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Professor
Cynthia Lucero
Library Liaison
Gwen Verkuilen
Contents
Introduction
Research Basics
Reference Sources for
Background Information
Search Tips
Subject Heading and
Keyword Searching
Find Books/Secondary Sources
Find Journal Articles
Selected Internet Resources
How to Cite Your Sources
Subject Guides
Education
Student Teaching
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This is a guide to selected sources of information related to the ED322 Special Education course. Due to the variety of topics you are able to pursue in this course, the guide is only meant to be a starting point for your research. For further research assistance, please contact the Education Liaison Librarian.
The reference librarians have created a group of Web pages named Research Help and a tutorial called Searchpath to help teach you the basics of library research and to introduce you to Geisel Library. On the Research Help pages, you will find a guide on Research Basics and a helpful guide on evaluating Web resources titled, Judging What You Find. Please take advantage of these resources.
Reference books are shelved by Library of Congress call number in the reference stacks near the reference desk. They may not be checked out but photocopiers are available on the lower level of the Library. Online reference sources can be found in the library catalog, or listed on E-Reference Resources.
Children's Needs III
Ref LB 1027.55 .C463
Condition of Education
Ref L 112 .N377 (print version)
Digest of Education Statistics
Ref L 111 .D536 (print version)
Encyclopedia of American Education, 3 vols.
Ref LB 17 .U54
Encyclopedia of Education, 8 vols.
Ref LB 15 .E47
Encyclopedia of Educational Research, 4 vols.
Ref LB 15 .E48
Encyclopedia of Learning Disabilities
Ref LC 4704.5 .T86
Encyclopedia of School Psychology
Ref LB 1027.55 .E523
Encyclopedia of Special Education, 3 vols.
Ref LC4007 .E53
Handbook of Learning Disabilities
Ref LC4704 .H364
Learning Theories A–Z
Ref LB 15 .L4695
Special Educator's Comprehensive Guide to 301 Diagnostic Tests
Ref LC4019 .P53
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To search the library catalogs and databases highlighted in this guide you will need to use Boolean operators (ANDs and ORs), truncation, and quotation marks to pull up books and articles on your topic. Here is a brief overview of how to use Boolean operators and truncation:
- AND – use AND to link together search topics (teaching methods AND learning disability)
- OR – use OR to link together synonyms or like concepts (autistic OR asperger syndrome)
- * – use truncation to pull up the root of a word with variant endings (Type inclus* to pull up items with the words inclusive and inclusion)
- Quotation marks – When performing keyword searches use quotation marks to search for your keywords as an exact phrase (Type "attitudes toward disabilities" to look for the exact phrase of: attitudes toward disabilities. If you do not enclose your phrase with quotes the database will look for the terms attitudes and toward and disabilities as separate words throughout the entire record)
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There are two main ways to search the library catalogs and databases, by subject heading and by keyword. Each method has its own benefits and drawbacks, it is important therefore to know the best time to use each method.
Subject Headings
Subject headings are keywords that are assigned to books and articles that capture the item's key subject matter and themes. Use subject headings to look for materials on broad concepts such as learning disabilities or the Americans with Disabilities Act. The method of searching by subject heading will vary depending on what catalog or database you are using, please contact the Education Liaison Librarian if you need assistance in using the subject heading search functions.
Keyword Searches
Keyword Searches work best if you are researching a narrow concept for example, examining how a particular learning theory is approached by inclusive educators. Keyword searches will look for your search term(s) in the citation, subject headings, abstract, and chapter titles (if available).
Examples of possible keyword searches relevant to this course include:
- Programs AND "hearing impaired"
- "assistive technology" AND speech OR reading
- "special needs student" AND mainstream OR inclus*
- "pilot projects" AND blind OR visual* impair*
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Geisel Library Catalog
The first step when looking for books is to search the Geisel Library Catalog. Remember that you can search by keyword or by subject heading.
Examples of possible subject heading searches include:
WorldCat
If you searched the Geisel Library Catalog but could not locate a book on your topic try searching WorldCat, a database that allows you to search the collections of libraries throughout the United States. If you find a book that you want you can request it through interlibrary loan (ILL) by clicking on the ILL icon in the book's catalog record. Please be aware that items requested through WorldCat can take a week to two weeks to be delivered, it is important therefore to request books through WorldCat early in the research process.
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Search the following databases to locate journal articles in the field of education. Many of the databases will require you to use WebBridge to locate the full text of an article. To learn how to use WebBridge, please watch our video tutorial (3.5 mins; includes audio).
If you would like to browse Geisel Library's collection of education related print and electronic full text journals go to Journal Finder's Social Sciences Journals listing and scroll down until you see the heading for Education. You can then browse our journal collection by topic.
Core Education Research Databases
ERIC
With over 1 million abstracts to journal articles and government reports, ERIC is the premier resource for locating research in the field of education. Search by keyword or by ERIC's thesaurus of subject headings to locate articles and documents of interest.
Academic Search Premier
Academic Search Premier indexes articles from a wide range of disciplines including the social sciences, humanities, and the hard sciences. You can use Academic Search Premier to locate research on the practice and study of education as well as the history, philosophy, and/or theory of education.
Additional Research Databases
America: History and Life
Use America: History and Life to locate research on the history of education. Highlights of this database include: History of Education Quarterly, History Teacher, American Journal of Education, and the Journal of Social History.
Philosopher's Index
Use Philosopher's Index to locate research on the philosophy, theory, and ethics of education. As the premier international resource in philosophy, this database contains over 160,000 citations with abstracts to journal articles as well as books. User Guide (PDF)
Project MUSE
Project MUSE provides full text access to more than 200 journals in the arts and humanities, social sciences, and hard sciences. As an interdisciplinary database you will be able to pull up research on the subject of education from a variety of different disciplines. Titles of interest to the study of education include: Brookings Papers on Educational Policy, Education and Culture, The High School Journal, and Education and Treatment of Children.
PsycINFO (User Guide) and PsycARTICLES (User Guide)
Use PsycINFO and PsycARTICLES to locate articles on education, child development, and learning from a psychological perspective. PsycARTICLES is a full text database while PsycINFO is an abstract only database, meaning that you will need to use WebBridge to locate the full text.
SocINDEX
Use SocINDEX to research how education affects society and conversely, how society affects education. In addition to containing articles from an academic sociological approach, SocINDEX also contains articles on education from a social work practitioner perspective. Search the database by keyword or subject heading to locate abstracts and/or the full text to articles.
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Searching the Internet can yield a vast amount of information, but in terms of quality and reliability, your results may be uneven at best. The ease and speed with which individuals can publish information on the web, regardless of accuracy or quality makes it imperative that when doing research on the web you know how to evaluate the information you find. To learn more, see Judging What You Find.
If when searching the Internet, you locate references to books or articles that you would like to view please check with a reference librarian to see if the items can be located in Geisel Library's print or electronic collection or through Interlibrary Loan.
Selected Websites
Council for Exceptional Children
"The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving educational outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities, students with disabilities, and/or the gifted." Because the CEC is a professional organization they have a tremendous amount of information for the practicing educator to utilize. Pay particular attention to the News & Issues, Policy & Advocacy, and CEC Blog pages.
LD Online
LD Online is an "interactive guide to learning disabilities for parents, teachers, and children." The Especially for Educators section contains teaching techniques and an information bank with articles, research findings, and news.
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
(OSERS) United States Department of Education
Use OSERS to access government research, statistics, and initiatives on special education issues.
Web Portals
Education World – Special Education Resources
Use Educations World's special education page to access lesson plan, assessment and curriculum development resources on special education. This is a great resource to research pilot projects, innovative instruction techniques, and assistive technology.
Internet Public Library – Special Education Collection
Use the IPL website to access other websites that discuss assistive technology, learning disabilities, inclusion, and other related special education issues.
Internet Special Education Resources
Use the Internet Special Education Resource webpage as a directory to special education resources, services, and research.
School Psychology Resources Online
This website contains information on specific conditions, disorders, and disabilities, as well as information on the development and behavior of youth.
Assistive Technology Resources
In addition to searching the Geisel Library Catalog for research on assistive technology, consult the Internet resources listed below. These resources are a mix of news, current awareness, advocacy, and product review and promotion sources.
Ability Hub: Assistive Technology Solutions
Abledata
Alliance for Technology Access
American Foundation for the Blind
Assistive Technology in New Hampshire
Assistive Technology News
Association for Assistive Technology Act Programs
At508.com
CAST: Center for Applied Special Technology
Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access
CODI: Cornucopia of Disability Information
ConnSENSE Bulletin
DisabilityInfo.gov
rehabtool.com
WATI: Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative
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See the library's How To Cite Your Sources guide for resources on how to properly cite research materials. Always confirm the style required by your instructor.
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