Education Research Guide

This guide is the starting point for identifying, locating, using, and evaluating  materials relating to Education  in the Carmichael Library and on Internet.  If you need additional assistance, please Ask a Librarian or contact Rosemary Arneson, Director of the Library, at arnesonr@montevallo.edu or 665-6100.

Finding Library Materials   

 
Library Catalog
The Library Catalog is often the best place to begin research. Search by author, title, subject, keyword, or a variety of other specialized searches.

Several examples of standard Education subject headings appropriate for use in the Main Catalog when searching for Education materials are:

• Education -- Curricula 

• Early Childhood Education 

• Education -- Research

• Education, Elementary

• Education, Secondary 

For materials relating to the teaching of a particular subject, try looking under that subject, with the subheading Study and Teaching.  For example:  Mathematics -- Study and Teaching.

To obtain an authoritative list of subject headings check the Library of Congress Subject Headings, near the Ask Here desk.

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Call Numbers
Carmichael Library uses the Library of Congress system to organize its materials.  Education materials, and other related subjects, can be found in these call number ranges:

Books on the teaching of a particular subject will be classified in that subject area.

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Reference Materials
Reference materials include dictionaries, encyclopedias, atlases, and indexes.  They are good starting points in the research process.

Several examples of Education reference materials available for use in the Carmichael Library include the following:

• Dictionary of special education and rehabilitation.  REF LC3957 .D53 1997

• Education:  a guide to reference and information sources.  REF LB15 .B89 2000 

• Education and the law:  a dictionary.  REF KF4117 .T39 1996

• Educational Research, methodology and measurement:  an international handbook.  REF  LB1028 .E3184 1997

• Encyclopedia of American education.  REF LB17 .U54 1996

• Encyclopedia of education.  REF LB15 .E47 2003

• Encyclopedia of educational research.  REF LB15 .E48 1992

• Mental Measurements Yearbook.  REF  BF431 .M46  (See also the electronic version of this title, listed below under Databases.)

• Philosophy of education:  an encyclopedia.  REF LB17 .P485 1996

• The Principal's legal handbook.   REF  KF4150 .P755 2000

• Student rights:  a reference handbook.  REF KF4150 .H56 2001

• World education encyclopedia:  a survey of educational systems worldwide.  REF LB15 .W87 2002

Be sure to check the Reference databases for electronic reference materials.

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Journals and Periodicals
Journals and periodicals are published at regular intervals in print and electronically.

Print Education periodicals available in the Carmichael Library include the following:

• Alabama School Journal

• American Educator 

• American Journal of Education

• American School Board Journal

• British Journal of Educational Studies

• Education Week

• Educational Forum

• Educational Horizons

• Educational Leadership

• Educational Studies

• Harvard Educational Review

• Instructor

• Peabody Journal of Education

• Teaching and Teacher Education

• Teaching Pre K-8

• Theory into Practice

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Electronic Resources
Databases

Electronic access to journal articles is available from the Databases page.  Most databases can be searched using author, title or subject in either basic or advanced search formats. The results of a search will include either a citation, a citation and abstract, or a citation, abstract and full text of the article depending on the database searched.

Listed below are databases you could use to locate information about Education.  You can access these, and other databases, from the Databases by name page or the Databases by subject page.

• ERIC   Index and Abstracts, with some full text

  ERIC is the primary database used for research in education.  It is a comprehensive database, covering all aspects of education.  Carmichael Library has access to two versions of the ERIC database.  ERIC EBSCOhost and ERIC First Search.  Both provide links to the full text of some of the ERIC documents through the Institute of Education Sciences.

• Education Full Text  Full Text

• Mental Measurements Yearbook 

  This is the online version of the printed reference work listed above.  It contains the same information, but is easier to search.  It provides information about commonly used tests, but does not provide a copy of the test itself.

• PsycInfo  Index and Abstracts

• SportDiscus  Index and Abstracts

Additional information about specific databases is available at each database site. 

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Internet Links
Several recognized Education sites are listed below:

• ALEX:  Alabama Learning Exchange

• Child TRENDS

• Classroom Connect

• DiscoverySchool.com: Lesson Plans Library

• EDSITEment

• Education World

• Educator's Reference Desk

• GEM:  Gateway to Educational Materials

• Marcopolo: Internet Content for the Classroom

• National Archives and Records Administration Digital Classroom

• National Center for Education Statistics

• Teacher's Pet

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Additional Resources
Associations
Associations provide a forum for the exchange of ideas within a profession.  Listed below are the names of a few Education associations.

• Alabama Education Association

• American Association of School Administrators

• American Federation of Teachers

• National Education Association

• Phi Delta Kappa

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Additional Research Guides
Additional Research Guides worth reviewing include the following:

• Communication Science and Disorders

• Psychology 

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Government Resources
The U.S. Government publishes a large amount of data and resources both electronically and in print.  Government resources specific to Education are listed below:

• U. S. Department of Education

• No Child Left Behind

The Alabama Department of Education also maintains a website with useful information. 

• Alabama Reading Initiative 

• Classroom Improvement   Look under Publications for materials relating to the Course of Study in each area.

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