There are some characteristics of psychological research that are so common that a special feature of PsycINTO--limits--has been created to make use of them.  The idea is that rather than searching for a particular feature (e.g., studies done on children or studies done in South Africa) you use this ability to limit any search to just those involving children or to those done in South Africa.

The second way to limit searches is to use classification codes.  These codes are a hierarchy arranged set of numbers that group related material together.  For example, the "3300" code applies to any article or book that is related to "therapy" while "3340" applies to just drug therapy and "3312" to just behavior therapy. These codes are especially useful in finding material where there are agreed upon designations, i.e., "behavior therapy." 

Limit by Feature

Let's say that we want to find material on the effects of homelessness in children. The first step would be to limit our search for material on homelessness to children.

On the main screen note the No search limits set Change option on the left side of the screen.

When you click Change you will get the Limit Your Search page. Select the AGE GROUP option and you get a screen like this:

Highlight CHILDHOOD then click OK (at the top of the screen). You will return to the main page.  But from now on, any search you do (until you clear these limits) will only find articles that involve research done with children. 

Of course, now you will need to search for "homelessness" to complete your project.

Research can be limited by, among other things:

    • document type (book, chapter, journal article)
    • age groups (children, adolescents, etc.)
    • population (male, animal, etc.)
    • audience type (is the article aimed at a general audience or professionals?)
Note that many of the these same options to limit a search are available through the Index tab.

Limit by Classification Code

One of the most powerful (and under used) features of PsycINFO is the Classification Code.  Virtually every article in the database has been classified using one or more of these codes.  The broad, four digit codes ending in zero zero cover large categories, e.g., sports psychology (cc=3700), while other codes cover narrower topics, e.g., sex roles (cc=2970).  Since these codes have been assigned to articles by the produces of the database, they are applied consistently and uniformly and therefore can be most useful in locating material in the database.  Just type the code into a search box as you would a term. e.g., cc=3700, and search.

Further examples of potentially useful Classification Codes and an indication of the broader and narrower codes are given here:

    • 2220 tests and testing
      • 2224 clinical psychology testing
    • 2800 developmental psychology
      • 2860 gerontology
To find the other Classification Codes follow these steps:
    • click Database Guide (right stide, top, of most screens)
    • a new window will open. Under Fields in PsycINFO, select CC-Classification Code in the left window
    • go to the bottom of the right window and click Classification Categories for a complete list of all of the classification codes.
Back to PsycINFO database main page

Contents  |  Psychology   |  Allegheny
9/05