includes full text of selected peer-reviewed journals in many academic fields including psychology, education, and sociology.

To connect to ProQuest, select the database namefrom the E-Resource List A-Z.

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Finding Full Text Periodical Articles Online

E-JOURNAL TITLE SEARCH database

The E-Journal Title Search database is an index to all of the PennState periodical databases that contain full text. Select this database from the E-Resource List (A-Z).

Search by JOURNAL NAME and click on

Photocopy Requests

Some publishers will not permit full text electronic display of their journals. If an article you desire is not available online, the University Park libraries will provide a free photocopy by electronic desktop delivery or by mail through a service called ILLiad.

  • Connect toILLiad at and log in with your ACCESS userid and password. At your first visit, you will be prompted to complete a personal profile.
  • Complete one photocopy request form for each article.
  • Since ILLiad is web-based, you can check on the status of your requests and renew or cancel requests as needed.

Plan Ahead! Processing and delivery of your requests may take 5-7 days. The library staff will be happy to help you if you need more information or assistance.

APA Bibliographic Citation Style

A great reference to the details of APA bibliographic style is available at the following web site:

Research and Documentation Online by Diana Hacker and Barbara Fister

This site offers an extensive annotated list of specialized sources for more than 25 disciplines. The resources are organized by type—databases and indexes, Web sites, and reference texts—under four main categories: Humanities, Social Sciences, History, and Sciences. Guidelines for documenting print and online sources provide the most current advice available for MLA, APA, Chicago, and CBE styles. Sample papers with annotations for MLA, APA, Chicago, and CBE styles. Also includes a glossary of library and Web research terms.