EDU 600 - Research Methods and Techniques

Introduction | Reference Sources | Indexes & Databases | Internet Resources | Writing the Paper

For further research assistance, please contact Tim Lynch tlynch@usm.maine.edu; (780-5344/780-5156), Research and Instructional Services Librarian; Liaison to the Education Department. Gorham Campus Library, University of Southern Maine.

The EDU 600 Course guide of Research Methods and Techniques is designed to help students extend their background in library research to include primary information (original studies) of either a quantitative or qualitative nature. Excellent subject guides are located from the "Research Tools " section of the library homepage, Education and Counseling and Education Literature Searches designed for USM graduate students. Both will be extremely helpful as you proceed in this class.

URSUS
The catalog in this class is used primarily to look up journal article locations (electronic and in print) in the database record. The Source or SO: information provides all the information you need to retrieve the article. For example [Source: Journal of Teacher Education v98 n.4 May 2002 p. 245-255] will allow you to find this article no matter where you are in the United States--and no matter where the article is. If you have a question as to whether USM has a journal, use URSUS to check its location. Click on JOURNAL/MAGAZINE/NEWSPAPER and search the title of the Journal. The Journal may appear as a paper or bound version, a microfilm version or an electronic version. The electronic version could be full-text. If the item is not available from USM, you may use interlibrary loan to request the item by using the ILLIAD program from the library homepage.

URSUS can also be used in order to find books, journal titles, videos, government documents and other materials owned by the University of Maine system-- you will need to consult URSUS, the online catalog. Because journal article citations are not included in URSUS, you will need to use a discipline-specific index to find this information (see Resources by Subject).

Subject Headings

A subject search (See Subject Headings Below) is an attempt to find a collection of works determined to be in the same subject area. The Library of Congress creates these Subject Headings and new works are either matched to an existing Subject Heading or new Subject Headings are created. The best way to use a Subject Heading is to find a book, using a Keyword search (See below) that very closely fits your topic, then look to the bottom of the record for the Subject Headings that belong to that book. Using the blank subject search on its own is possible but will probably not give you the information you are looking for unless you know exactly the right Subject Headings to use.

Remember, by choosing one of these new subject headings you will have completely changed your search from your initial search. Return to your original search by using the "Search History" tab or "back" button.

Keep in mind at all times, you are looking for primary information, no matter what the topic or database.

Searching strategies Using AND and OR: (This process can be used in most any database including journal indexes and databases)

The following describes a Keyword search using AND and OR connectors. A Keyword search is created by choosing specific terms or "keywords" that describe a topic chosen by the searcher.

Basic Search

1. State your topic in one sentence. (Ex. I'm looking for information about homework in US gifted programs)
2. Separate important terms. (Ex. homework AND gifted AND United States)
3. Did you find enough information? If not continue. . . .
4. Add IMPORTANT synonyms and related terms that you would find in the professional literature: homework AND (gifted OR talented) AND (United States OR U.S.)
5. Truncate terms to get plural as well as singular form.
   Ex. homework AND (gifted* OR talent*) and (United States OR U.S.)

Advanced Search (Default)

AND and OR searching can also be accomplished by filling in the search boxes using the AND connector in the Advanced search mode. Make sure and place all the OR terms (ie synonyms) together in the same box separated with the word "OR". Also place the AND terms in the same box, connected with the word "AND"

NOTE: USING THIS SEARCH STRATEGY MAY GIVE RESULTS THAT ARE NOT PRIMARY INFORMATION. TO SEPARATE PRIMARY INFORMATION FROM OTHER RESULTS SEE THE SECTION THAT READS "INDEXES AND DATABASES" below.

To obtain materials other than journals articles not located at USM, but within the University of Maine System, you will need to click on the black Request button on the URSUS screen and enter your name and barcode number (The small red number found under the barcode on your USM Card). Your barcode will need to be activated at the Circulation Desk on the first floor. Remember also to choose a location for the item to be delivered. Items requested in this manner require 3 to 5 days for delivery.

If the item is not available through the University of Maine System (URSUS) or Maine InfoNet (public and private libraries in Maine) you can request it via Interlibrary Loan (Illiad).
Books requested by interlibrary loan may take a week to 10 days to arrive. Articles requested by interlibrary loan usually arrive in under 3 days! Items requested from Maine InfoNet will arrive in approximately 5-7 days.

Off-Campus (remote) connection to databases: Use your last name and library barcode number (2502. . . . ) available at the bottom of your student ID to access Indexes and databases from home. Indexes and Databases that can be accessed remotely will have a small yellow "remote access" icon next to the Index or database. If you are having trouble, try using the state funded Marvel Databases. Register by entering personal information including ZIP Code.

Encyclopedias and Handbooks

Encyclopedia of African-American Education
Gorham Ref. LC2717 .E53 1996

Encyclopedia of Education
Gorham Ref. LB15 .E47 2003 [8 vols.]

Encyclopedia of Educational Research
Gorham Ref. LB15 .E48 1992 [4 vols.]

Encyclopedia of Disability and Rehabilitation
Gorham Ref. HV1568 .B53 1995

Encyclopedia of Human Behavior
Gorham Ref. BF31 .E5 1994 [4 vols.]

Encyclopedia of Human Development and Education
Gorham Ref. BF713 .E65 1990

Encyclopedia of Human Intelligence
Gorham Ref. B431 .E59 1994 [2 vols.]

Encyclopedia of Learning and Memory
Gorham Ref. BF318 .E53 1992

Encyclopedia of Marriage and the Family
Gorham Ref. HQ9 .E52 1995 [2 vols.]

Encyclopedia of Special Education
Gorham Ref. LC4007 .E53 2000 [3 vols.]

Gale Encyclopedia of Childhood & Adolescence
Gorham Ref. HQ772 .G27 1998

Growing Up
Gorham Ref. HQ767.84 .B76 1995

International Encyclopedia of Education
Gorham Ref. LB15 .I569 1994 [12 vols.]

International Encyclopedia of Teaching and Teacher Education
Gorham Ref. LB1025.3 .I58 1995

International Handbook of Research and Development of Giftedness and Talent
Gorham Ref. LC3993 .I596 1993

Handbook of Alternative Education
Gorham Ref. LC45.4 .H36 1994

Handbook of Child Psychology
Gorham Ref. BF721 .H242 1998 [4 vols.

Handbook of Research on Teacher Education
Gorham Ref. LB1715 .H274 1996

Handbook of Research on the Education of Young Children
Gorham Ref. LB1119 .H25 1993

Handbook of Reading Research
Gorham Ref. LB1050 .H278 1984 [3 vols.(vol. 3 is 2000)]


Other Research Resources

Dictionary of Counseling
Gorham Ref. BF637 .C6 B444 1994

Dictionary of Multi-cultural Education
Gorham Ref. LC 1099 .D53 1997

Dictionary of Statistics and Methodology
Gorham Ref. HA17 .V64 1999

Educator's Resource Directory
Gorham Ref. LB1028.27 .U6 E53 2001-02

Handbook of Educational Terms and Applications
Gorham Ref. LB15 .E419 1996

Handbook of Qualitative Research in Education (This source may be used effectively in all areas of Social Science)
Gorham Ref. H62 .H2456 1992

Literacy Dictionary
Gorham Ref. LB 1049.98 .L58 1995

Requirements for Certification 2003-2004
Gorham Ref. LB1771 .W6 2003-04

Special Education Dictionary
Gorham Ref. LC3981 .E45 1997

Special Education Desk Reference
Gorham Ref. 3981 .E45 1997

For EDU 600 there are very few databases that will provide the necessary searching tools for primary information accepted by faculty. The Education Literature Searches guide is especially useful in finding primary information for both Education and Psychology related topics. Depending on the faculty member, ERIC Documents and Dissertations may not be accepted as usable research. Also empirical or statistical (quantitative) information; and subjective perceptions or opinions or ethnographic (qualitative) information may be sought to different degrees or even one to the exclusion of the other.

The following Databases will get the EDU 600 student looking in right place!

ERIC
The Educational Resource Information Center, sponsored by the US Department of Education, but now outsourced to a private company, is the major research database for the field of Education. It collects, indexes and abstracts (summarizes) articles from virtually all of the 950+ US journals devoted to Education. Additionally, ERIC collects, indexes abstracts and publishes as ERIC Documents other items of interest to the educational community, such as conference papers, official reports of federally funded research projects, materials produced by state departments of education and other educational entities, a small number of commercially published books (abstracts only) and even classroom and other materials submitted by individual educators, although as of 2004 this type of information may no longer be included.

ERIC Journal Articles are available from those institutions that subscribe to that journal. In other words, if USM doesn't subscribe to it, and there are no "Full-Text" links in the record, or electronic access via URSUS, Interlibrary Loan (Illiad) is how you get the item. ERIC Documents are available sometimes in electronic form from a new private company (look for the "Full-Text" link in the record) or in FREE printable microfiche at the Gorham Campus Library. Gorham has all microfilm produced for ERIC since 1966 to the 2003. (ERIC Documents from 2004 will not be available until sometime in 2005).

Because ERIC has been sold to a private contractor for management, it is unknown to what extent the database will change. The new model promises full-text online for much of the information indexed in ERIC whenever possible. See more information at the http://www.eric.ed.gov/ site. So far functionality of the database has been positive for users.

PsycINFO
The online edition of Psychological Abstracts, produced by the American Psychological Association is the major Research Database related to the field of Psychology. The database includes abstracts of articles from the professional journal literature in several languages. It also includes abstracts of books and book chapters, dissertations and reports in psychology. ERIC and PsychINFO will, in some cases connect to the full-text of articles.

Medline
Index to more than 3,600 journals covering all areas of clinical and experimental medicine, nursing, dentistry and health administration. Updated weekly.

Once you have your citations (Journal Name/Year/volume/issue/page numbers) of the articles you want. The next step is to find that article. As mentioned above, if there are no "Full-Text" links, First search URSUS to see if USM has the journal you want. Perform a Title search in the Part of URSUS labeled JOURNAL/MAGAZINE/NEWSPAPER.
Look for your item, then look to see where in the University of Maine System it resides. Locations of GOR, POR are all part of USM. Any other Location (including Lewiston-Auburn) must be requested from Interlibrary Loan (Unless you are willing to travel to the location).

If all you get from your search is numbers then that item is not in the UMS system. This item also must be requested from Interlibrary Loan

There is no authority control for the Internet. In choosing Internet resources it is imperative to evaluate the authenticity of the source. Thinking Critically about Discipline-Based World Wide Web Resources (UCLA College Library) provides excellent evaluation criteria. The following selected resources have been chosen because of authenticity and comprehensiveness of coverage.

US Department of Education
Links to all aspects of current Educational Issues in the U. S.

Maine Department of Education
Links to all aspects of current Educational Issues in Maine and surrounding areas.

In using resources it is imperative that they be used ethically and legally. The sources listed here provide assistance in following correct citation methods and in avoiding plagiarism.

Writing Handbooks

A Writer's Reference, 3rd Edition
Gorham Ref. PE1408 .H2778 1995
Includes sections on composing and revising, design, sentence structure, grammar, punctuation, writing, and documentation.

Citation Styles

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association
Gorham Ref. BF76.7 .P83 2001

Online! A Reference Guide Using Internet Resources [Look for APA Style]

Please remember to use the EndNote program for help with citations. EndNote is a Program available from the university computers that assists users in creating bibliographies.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism-The Do's and Don'ts: Guidelines for Avoiding Plagiarism (University of California-Davis)

Plagiarism: What it is and How to Recognize and Avoid it (Indiana University)

Exercises

Exercises below are modified from Sheila Johnson's CON 401 course guide.

Exercise 1.

Locating Records on a Topic Using Keyword Searching.

For this exercise please select one of the topics listed below:

Learners with hearing impairment
Asperger's Syndrome
Attention Deficit Disorder
Learners with physical challenges

To begin this exercise go to the homepage of the USM libraries: http://library.usm.maine.edu

1. Select "Indexes and Databases" Under Research Gateway from the USM Library Homepage.
2. Select "M" from the alphabetical listing at the top or scroll down until you reach the M databases.
3. Select "Medline" from the list of databases.
4. Check the box that reads "Suggest subject terms" toward the top of the page.
5. Enter one of the selected subject terms above in the "Find" box.
6. Select "Search"
7. Notice that your search now appears in the "Browse" box.
8. Look below at the suggested subject terms to the Lower Left.
9. Check the box that reads "Asperger Syndrome [Scope]" or the most exact choice from the subject you selected above.
10. Look to right on the same line as your choice. Check the box marked "Major concept"
11. Move your cursor back up to the "Find" box and look to the right of the box for the "Search" button
12. Select "Search" and wait for results.
13. Toward the middle of the page on the left-hand side you will see the number phrase "1 - 10 of -------"
14. What is the number I have left out in this phrase. Write this number here________.
15. KEEP THIS PAGE OPEN!
16. By performing this exercise you have chosen a topic, looked for a thesaurus term to improve your results, asked that the database only give you articles that have your term as a major concept, and searched the database to find how many results are included in your search!

Exercise 2.

Narrowing Your Search by Adding Another Term and Limiting Results By Date and Publication Type.

Using the results you created in Exercise 1 Complete the following:

For this second exercise you will add another topic: "therapy" to the one you have already been using.

1. Return to your results from the exercise 1 above
2. Look for the Find box at the top left of the page. It should already contain the following statement : (MM "Asperger Syndrome")
3. Notice there is more than one box to perform searches with in the Find box
4. Choose the next lower box (it should have the word "and" in front of the box.
5. Type the word: therapy in this next lower box.
6. Select the "Search" button to the right of the find box
7. Toward the middle of the page on the left-hand side you will see the number phrase "1 - 10 of -------"
8. What is the number I have left out in this phrase? Write this number here________.
9. Next move the cursor directly up from the number phrase. Immediately above the number phrase there should be a blue tab that reads "Refine Search."
10. Select the "Refine Search tab.
11. Under "Limit Your Results" find a limit called "Date of Publication"
12. Ignore the "Month" pull down menus.
13. In the boxes that read "Yr." (year) Type in the first box: 2000. Type in the second box: 2005
14. Still on the Refine Search tab, move your cursor down until you find the limit called "Publication Type"
15. Use the scrolling menu to find the choice "Case Reports" in the Publication Type limit.
16. Select "Case Reports"
17. Move your cursor back to the top right hand side of the page to the "Search" button
18. Select "Search"
19. Toward the middle of the page on the left-hand side you will see the number phrase "1 - 10 of -------"
20. What is the number I have left out in this phrase? Write this number here________.
21. By performing this search, you have changed your original search from a single term to two terms. You have also limited the results of your search to articles that are published between the years of 2000-2005 and that have the characteristic of being classified as "case reports."

Exercise 3.

Using AND and OR and () [parentheses] to create a search statement in the Advanced Search mode.

Search terms such as AND and OR are used to connect terms in a search strategy. AND terms are used to connect any terms or set of terms in a search. Using AND terms will make your results list SMALLER.

OR terms have the specific purpose of connecting synonyms or related terms. Using the OR connector will make your results LARGER. Remember to use () parentheses when mixing and and or statements.

Using the course guide above and the following words, pretend you are looking at a database and create an advanced search statement by filling in the lines. You don't need to use truncation. You don't need to enter this search into the database.

ADD
ADHD
Disabled
Physically challenged
Therapy
Treatment

Find ___________________________________________________ Default

AND____________________________________________________Default

AND____________________________________________________ Default

Exercise 4.

Locating articles that are not at USM

Register for ILLiad. The following exercise should result in the complete registering for the Interlibrary Loan Service called ILLiad.

1. Go to the Homepage of the USM Libraries (http://library.usm.maine.edu)
2. Under the Yellow heading "Services" Select "Interlibrary Loan (Illiad)"
3. In the second paragraph select "Log on to ILLiad"
4. The boxes at the top of this page will eventually hold your new ILLiad username and password.
5. Select the Link called "First Time Users Click Here!"
6. At your convenience, read the legal information pertaining to the Interlibrary Loan Service
7. At the bottom left of this page Select the button that reads "First Time Users Click Here"
8. Fill in the following required boxes. Remember also to Select a library where you would like to receive materials, should they come by mail. Also Remember to choose your appropriate status in the University of Southern Maine Community (Faculty, Graduate Student, Undergraduate, etc.)
9. Your library barcode number is on your USM ID and begins with the numbers "2502. . . ." and must be activated at one of the library Circulation Desks.
10. Toward the bottom of the page select the "Submit" button.
11. If you have errors, correct them. If not, congratulations! You have chosen your personal Username and Password and are ready to begin requesting items using the Interlibrary Loan Service called ILLiad.

Last Updated :09.05
Comments: Ask-A-Librarian