Social Psychology

Introduction
Selection criteria

• General scope
• Geographical area and language
• Format

Collection development policy review for Social Psychology

Introduction

The general policy for Social Psychology is to collect to research level, with the intention of as comprehensive a coverage as resources allow. Research level is defined as one where independent research with the published sources can be pursued. Exclusions and qualifications to this policy are mentioned below and in the General Policy Statement: Principles of collection policy and Criteria for selection. 

The policy for developing the collections in Social Psychology needs to be seen within the context of the complete acquisitions policy. The interdisciplinary nature of the social sciences and its publications means that subject boundaries cannot always be easily determined and described in isolation. Please refer particularly to Social Policy and Sociology

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Selection criteria

General scope

An outline is given below, but in general terms the Library collects material on the psychology of the individual and groups in their social context.

The following is an outline of the subject scope and coverage of collecting policy for Social Psychology:

• Individual /self. Personality
• Psychoanalysis. Freud, etc
• Mind. Intelligence; reason/decision making; memory; learning; perception; sensation; emotion.
• Attitudes and attitude change. Persuasion; Mass media
• Beliefs. Prejudice
• Human values
• Behaviour. Social behaviour of individuals and groups; Social facilitation
• Group dynamics / small group behaviour
• Organisational behaviour / psychology of work
• Developmental psychology. Human development. Child development; ageing
• Evolutionary psychology
• Psychological anthropology
• Cognitive science
• Health psychology. HIV / AIDS, smoking.
• Gender / Sexuality.
• Communication studies. Health communication
• Social identity
• Social cognition
• Social influence
• Social / intergroup conflict and violence
• Community psychology
• Minority studies
• Science and technology studies. 
• Popular science / public understanding of science
• Risk

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Geographical area and language

Geographical scope is world wide, with particular focus on Britain, Europe, the United States, Latin America, and developing countries. For Europe, both Eastern and Western, and also for Latin America, material is acquired in the languages of those areas. Works in non-European languages are not normally acquired.

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Format

No distinction is made regarding format of material. The Library will therefore collect relevant material in print, microform, video, electronic format (eg CD-ROM), and provide access to electronic journals and remotely held datasets.

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Collection development policy review for Social Psychology

This collection development policy will be reviewed on a regular basis in the light of the following: developments in teaching, the interests of the Department and other departments in the School, and relationships with other libraries with whom collaborative arrangements exist. Such reviews will be conducted in co-operation with the Department of Social Psychology.

Reviewed 02/05

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