Read authoritative, peer-reviewed entries covering all aspects of psychology written by experts from across the world up until mid-May with our free trial to the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Psychology. All entries are fully referenced and designed to be read in 30 minutes or less. We already have Oxford Research Encyclopedias covering African History, Communication, Criminology, Education, International Studies and Politics, so it's great to have trial access to this one too.
Why read an encyclopedia?
This video is a little dated, having been produced 11 years ago, but clearly Oxford University Press hold that the reasoning they gave for the value and relevance of their encyclopedia series holds as true today as it did back then. So, forgive the video quality or skip ahead to the resource itself and get stuck in!
Oxford Research Encyclopedias: Psychology
Oxford University Press scholars introduce the OUP Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Psychology and expound on its utility and relevance to study and research.
I think that, in psychology, there are two major challenges. One is that the discipline is growing so quickly, and there is so much new research emerging. The other challenge is that psychology is extremely interdisciplinary, touching on fields such as economics, business, education, law, and online publishing.
The digital publishing model is more conducive to linking psychology content to all of the tangential areas with which it is connected. Over time, the Research Encyclopedia will provide a framework — or bedrock — for what is known and agreed upon in a field. This kind of stocktaking needs to be done so that scholarship can move forward.
We realise that research no longer happens in a silo. There are many conversations and dynamics between disciplines, and our focus is on making our publishing more available, more dynamic, and more connected. Psychology students and researchers are looking for authoritative coverage because many of the resources currently available do not have the level of authority we are aiming for. The coverage often tends to be spotty and, at times, out of date. Psychologists are also looking for comprehensive coverage. We want deep coverage of any given topic, as well as broad coverage.
The Oxford Research Encyclopedias are one of OUP’s most ambitious undertakings in decades. We have been a world‑class reference publisher in print for close to 500 years. We want to continue to be a world‑class reference publisher in digital form. That means changing the way we deliver information and adjusting the kind of reference content we publish so that it fits a changing information landscape.
The success of the Research Encyclopedia in Psychology depends heavily on community involvement. We would welcome feedback, comments, and suggestions. We want people to engage with the content and with each other. We hope it becomes a hub of activity for psychology, so that we can make this a truly useful resource for the community.
Read the encyclopedia
Click here to explore the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Psychology.
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Like what you're reading?
Let us know! We might subscribe to this encyclopedia if it is sufficiently well received, and so we would love to know whether you love it or if it lands flat for you. Email Science Faculty Librarian Hannah Britcher at hannah.britcher@port.ac.uk with your feedback.