ERIC

Printable version

Introduction | Accessing | Searching | Search Results | Managing Search Results | Search Tips | Additional Features

Introduction

The ERIC database is produced by the U.S. Department of Education and is an electronic compilation of two paper indexes, CIJE (Current Index to Journals in Education) and RIE (Resources in Education). The database is a guide to published and unpublished sources on thousands of educational topics. It includes citations and abstracts for journal articles, books, theses, curricula, conference papers, and standards and guidelines from 1966 to present. ERIC includes full text for most level 1 ERIC documents (EDs) released after 1993. It does NOT include full text for earlier ERIC documents, and it does NOT include full text for journal articles (EJs).

Accessing

This database may be accessed from the Databases page of the Electronic Resources section of the NSU Alvin Sherman Library website. For more on how to access databases visit http://www.nova.edu/library/dils/lessons/electroniclibrary/ Regardless of which ERIC service you use–the public Web site, FirstSearch, or Cambridge Scientific Abstracts–you are searching the same database of educational information. Some services provide access to only the most recent years of ERIC, which may be all you need. However, the full database goes back to 1966. Note: The following instructions are for the FirstSearch version of ERIC. The precise steps will not be the exact same for the Cambridge Scientific Abstracts or public Web site version, but the basic theory will be the same either way. For detailed information on how to search the Cambridge Scientific Abstracts version of ERIC, please see the Cambridge Scientific Abstracts tutorial.

Searching

In FirstSearch, ERIC should automatically connect you to the advanced search screen. If you are not in the advanced search mode, change to an advanced search so that you will have more search options. After accessing the advanced search type your search term(s) in the entry box add any search limitations–fields, document types, years, etc. Note: FirstSearch offers an option to limit the search to full text documents only. In ERIC, this option does not function adequately. If you wish to retrieve full text ERIC documents, DO NOT CHECK the Limit to full text option. click on Search/Submit to obtain a list of records Sample ERIC search screen.

Search Results

Search results will vary. If you get: No records matched your search, then check your spelling or the fields you searched in. Too many, then go back and limit your search. Sometimes a search needs to be modified with: additional search words, searching only a specific field, adding date limitations, or type of materials. Too few, then go back and expand your search. Consider synonyms for your search words or concepts. Try to use professional language or terminology. Irrelevant results, then try new search terms. Consider synonyms or related concepts. Identify and search using descriptors. Try a different database. Search results in ERIC can be quickly refined to subjects based on your current results set. To refine your search from a list of results click on the Related Subjects icon –in the grey bar at the top of the results a listing of Find Subject Search Terms is displayed select subject terms to select one subject term, click on the subject term to select multiple subject terms, click in the check boxes to the left of each of the desired terms and then click the Search button Related Subjects screen in FirstSearch ERIC. Results lists The results of an ERIC search may contain items on your topic from the journal literature–abstracts of journal literature have EJ numbers document literature–abstracts of document literature have ED numbers Sample ERIC search results. Records To view a detailed record click on an item’s title if a link to Full Text appears in the citation, click on the link to view the full text of the document. When you view an ERIC record, you will see the complete citation for the item an EJ or ED number an abstract or summary about the item’s content descriptors used to describe the item’s content–these are useful for suggesting ways to modify your search information about the availability of the item a link to full text if it is an ERIC document available in full text NOTE: When you look at an ERIC record you will see either EJ or ED and a six-digit accession number. This alphanumeric code identifies the record as either being from a journal or magazine (EJ) or an ERIC Document (ED). Researchers using ERIC must be aware of these two types of records in order to be able to correctly locate the full-text of these items. EJ and ED numbers. EJ or ERIC journals The EJs or ERIC journals are abstracts of articles in educational periodicals to which the Alvin Sherman Library, Research, and Information Technology Center may or may not subscribe. Following is an example of an EJ abstract found in ERIC: Sample EJ (journal) record. Sources for full text ERIC journals To obtain a copy of an article, you need the full citation: the title of the article, the author, and the name of the periodical with the volume number, issue number, page numbers, and date published. NOTE: Do not use the EJ number – it is of no help in locating journals articles in the Sherman Library. ERIC does not contain the full text of journal articles. You can check to see if the article is available in one of NSU's other online databases with the Journal Finder in the NSU Libraries' periodical collection listed on NovaCat–distance students can order items listed in NovaCat through Document Delivery. in another library from a Detailed Record, click on Libraries Worldwide That Own Item link to display libraries in the Southeast United States that own the item click on the Display All Libraries link to display all libraries that own the item Articles not available in the NSU Libraries or online full-text can be obtained from another library through Document Delivery or Interlibrary Loan. Sample screen showing libraries that own a particular item. ED or ERIC documents The EDs or ERIC documents are abstracts of items that are not generally published in traditional sources such as journals or books. They include documents ranging from conference proceedings to NSU practicums. These documents can range in length from three pages to thousands of pages. Following is an example of an ED abstract found in ERIC: Sample ED (document) record. NOTE: Record both the ED number and the citation information for ED items–both will help you in locating the materials. Additional examples of ERIC documents Additional examples of ERIC documents: conference papers ERIC digests   non-print media unpublished masters' and doctoral dissertations, theses, practicums, major applied research projects, and action projects books reports ERIC publications of limited circulations Sources for full text ERIC documents ERIC includes full text for Level 1 ERIC documents released after 1993. If full text is available, the ERIC record will include a link to full text. To view full text of an ERIC document click on Full Text in the record or citation Adobe Reader will open and the full-text document (PDF) will be retrieved for viewing and/or printing. Use the Adobe Reader toolbar icons to save, print, zoom in, etc. Then, click the Return icon to return to the previous ERIC screen. Full text of ERIC document in PDF format. Full text is available ONLY for Level 1 ERIC documents released after 1993. For other ERIC documents, you will need to use additional resources to obtain the full text. If your ERIC document is... It may be available via... Level 1*, released after 1993 (ED348467 and higher) ERIC database as a PDF download. Level 1*, released prior to 1993 (ED348465 and lower) Level 2 ERIC Microfiche. The Alvin Sherman Library, Research, and Information Technology Center maintains a comprehensive collection of ERIC microfiche. NSU distance students can request a free microfiche copy through Document Delivery use an ERIC microfiche collection in their area, available at most major academic and public libraries, which have a United States government documents collection. Level 3, commercially produced materials (videotapes, software, books, posters, etc.) Publisher, retailer, organization, etc. for a fee.   Level 3, Book NovaCat, NSU's online library catalog. Distance students may order books via Document Delivery.   Level 3, Dissertation ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Full Text database as a PDF download–100,000 full text dissertations since 1997.   *Level 1 documents comprise about 80 percent of the documents in the ERIC database. ERIC Document Reproduction Service (EDRS) The ERIC Document Reproduction Service (EDRS) has closed. Paper and microfiche copies of ERIC documents are no longer available through EDRS.

Managing Search Results

Databases typically allow you to manage your search results by marking or tagging records to select only the records that you want from your search results from later printing, emailing and/or saving printing the search results list and/or specific records emailing the search results list and/or specific records to your email address saving the search results list and/or specific records–some databases may allow you to save your file for export into commercial bibliographic citation manager software, such as EndNote or ProCite Not all search management features are available in all databases. Marking The “mark” feature allows you to select records within your search results. By marking items, you can print or email multiple records at one time. To mark a record in the List of Records, click in the check box to the left of a title in a Detailed Record, click in the check box labeled Mark–top of the screen Marking items in ERIC. To view your list of marked records click on Marked Records–top of the screen Click on Marked Records. Marked records in ERIC. You may then email or print the citation information for the items you have selected. Printing To print a record click on the Print icon near the top of the Detailed Record the item will be automatically reformatted and the Print dialog box will appear click Print or OK click the Return icon To print the full text of an ERIC document (if available) click on Full Text to display the full text document in PDF format click on the Print icon in the Adobe Reader toolbar the Print dialog box will appear click Print or OK click the Return icon Print dialog box. Emailing To email a record click on the email icon near the top of the Detailed Record select the item to be sent, level of record detail, record format enter a complete email address enter a note about what you are sending in the comment box click the Send button click the Return icon your mail will be sent from FirstSearch@oclc.org Emailing records in ERIC. To email a full text ERIC document (if available) Note: this function is NOT available from computers in the Alvin Sherman Library click on Full Text to display the full text document in PDF format click on the Email icon in the Adobe Reader toolbar click on the Send copy or Send link button your default email application will open enter an email address, subject, and message if desired click the Send or Mail button click the Return icon Saving To save a record click on the Export icon–near the top of the Detailed Record select options select Text File in the Export To: section click the Export button click Save enter a filename – extension should be .txt click Save click the Return icon use a word processing program to open your file. Saving records in ERIC. To save a full text ERIC document (if available) click on Full Text to display the full text document in PDF format click on the Save icon in the Adobe Reader toolbar select the drive and/or directory where you wish to save the file enter a filename – extension should be .pdf click Save click the Return icon use Adobe Reader to open your file.

Search Tips

Use advanced search features to modify a search to obtain more successful search results. You can combine advanced search features to modify and improve your search. Advanced search features often include: phrase or proximity searching field searching date document and/or publication type Boolean operators plurals and truncation One useful tip when searching any electronic database is to leave out articles, prepositions, and very abstract or general terms–they confuse the database's search engine. For example, if the paper is on "The Impact of Mainstreaming Students in Math Classes,” use the most precise terms like mainstreaming and mathematics and skip impact, the, of, and in. Phrase or proximity searching In ERIC, there are two ways to search for a phrase put the phrase in double quotes, such as “higher education” “curriculum development” use the letter w to search for two words as a phrase higher w education curriculum w development Phrase searching in ERIC. Field searching To limit your search to a specific field in the record use the pull-down arrow–to the right of each text entry box scroll to the field to limit your search to click on the field’s name Field searching in ERIC. Date To limit a search to specific years go to the year box type a specific year (such as, 2001) or a range of years (such as, 1990-1999) or from a specific year until the current year ( such as, 1995- ) Limiting by date in ERIC. Publication type FirstSearch ERIC allows a general document type limitation on the Advanced Search Screen by clicking on the Document Type pull-down arrow and selecting Document (RIE) to return only ERIC EDs Journal (CIJE) to return only ERIC EJs Limiting by document type in ERIC. Boolean operators The Boolean operators, AND, OR, and NOT can be used to modify a search click on the pull-down arrow click on the Boolean operator to use Use AND to narrow a search. AND looks for both terms in the same record. leadership and vision; mainstreaming and science Use OR to broaden a search. OR looks for either term in the same record. mainstreaming or inclusion; elementary education or secondary education Use NOT to eliminate records with a certain term. Saturn not car; Venus not planet Boolean operators in ERIC. Plurals Use the following symbols in FirstSearch ERIC to locate plural forms, truncate search terms, or replace characters: + Regular plural forms. school+ retrieves both school and schools * Any number of characters at the end of a word. leader* retrieves leader, leaders, leadership # One character. defen#e retrieves both defense and defence ? Zero to nine characters. radio?y retrieves radiology, radiometry, radiography, radioactivity Truncating search terms in ERIC.

Additional Features

Using the ERIC Thesaurus A thesaurus provides a standard language or set of terms with which to describe a subject area. It indicates to a searcher that terms to use to retrieve the maximum number of relevant documents. Often referred to as controlled vocabulary terms. Before conducting a subject search, it is best to check the Thesaurus of ERIC Descriptors. ERIC Clearinghouses assign a descriptor for each identified topic. To access the ERIC Thesaurus Click on Subjects icon Enter a Word or concept in the search box and click on find If the term is a valid descriptor, it will show up in the result page. You can click on Expand to see related terms. A search for " parent participation" returns the following: If the term is not an ERIC descriptor, it will say ‘No records matched your search Often, the ERIC thesaurus will suggest an alternate term. Select Expand to see related terminology. Linking to External Information Several FirstSearch databases now have links to other sources of information – tabs along the top of your search results – such as web sites. If you use this option you will leave the database you are searching in and be sent to another database. Use Previous Searches to return to any previous searches conducted during your current session. Tabs to relevant items in other FirstSearch databases.