Searching
the Free ERIC Database : A Brief Guide
Accessing ERIC:
The government-sponsored versions of this database are available
free from any internet connection. From our library web page,
click on
"Education" under "Research: Getting Started and
Moving Forward", then select "Databases and
Searching Tips" under the "Web Search and Database
Guides" heading.
ERIC is the first database listed. Click on the links to the public version of
ERIC.
Search Strategy
It’s important to approach database searching
systematically. ERIC is a very large database, and unless you can be specific
about what you want, it will return too many irrelevant results. Follow these steps for
the best results:
1. The initial step is to write down your topic
statement. Include all desired aspects of your research topic.
Topic Statement: I’d like to
research how critical thinking skills can be incorporated into the college curriculum.
2. Next, extract the primary or key concepts from the
topic statement.
Key Concepts (for statement above):
Critical Thinking, Curriculum Development, College.
3. Select search terms by
using the Thesaurus. You will find it by clicking the
tab in the upper right corner or using the box on the advanced
search page (the link is under the search box on the opening
screen).
ERIC Descriptors for the key concepts above:
Critical Thinking: critical thinking, evaluative
thinking, thinking skills.
Curriculum Development: curriculum development
College: higher education
4. Enter your terms in the
search boxes. Combine your terms. Use OR to
combine lines in your search history that refer to the same concept. OR
means that you retrieve everything under each set combined. Use AND
to get a set which contains only the references that include both/all of your concepts. AND
narrows your search to just the intersection of the sets included. Your
result should be a well-focused search. If you get too many or too few results, check with
a librarian about how you can refine your search.
Example Search:
#1 critical thinking or evaluative thinking or
thinking skills
AND #2 curriculum development
AND #3 higher education
See a graphical depiction
of Boolean searching
5. Hit
"Search". Your
records will be displayed.
6. Each record will
have a brief citation. The title of the item is on the
first line and can be clicked for full information about the
item. If the item is an ERIC document newer than 1993, a
link to the full text should appear to the right below the
title. If the item is a journal article, check the journal title
in our library catalog, CLICNet,
or check the UST
Journal Titles from A-Z to see if we have online access through another
database.
7. Use your browser print
button to print out records. There is no way to mark records,
so you may need to open and print the detailed version of
individual records.
8. The "My ERIC"
feature allows you to save searches. You must set up an
account with a username and password to use this feature.
9. Once you have checked on holdings, you can submit requests
for items you can't locate on
our web interlibrary
loan form. For more information, check with a librarian.
10. A "Help" link
is located in the blue header and footer of each page.
Donna Nix / Mail #MOH206 / Opus Hall./
Minneapolis/ MN / 55403
denix@stthomas.edu
10/04 dn
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