HED ERIC Database

Research Research Databases: ERICDatabases: ERIC

Learn how to effectively search the ERIC Learn how to effectively search the ERIC database to identify relevant articles database to identify relevant articles and other documents for educational and other documents for educational

research.research.

p.2Univ. of Toledo Libraries (http://library.utoledo.edu)

Why Choose ERIC?Why Choose ERIC?

Advantages• Coverage back to 1966• Largest number of journals

indexed (2600 vs 700)• Includes non-journal

sources: conference papers, curricular guides, etc.

• Excellent thesaurus of subject headings for precise searching

• Search limits customized to education: audience, grade level, etc.

Disadvantages• Only most important

journals are indexed cover-to-cover, others have selective indexing

• Covers only research journals, not education magazines

• No full text journal articles (but links to them with OLinks)

Here is how ERIC compares to other databases in the Here is how ERIC compares to other databases in the field of education:field of education:


Searching ERIC: Starting Searching ERIC: Starting the Searchthe Search

You can access the ERIC database from the You can access the ERIC database from the Research Databases listing by Name or Research Databases listing by Name or Subject (Education), Subject (Education), or follow the URL below:or follow the URL below:

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/databases/login/erichttp://rave.ohiolink.edu/databases/login/eric

Often the best strategy is to break your search Often the best strategy is to break your search into subtopics and search each separately.into subtopics and search each separately.

ERIC will look for each topic in its thesaurus to ERIC will look for each topic in its thesaurus to help you find the ‘right’ subject heading…help you find the ‘right’ subject heading…


ERIC: Thesaurus SearchingERIC: Thesaurus SearchingIf your search matches an ERIC subject heading If your search matches an ERIC subject heading

exactly, you’ll be taken to that term in the exactly, you’ll be taken to that term in the thesaurus.thesaurus.

If your search is a close match, you’ll be directed If your search is a close match, you’ll be directed to the proper subject heading, for example: to the proper subject heading, for example:

Student Aid – Use Student Financial AidStudent Aid – Use Student Financial AidIf no subject heading matches exactly, you’ll be If no subject heading matches exactly, you’ll be

giving the following choices:giving the following choices:• Get suggested terms from the thesaurusGet suggested terms from the thesaurus

(find the most common subject headings associated (find the most common subject headings associated with your keyword)with your keyword)

• Search as a key word or phraseSearch as a key word or phrase(search for your keyword in the titles and abstracts)(search for your keyword in the titles and abstracts)

• Browse nearby subject headings alphabeticallyBrowse nearby subject headings alphabetically(see if there is a similarly spelled subject heading)(see if there is a similarly spelled subject heading)


ERIC: Thesaurus (cont.)ERIC: Thesaurus (cont.)When you find a term in the thesaurus, you can choose When you find a term in the thesaurus, you can choose

how to search for items with that subject:how to search for items with that subject:

• SearchSearch finds all items assigned to this subject finds all items assigned to this subject(Clicking on the term itself is the same as Search)(Clicking on the term itself is the same as Search)

• FocusFocus finds only items where this is the MAJOR subject finds only items where this is the MAJOR subject focusfocus

• ExpandExpand and and Expand/FocusExpand/Focus will be explained on the next will be explained on the next slideslide

• View ThesaurusView Thesaurus allows you to see this term in relation allows you to see this term in relation to other related subject headings (see next slide)to other related subject headings (see next slide)

• Or, you can search for any article with this phrase in Or, you can search for any article with this phrase in the title or abstract (search as a keyword or phrase)the title or abstract (search as a keyword or phrase)


ERIC: View the Thesaurus ERIC: View the Thesaurus (cont.)(cont.)

Definition of term, date it Definition of term, date it was first used in ERIC. was first used in ERIC.

Broader (less specific) Broader (less specific) termsterms

YOUR SEARCH TERMYOUR SEARCH TERM

Narrower (more specific Narrower (more specific terms). Expand and terms). Expand and Expand/ Focus searches Expand/ Focus searches your term plus these.your term plus these.

Other related terms you Other related terms you may be interested in.may be interested in.

Use checkboxes on right Use checkboxes on right to select terms to to select terms to combine.combine.


ERIC: Combining SearchesERIC: Combining Searches• After you’ve searched for the first part of your topic, type After you’ve searched for the first part of your topic, type

the next part of the topic in the search box on the results the next part of the topic in the search box on the results screen.screen.

• When all parts of your topic have been searched When all parts of your topic have been searched separately, click on ‘Search History’ to combine them.separately, click on ‘Search History’ to combine them.

• First use OR to combine related subtopic searches: First use OR to combine related subtopic searches: e.g. e.g. Academic Persistence OR Student AttritionAcademic Persistence OR Student Attrition

• Then use AND to find items that discuss all of your Then use AND to find items that discuss all of your subtopics together.subtopics together.


ERIC: Limiting ResultsERIC: Limiting ResultsTo narrow your search results, common limits To narrow your search results, common limits

are displayed at the top of the results screen:are displayed at the top of the results screen:

Use ‘All Limit Options’ to see more complete Use ‘All Limit Options’ to see more complete options, including by Year, Grade Level, and options, including by Year, Grade Level, and Publication Type. Publication Type.

Using the Most Frequent… lists, you can limit it Using the Most Frequent… lists, you can limit it to just the most frequent subjects, authors, or to just the most frequent subjects, authors, or publications for your search.publications for your search.


ERIC: Results ListERIC: Results ListThe results list will give a brief citation. Click on The results list will give a brief citation. Click on

a title for the full record, including an abstract a title for the full record, including an abstract (summary) and all subject headings.(summary) and all subject headings.

(Note: Citations from journals have the journal title in (Note: Citations from journals have the journal title in italics. Citations from ERIC documents lack a journal italics. Citations from ERIC documents lack a journal title.)title.)


ERIC: Results, Full RecordERIC: Results, Full Record

Click on an author’s name to see more by the same author.

Subject headings with an ‘*’ are MAJOR subjects (found with Focus)

Click on subject heading to see other items with the same subject.


ERIC: Locating an ItemERIC: Locating an ItemUse the button in the Results List or Use the button in the Results List or

Full Record to see your options for finding the Full Record to see your options for finding the item in print or electronically.item in print or electronically.• For journals, this may link you to electronic full text For journals, this may link you to electronic full text

or tell you if the journal is subscribed to by the or tell you if the journal is subscribed to by the University of Toledo libraries.University of Toledo libraries.

• For books, Find It! will look up the item in the For books, Find It! will look up the item in the OhioLINK Catalog.OhioLINK Catalog.

• For other ERIC Documents, you may be connected For other ERIC Documents, you may be connected to a scanned full-text (1991-) or to instructions for to a scanned full-text (1991-) or to instructions for retrieving the document from microfiche (-1991).retrieving the document from microfiche (-1991).

More information on Find It! (a.k.a OLinks) is More information on Find It! (a.k.a OLinks) is available hereavailable here..


ERIC: ERIC: Marking/Storing/ExportingMarking/Storing/Exporting

To store records in a list so that you can To store records in a list so that you can print, e-mail, or save them to a disk, you print, e-mail, or save them to a disk, you can mark records by:can mark records by:• Clicking on the icon in the Results ListClicking on the icon in the Results List• Clicking on the icon on a Full RecordClicking on the icon on a Full Record• Clicking on ‘Store All on Page’ in the Results Clicking on ‘Store All on Page’ in the Results

ListList(to see more results per page, use ‘All Limit (to see more results per page, use ‘All Limit Options’)Options’)

Click the Stored Records button at the top of the Click the Stored Records button at the top of the page to see all export options.page to see all export options.


ERIC: Exporting (cont.)ERIC: Exporting (cont.)From the Stored Records page, you can review your list From the Stored Records page, you can review your list

(and remove items if necessary).(and remove items if necessary).Export options include:Export options include:

• E-mailingE-mailing• PrintingPrinting• Downloading (saving) to your computerDownloading (saving) to your computer• As well as viewing, pocketing to a PDA, or As well as viewing, pocketing to a PDA, or

exporting to bibliographic management software.exporting to bibliographic management software.All export options include a Search History so you can All export options include a Search History so you can

reproduce your search laterreproduce your search laterNone of the export formats include linked full text! Only None of the export formats include linked full text! Only

the citation, abstract, and other full record the citation, abstract, and other full record information will be sent.information will be sent.


ERIC: Other Options for ERIC: Other Options for AccessAccess

The ERIC Database is available in many search The ERIC Database is available in many search formats. The OhioLINK/OSearch version formats. The OhioLINK/OSearch version discussed here has several advanced options.discussed here has several advanced options.

Other versions includeOther versions include• ERIC from EBSCOhost, which can be searched ERIC from EBSCOhost, which can be searched

simultaneously with other EBSCO databases such as simultaneously with other EBSCO databases such as Education Research Complete.Education Research Complete.http://0-search.ebscohost.com.carlson.utoledo.edu/login.asp?prohttp://0-search.ebscohost.com.carlson.utoledo.edu/login.asp?profile=web&defaultdb=ericfile=web&defaultdb=eric

• ERIC from the U.S. Dept. of EducationERIC from the U.S. Dept. of Educationhttp://eric.ed.gov/http://eric.ed.gov/