1. SFU Library Orientation
Criminology 103
Yolanda Koscielski
Librarian for Criminology, Philosophy & Psychology

2. SFU Library A few quick facts about us …
SFU Burnaby
SFU Vancouver
SFU Surrey
Over 2.5 million books & ebooks
Over 98,000 subscriptions to journals, magazines & newspapers
Over 500 research databases
Three campus libraries

3. “And I thought we were friends” by hehedan,
Our agenda
How to find:
Background info (encyclopedias)
Books
Articles
Peer-reviewed articles
Search techniques
APA citation
Where to get more help
“And I thought we were friends” by hehedan,
CC BY-NC 2.0

4. Your assignment Your paper should:
Describe the individual case in detail
Provide relevant background information on the individual
Present the appropriate psychological theory (not using general online sources)
You should use:
Books and scholarly journal articles (minimum 5 sources)
Other sources to obtain information about the individual’s crime

5. CRIMINOLOGY 103 RESEARCH GUIDE

6. Background sources: Encyclopedias
Overview of your topic / the “big picture”
Written with the academic in mind, often by specialists in the field
Use the bibliography to identify key articles, studies, authors, etc.
Suggested encyclopedias:
Gale Virtual Reference Library - Criminology Subcollection
Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal Justice
Encyclopedia of Serial Killers
DSM-V (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)*

7. Finding books Use basic keywords to search
Use filters to narrow results
For print books, look for the call number to find the book’s location on the shelf (eg HV 6534 A8 H )
You may find just a chapter of a book useful*
Look at hyperlinked Subjects for more books on the same topic
Serial Murderers -- Psychology
Sex Crimes -- Psychological Aspects*
Women Serial Murderers

8. Books – Biographical information sources

9. Scholarly vs popular sources
Popular magazine articles
Example: People
Scholarly journal articles
Example: Criminal Justice and Behavior: An International Journal

10. Scholarly vs popular articles
Popular magazine articles
Example: People
Scholarly journal articles
Example: Criminal Justice and Behavior: An International Journal
Audience: general public
Colourful graphics & advertisements
Good for broad overview & popular perspective
Plain language
No abstracts or citations
Audience: academics
Mostly text, with some tables & charts
Good for historical, current, scholarly, in-depth perspective
Subject-specific language
Includes abstracts & citations
Key criterion: peer-reviewed

11. Scholarly articles
Your assignment states that high quality papers will include peer-reviewed scholarly articles to support your analysis.
“Scholarly article” is used interchangeable with “academic article.”
Also look for: “peer reviewed” or “refereed.”
You may not find “perfect” scholarly article for your assignment. How do you broaden your search?
Search for articles on the psychological theory/conditions or similar cases/criminals.

12. Finding online articles
Library / Catalogue Search
Broad/preliminary searches
Searches many (but not all) databases
Article databases
More targeted & in-depth searches
Subject-specific or multidisciplinary

13. RECOMMENDED article DATABASES
Criminology specific/appropriate databases:
Criminal Justice Abstracts: Covers crime trends, crime prevention and deterrence, juvenile delinquency, juvenile justice, police, courts, punishment and sentencing.
PsycINFO: The core database for research in Psychology, including many topics related to crime and deviance.
Sociological Abstracts: Sociological perspective on topics such as law and penology, social psychology, violence, and more.
Check out the Criminology Research Guide for more suggestions.

14. Search strategies Identify key concepts Brainstorm synonyms
For example, what are synonyms for serial murder? Does your individual go by any other names?
Try out a search – don’t be afraid to revise

15. Search demo
Example search in the database PsycINFO

16. Search tips Use AND between keywords to narrow your search
For example: dental records AND murder
Use OR between keywords to broaden your search
For example: murder OR homicide
Use quotation marks around an exact phrase
For example: “mental illness”
Use an asterisk (*) to find related terms
For example: diagnos* will get results for: diagnosis, diagnostic, diagnose …

17. sources for info on individual cases
Encyclopedia of Serial Killers
Databases such as PsycINFO & Criminal Justice Abstracts
Books (eg biographies or popular accounts) from public library or InterLibrary Loan
Newspaper & magazine databases
Videomatica documentary collection
Internet sources (need to be evaluated carefully)

18. Evaluation of sources

19. APA citation
Citation & style guides for APA (as well as other citation styles).
Ask a librarian if you have any questions about how to cite!

20. Where to go for help Contact us:
Research help desk (drop-in & by appointment)
Phone:
us at:
AskAway (online chat)
Student Learning Commons
Academic writing, study skills, EAL/ESL support