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COMPARATIVE PSYCHOLOGY

Prepared by Tina Neville
October 2001, updated August 2003

Books on comparative psychology are located in several areas. Generally, comparative psychology books with a zoological emphasis are shelved under call number QL785 and materials with a psychological emphasis are classified under the call number range BF660-BF678. To locate specific titles, use the Libraries of the USF System Online Catalog and search under the subject heading: "psychology, comparative" or other related topics such as "animal behavior" "animal psychology" or "animal communication." The Library of Congress Subject Headings books, located in the reference area, provide numerous suggestions for additional, specific subjects relating to comparative psychology.

For additional resources go to the Libraries of the USF System web site "Libraries & Collections" link, choose "collections," then "browse by subject." Select "psychology" or "biology." The Libraries of the USF System web site is available at: http://www.lib.usf.edu

INDEXES

Animal Behavior Abstracts     1982 - date.

Indexes articles relating to animal behavior in 282 journals. Updated monthly. Includes links to full-text articles when available through USF subscriptions.

BasicBiosis     1995 to date

Includes indexing to core life science journals. Updated monthly.

Current Contents Connect      Latest 12 months.

As the title suggests, this resource provides some of the most current indexing available for journal articles. In addition to a searchable index, table of contents are provided for journals in the areas of Social & Behavioral Sciences (SBS), Agriculture, Biology & Environmental Sciences (ABES), and the Life Sciences (LS). Updated daily.

PsycINFO     1887 - to date

Produced by the APA, this database is considered the primary index to scholarly, psychological literature. Indexes articles in more than 1,300 journals as well as relevant books and book chapters. Updated monthly.

Web of Science      1945 - to date

Includes Science Citation Index Expanded and Social Sciences Citation Index. One of the most comprehensive databases with indexing to more than 5700 journals. Links to full-text articles when available through USF subscriptions. Updated weekly.

Zoological Record      1978 - to date

Provides indexing to 6,500 international journals, review annuals, monographs, meeting proceedings, books, and reports. All major areas of zoology are represented.

DICTIONARIES AND ENCYCLOPEDIAS

Corsini Encyclopedia of Psychology and Behavioral Science.     REF BF31.E52 2001.

Includes brief, introductory articles to topics such as "comparative psychology," "animal communication," "ethology," and "sociobiology." Each article is signed and includes a short bibliography.

Dictionary of Ethology.     REF QL750.3.I4513 1989.

Defines terms as they are used in the context of animal behavior studies.

Dictionary of Psychology, by Andrew M. Colman     REF 31.C65 2001.

Relatively lengthy definitions for the specialized terminology used in the field of psychology. Cross references to related terms are included for many of the entries. Also includes a useful appendix of abbreviations and symbols commonly used in the field.

Dictionary of Psychology, by Raymond J. Corsini     REF BF31.C72 1999.

The content for this comprehensive dictionary is based on interviews with more than 100 psychologists asking what they would like to see in a psychological dictionary. Definitions are relatively brief but many include cross-references to related topics.

Encyclopedia of Psychology.     REF BF31.E52 2000.

Published by the American Psychological Association and Oxford University Press, this vast encyclopedia includes topics of interest to comparative psychology. Selected examples include "animal learning and behavior," "nonhuman intelligence," and "nonhuman communication." An extensive index in volume 8 is useful for tracking down topics of interest. Each article is signed and includes a short bibliography.

Grzimek's Encyclopedia of Ethology.     REF QL751.G8945. Published in the 1970's, this book is dated; however, it provides a useful introduction to many topics relating to animal behavior such as: the senses, nonverbal thinking, courtship, and parental behavior. Numerous illustrations and diagrams.

GENERAL REFERENCE SOURCES

Animal Behavior Desk Reference: A Dictionary of Animal Behavior, Ecology, and Evolution.     

REF QL750.3.B37 2001.

Provides definitions for a wide variety of terms relating to the study of animal behavior. Appendices include a lengthy bibliography and a listing of organizations related to animal behavior and animal welfare.

How to Prepare a Research Article in APA Style      Ready Reference.

This short volume provides examples of well-written introduction, methodology, results, and discussion sections. Appendices have general tips on manuscript preparation and working with reviewers.

Oxford Companion to Animal Behavior.     REF QL751.O93 1982.

Although somewhat dated, this handbook provides useful introductory information on various topics such as: communication, dominance, food selection, and play.

Psychologist's Companion: A Guide to Scientific Writing for Students and Researchers     

REF BF76.8 .S73 1993

A comprehensive guide to writing a research paper; includes a chapter on commonly misused technical words and a chapter listing standard psychology books and journals with short annotations.

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association      Ready Reference

An essential resource for writing research papers in psychology. This handbook provides detailed instructions on organizing and formatting the paper. Numerous examples are given on how to correctly cite resources.

Thesaurus of Psychological Index Terms, 9th ed.      Ready Reference

Thesaurus of authorized indexing terms used in the PsycINFO database. Provides broader, narrower and related terminology that will help to focus or expand a research topic.

SELECTED JOURNALS

The latest five years of most print journals are available in the periodicals stacks; older volumes may be available on microfiche. The Libraries of the USF System web site provides access to an extensive list of electronic journals. Use the e-journal locator or the Libraries of the USF System Online Catalog to determine if the title you need is available in pdf format or if selected articles from a journal may be included within a particular database. Additional titles may be available through interlibrary loan.

Refer to Ulrich's International Periodicals Directory or Katz, Magazines for Libraries to determine if a journal is refereed .