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Course & Subject Guides

Psychology of Music @ Pitt

This LibGuide introduces students and faculty to resources relevant to the study of music psychology. Resources covered include scholarly journals, monographs, scholarly associations and citation guidelines.

Browsing the Collection

One of the interesting ways to find books about a new field is to go to the library and browse the stacks! All you need to know is the general area in which to look.

Books about the psychology of music are generally located in and around the call number ML3830. You can also use PittCat to search by call number.

If you can't find this area when you make your trip to the Finney Music Library, any one of the friendly staff will be happy to assist you!

PittCat

PittCat is the gateway searching tool for all of the materials owned by the University Library system (ULS), including articles, books, e-books, journals, e-journals, e-audio and e-video, digital images, government documents, microfilm and movies.

 

Selecting Search Terms

The search terms you use determine the results your search will yield. Engaging in an exercise like the one described below should help you choose an effective set of search terms for your search:

1.  Express your topic in a topic sentence: “What effect does music listening have on emotion in children?”

 2.  Generate keyword search terms by identifying the main ideas or concepts within that topic sentence:  “What effect does music have on emotion?” = Effect;  Music,  Listening, Emotion, or  Music Listening; and Children

 3.  Expand your search terms by brainstorming related terms or synonyms that describe your main ideas:

  • Music – aural stimuli, sound
  • Emotion - affect, mood
  • Effect – influence
  • Children - youths, youngsters, boys, girls

Combining Search Terms

You can create complex search strategies by combining keywords using the linking words AND, OR and NOT.

These terms are called Boolean operators. For example, if your search terms are music and emotion:

  • AND – Narrows and focuses the search results.  The search music and emotion will bring only results where both the terms music and emotion are present.  
  • OR – Broadens the search results.  Using or will bring results where the term music is present, or results where emotion is present, or results where both terms are present.  Or is useful if you have more than one way to refer to a concept -- Example: emotion or affect.
  • NOT – Excludes anything where the term after the NOT is present.