Dictionaries & Encyclopedias
For Your Reference
Reference works such as dictionaries and encyclopedias can provide background information. These resources are most useful when you:
- Want to quickly learn about a topic.
- Are having trouble selecting a topic for an assignment.
- Don’t know what search terms to use.
- Need to find facts and figures.
Virtual Reference
Suggested Dictionaries
The following is a selection from our library catalog.
APA Dictionary of Psychology by
Call Number: Ref. 150.3 Ap11 2nd ed.ISBN: 9781433819445Publication Date:This second edition of a landmark reference resource—created not only for psychologists, clinicians, students, and professionals from allied mental health professions, but for all interested readers—offers definitive information on the lexicon of the field, including almost 26,000 entries offering clear and authoritative definitions.
The Concise Dictionary of Psychology by
Call Number: eBookISBN: 0203266153Publication Date:From atavistic to folie a deux, from engram to Weltschmerz and Seashore test, this edition of The Concise Dictionary of Psychology contains more than 1,300 references to words, phrases and eminent pioneers in psychology.
Dictionary of Psychological Testing, Assessment and Treatment by
Call Number: eBookISBN: 9781435603042Publication Date:The fully revised and updated second edition of this well-established reference provides over 400 new or improved terms, and is an exhaustive guide to the key terms used in psychological testing, assessment, and measurement.
Suggested Encyclopedias & Handbooks
Encyclopedia of Psychology by
Call Number: Ref. 150.3 En196ISBN: 1557986509Publication Date:After more than a century of extraordinary growth and development, the science of psychology at last has a reference source that defines the study of mind and behavior. International in scope, the Encyclopedia of Psychology is the first place to turn to for authoritative information on every area of the field.
Encyclopedia of Psychology Research by
Call Number: eBookISBN: 1621001490Publication Date:Presents important research advances in the study of psychology research. This book discusses such topics as cultural psychology; meta-mood research; child and adolescent psychiatry; psychological influences on child nutrition; psychotherapy of addictive diseases; sexual hormones and aggressive behaviour in schizophrenia; and more.
Encyclopedia of Research Design by
Call Number: eBookISBN: 1452265828Publication Date:Comprising more than 500 entries, the Encyclopedia of Research Design explains how to make decisions about research design, undertake research projects in an ethical manner, interpret and draw valid inferences from data, and evaluate experiment design strategies and results.
The Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology by
Call Number: Ref. 150.3 G131ISBN: 9780787603724Publication Date:This reference is aimed at school and undergraduate students requiring accessible definitions and explanations of important psychological terms. Based on current psychology curricula, it should provide a supplement to existing student classroom materials.
The Handbook of Humanistic Psychology by
Call Number: 150.198 H191ISBN: 0761921214Publication Date:Inspired by James F T Bugental’s classic, Challenges of Humanistic Psychology (), The Handbook of Humanistic Psychology represents the latest scholarship in the resurgent field of humanistic psychology and psychotherapy.
Handbook of Research and Quantitative Methods in Psychology by
Call Number: Ref. 150.3 H191ISBN: 0898598672Publication Date:This comprehensive reference organizes extensive definitions and examples of key concepts in quantitative research into a single, convenient source.
The Psychology Research Handbook by
Call Number: eBookISBN: 9781452209050Publication Date:A comprehensive, easy-to-understand guide to the entire research process, this book quickly and efficiently equips advanced students and research assistants to conduct a full-scale investigation. The book is organized around the idea of a “research script”; that is, it follows the standard mode of research planning and design, data collection and analysis, and results writing.
Reference Databases
These research databases contain full-text reference works.
Their content includes encyclopedias and specialized dictionaries but may also include journal articles and other sources.
General Reference
- Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia
For students and adults alike, the Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia database indexes over 25,000 records, covering an array of topics.
- Oxford English Dictionary Online
The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is widely regarded as the accepted authority on the English language. It is an unsurpassed guide to the meaning, history, and pronunciation of 600,000 words—past and present—from across the English-speaking world.
Legal & Business Information
- Legal Information Reference Center
In addition to 225 full-text journals, this database features full-text legal reference books from the organization Nolo.
- Small Business Reference Center
This databases contains over 450 reference books related to business.
English & Literature
- Gale Literature Resource Center
In addition to full-text short stories, plays, poems, and articles on literature, the Gale Literature Resource Center offers access to Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary and Merriam-Webster’s Encyclopedia of Literature.
- Poetry & Short Story Reference Center
In addition to full-text stories and poems as well as critical essays, this database contains articles from reference works on poetry and literature.
Health & Psychology
- Consumer Health Reference eBook Collection
This ebook reference collection offers a rich selection of eBook titles covering a broad range of general health topics including cancer and diabetes; weight management and exercise; allergies; senior care; social–emotional health; developmental disorders; and natural health.
- Mental Measurements Yearbook with Tests in Print
Produced by the Buros Center for Testing at the University of Nebraska, the Mental Measurements Yearbook (MMY) provides users with a comprehensive guide to thousands of contemporary testing instruments.
Home & Craft
- Hobbies & Crafts Reference Center
Intended for public libraries, this database dedicated to home improvement and repair includes full-text reference works.
- Home Improvement Reference Center
Intended for public libraries, this database dedicated to home improvement and repair includes full-text reference works.
Schools & Public Libraries
- MAS Complete
Although designed for high schools, MAS Complete includes the contents of 440 full-text reference books that may be useful for beginning research or quick overviews of subjects.
- MAS Reference eBook Collection
This eBook reference collection offers a rich selection of eBook titles covering a broad range of general reference subjects for high-school students.
- MasterFILE Complete
Designed for public libraries, MasterFILE Premier includes the full text of 500 reference books that may be useful for general information or beginning research.
- MasterFILE Reference eBook Collection
This eBook reference collection offers a rich selection of eBook titles covering a broad range of general reference subjects.
- Middle Search Reference eBook Collection
This eBook reference collection offers a rich selection of eBook titles covering a broad range of general reference subjects for middle-school students. Topics include social studies, math, history, language arts, technology, geography, culture, and science.
- Primary Search Reference eBook Collection
This eBook reference collection offers a rich selection of eBook titles covering a broad range of general reference subjects for primary-school students. Topics include social studies, history, language arts, geography, culture, math, and science.