TRANSPERSONALPSYCHOLOGY RESEARCH REVIEW: TOPIC: COMPUTERIZED DATABASES, SPECIALIZED COLLECTIONS, AND ARCHIVES David Lukoff San Francisco, California Francis G. Lu San Francisco,California Important research tools in any field of inquiry are computer- ized databases, specialized collections and archives from which to access information previously published. For example, in our initial effort on researching mystical experience for this Journal (1988), we utilized the main computerized databases of PSYC INFO, MEDLINE, SOCABSTRACTS, ERIC, and the RELIGION INDEX to obtain 40 key references. Although these computerized databases were a very efficient way to obtain references updating research on the mystical experience, we also encountered a number of difficulties. Subject headings overlooked basic transpersonal concepts, .and only the stan- dard psychological and medical journals were indexed. Yet researching transpersonal topics requires an interdisciplinary approach. For example, in studying shamanic and other healing states of consciousness, anthropological research is extremely relevant. In studying meditation, journals in religion and spiritual texts are important. In studying psychedelic experiences and creativity, art journals and periodicals are helpful. As a result, researchers on transpersonal topics have frequently turned to creating their own collections of interdisciplinary research articles and compiling archives of historically impor- Copyright iii>1989 Transpersonal Institute an interdisciplinary approach The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 1989, Vol. 21, No.2 211