Searching the ERIC Database

Where Can You Search ERIC?

You can search the ERIC database on the Internet and at more than 1,000 libraries and education resource centers around the world, or purchase a CD-ROM and search the database with your computer.

Internet

Several organizations provide public access to the ERIC database via the Internet. To locate ERIC-sponsored access to the ERIC database on the Internet, click here.

Libraries and Information Centers

The ERIC database is available at most university libraries, many public libraries, and other professional libraries and education resource centers-more than 1,000 of which are designated as ERIC resource collections. Most of these locations also have a substantial ERIC microfiche collection and microfiche reader-printers for making copies of ERIC documents, and many now offer access to electroni copies of ERIC Documents. To locate the ERIC resource collection nearest you, contact any ERIC component or search the Directory of ERIC Resource Collections.

CD-ROM Products

CD-ROMs of the ERIC database are available for purchase from several vendors, in most cases in both PC and Macintosh versions . If you frequently need to search education literature and would like a sophisticated search engine available anytime you need it, CD-ROMs may be worth considering.

Search Strategy: What To Do... ...If You Get Too Much Information You can limit your search by: Narrowing the dates of publication. For example, you could request only those documents published in the past two years. Limiting to major descriptors. Most search systems allow you to target those descriptors that capture the main focus of the document. Specifying publication or document type. For example, you could limit the search to research reports or program descriptions. ...If You Get Too Little Information You can expand your search by: Adding more descriptors for each concept. Look at the records retrieved in your search to determine additional relevant indexing terms. Calling an ERIC Clearinghouse for advice. Clearinghouse staff process and index the articles and documents and can often help you select terms to ensure that you find what you're looking for.

Tips on Searching the ERIC Database

Use the Thesaurus of ERIC Descriptors

Locations that offer ERIC searches should have reference copies of the Thesaurus of ERIC Descriptors, and some search systems allow online access to the Thesaurus while running your search. Each of the more than 1 million abstracts of articles and documents in the ERIC database has been assigned subject indexing terms called descriptors. Before you run an ERIC search, it is important to take a few minutes to find the ERIC descriptors that best capture your topic. For example, articles and documents about the development of children's social skills are likely to be indexed under the ERIC descriptors interpersonal competence or social development. The ERIC descriptor for children at risk is at risk persons. When you search for information about high school students, you can use the descriptor high school students, but you might miss a lot of material if you do not also use the descriptor secondary education.

Plan Your Search Strategy

To plan your ERIC search, follow these steps:

1. Write the topic in your own words.


2. Divide the topic into major concepts.


3. Use the Thesaurus of ERIC Descriptors to locate the appropriate subject descriptors for each concept of the topic.

Although the software used to search ERIC will depend on which system is used, all searching is based on Boolean logic: The computer creates sets of information based on the way you tell it to combine subject terms. For example, to find out about teachers' attitudes toward multiage grouping of primary age students, you could use the Thesaurus to find these subject descriptors:

If you want to find records that are indexed under all three of these concepts, use the "AND" command. This tells the computer to find the intersection of the three concept sets. A Boolean diagram shows how this works:

If more information on this topic is needed, use the Thesaurus to locate additional relevant descriptors and add them to your concept sets by using the "OR" operator. When the "OR" command is used, documents and articles indexed with either descriptor are searched and combined in a set.

For help locating the best place for you to search ERIC, call 1-800-LET-ERIC. If you need help planning your search strategy, call the ERIC Clearinghouse that covers your topic of interest.

The ERIC Database
How Can You Get Copies of ERIC Documents and Journal Articles?