Searching the ERIC Database on Science and Mathematics Topics
Niqui Beckrum
The ERIC database is the world's largest education database. It is an excellent resource for
anyone seeking information on teaching and learning in science and mathematics. ERIC features
abstracts of nearly 1 million research reports, curriculum and teaching guides, conference papers,
and journal articles dating from 1966 to the present. You can search the ERIC database online at
http://www.eric.ed.gov/ or through print indexes and CD-ROMs at hundreds of libraries,
colleges and universities, and state and local education offices.
The result of an ERIC search is an annotated bibliography of document and journal literature on
the topic that you have specified. You can then review the bibliography to determine which
listings are most helpful to you and select those citations to get an abstract of each document. To
get the full text of a journal article (shown as EJ followed by six digits), you can visit a university
library or a large public library, or you can contact a journal article reprint service, such as The
UnCover Company (1-800-787-7979) or the Institute for Scientific Information
(1-800-336-4474).
To get the full text of a document (shown as ED followed by six digits), you can visit one of the
more than 1,000 libraries around the world that maintain an ERIC microfiche collection. There
you can view or print the document. You can also order a print copy from the ERIC Document
Reproduction Service (1-800-443-3742) or from the document's distributor. Many documents
published after 1992 may be ordered and delivered via the Internet at http://edrs.com.
All entries in the ERIC database have been indexed with key words called descriptors. These
words describe the most important concepts contained in a journal article or document. Although
it is certainly possible to search the database using common words and phrases, your search will
be far more effective if you use ERIC terminology.
Other Descriptors Commonly
Used in Searching
the ERIC Database
Science Terms
College Science
Demonstrations (Science)
Elementary School Science
General Science
Science and Society
Science Careers
Science Clubs
Science Course Improvement Projects
Science Curriculum
Science Education History
Science Experiments
Science Process Skills
Science Programs
Science Projects
Science Teachers
Scientific Literacy
Scientific Methodology
Secondary School Science
Mathematics Terms:
College Mathematics
Elementary School Mathematics
General Mathematics
Mathematical Applications
Mathematical Concepts
Mathematical Models
Mathematics Curriculum
Mathematics Skills
Mathematics Teachers
Numbers
Numeracy
Secondary School Mathematics
Word Problems (Mathematics)
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When searching the database for information on science education, begin with the following
descriptors:
Science Education |
Science Instruction |
Science Activities |
Sciences |
When searching the database for information on mathematics education, begin with the
following descriptors:
|
Mathematics Education |
Mathematics Instruction |
Mathematics Achievement |
Mathematics |
Other commonly used descriptors that may also be useful when searching the ERIC database are
listed in the box to the right.
To perform an effective ERIC search, use the descriptor that is most specific to your topic. For
example, if you are looking for information on teaching mathematics, use the descriptor
Mathematics Instruction instead of the broader term Teaching Methods. If you are looking for
documents on the specific subject of biology, use the descriptor Biology instead of the broader
term Sciences.
If you require assistance in searching the ERIC database on a science or mathematics topic, call
the ERIC Clearinghouse for Science, Mathematics, and Environmental Education at
1-800-276-0462. If you find yourself doing extensive searching, you may find the Thesaurus of
ERIC Descriptors helpful. The Thesaurus is available from Oryx Press (1-800-279-6799) and at
most places that offer access to the ERIC database. For general information about accessing the
database or for a free copy of the brochure All About ERIC, call ACCESS ERIC at
1-800-LET-ERIC (538-3742).
| Niqui Beckrum is the Database Coordinator at the ERIC Clearinghouse for Science,
Mathematics, and Environmental Education at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.
She also serves as Acquisitions Coordinator for the clearinghouse. |
 Internet Resources
 Table of Contents
 Putting It All Together: An Action Plan
This page was updated on Fri Nov 2 19:14:42 GMT 2001
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