Education Research

1
Education Research

• Stefan Smith
• Outreach Librarian
• Murphy Library

2
Delivery of materials

• Books and videos
• You request ANY BOOK OR VIDEO via ILLiad
• We send via mail
• You return
• Articles
• You request those NOT AVAILABLE at Murphy Library
  via ILLiad
• We send electronically or via snail mail
• Yours to keep

3
Your relationship with UW System

• You can enter most UW libraries and use their
  computers and databases
• You can borrow and return books at most UW
  libraries
• Murphy Library is the only library that will
  allow you to log into information databases
  remotely
• Murphy Library is the only library that will
  deliver materials to your home address

4
Your bottom line

• Get resources such as articles and books
• That address your topic
• That are credible and, usually, scholarly

5
A straight path
How do I get the actual text of books and
articles?
How should I refine my search?
How do I describe my topic?
How do I gain access?
Articles, books, websites, etc.
Your information need
Are my search results really what I want?
Where should I search?
How, specifically, do I search?
6
The librarys role

• Help you find relevant articles books
• Help you print/save these articles books
• Deliver everything else to you via mail or email

7
Relevant search tools
Where should I search?

• Murphy Library web pages
• Murphy Library subject pages
• Murphy Library Education Resources page
• Murphy Library ME-PD page

8
Mini exercise find search tools
How do I gain access?

• Look at the librarys Education Resources page
• Look at the librarys ME-PD page

9
More clouds
How do I describe my topic?

• Search terms
• Write down your major concepts
• Write down synonyms for each concept
• Imagine the title of a perfect article
• Subject headings (AKA descriptors)
• Look for them and write them down
• Perfect subject headings perfect searches

10
General rules
How, specifically, do I search?

• Two or more words are treated as a phrase
• charter school legislation
• Use and to get fewer, more focused results
• educational accountability and wisconsin
• Use or to search for synonyms
• But put all your or terms on ONE LINE
• Use the asterisk at the end of a word stem
• child finds the words child, children, childish,
  etc.

11
Mini-exercise Searching

• Connect to ERIC via Murphy Library
• Try some searching
• Use phrases intelligently
• Use OR for synonyms
• Use AND for fewer results
• Use for wildcard
• Do NOT spend time retrieving articles, just look
  at your list of search results

12
Is it raining yet?
Are my search results really what I want?
How should I refine my search?

• Consistent, effective searchers do this
• Constantly step back
• Think on their feet
• Try many times, many ways, in many places
• Know the basic rules of each search tool theyre
  using

13
Mini Review 1

• Where do we find relevant search tools?
• Subject Resources pages
• Other places on library home page
• What words do we search for?
• Brainstorm synonyms
• Look at subject headings
• How do search tools work?
• Three Principles handout
• Look at the search tools help or tips sections

14
Lets move on
15
Getting the FULL TEXT
How do I get the actual text of books and
articles?

• In your search results, look for

16
Full text using GetTeXt

• GetTeXt does this
• Links to articles in other databases
• Shows print microfilm holdings for many
  libraries in La Crosse
• Fills in an article request form (Interlibrary
  Loan)

17
Mini Exercise look for full text

• Search ERIC until you have found a set of at
  least 50 articles
• Explore some full text options
• Then, lets discuss!

18
Full text browsing journals online

• How do you learn which periodicals are available
  through Murphy subscriptions?
• How do you browse online journals instead of
  keyword searching them?

19
Mini exercise browse periodicals

• Find the Periodicals Holdings Search
• Find the journal, American Secondary Education
• Browse the most recent issues

20
Full text using Interlibrary loan (ILLiad)

• A free service that gets articles, books, videos,
  etc.
• The ONLY form you need to use to request
  articles, books, videos, etc.
• Find the form on the library home page (and
  forms page)
• Find the form in GetTeXt
• Its already filled in with information about the
  article!

21
Mini exercise interlibrary loan form

• FIND the Interlibrary Loan form
• Someone in your group log in
• Hint the screen tells you how to log in
• Explore the form

22
Mini Review 2

• To find specific ARTICLES
• Use GetTeXt if there are no full text links to
  articles
• To identify specific PERIODICALS
• Use the Periodicals Holdings Search
• To request items that are not available online
• Use the Interlibrary Loan form (ILLiad)

23
Lets go to the next level!
24
Database features

• Highlight articles to process later
• For a second-level review
• To print/save/email all together
• To share with others

25
More database features

• Save searches to run later
• Have the database automatically run searches
• Create reference lists

26
Even more database features

• Refine Search
• Each database provides its own ways to refine and
  focus your searches
• For example, ERIC allows you to limit to
• Intended audience (like administrators)
• Publication type (like classroom guides)
• Educational level (like middle schools)

27
Mini Exercise database features

• Do a search using some of the Refine Search
  limiters
• Save some articles to your folder
• Try emailing these to yourself
• Choose a citation format and create an instant
  bibliography

28
Mini Review 3

• Databases have many features that make finding
  information more efficient
• Save articles, searches, etc. to folders
• Create instant bibliographies (but ALWAYS double
  check these)
• Use limiters in advance or after (Refine Search)
  for more focused searching

29
Getting Help

• Reference service via email or phone
• refemail_at_uwlax.edu
• 800-881-4454
• Individual consultations (via phone)
• See form on library home page
• Ability to complete many library transactions via
  online forms
• Me smith.stef_at_uwlax.edu

30
Questions?