Emat689 June09

EMAT 689: Research CapstoneEMAT 689: Research Capstone

Skills we’ll cover today include . . .

Accessing library materials remotely

Selecting relevant databases

Imposing limits on your searches Finding quantitative research Locating the full text of an article

Using the correct format for APA citations

Remote access requires the GALILEO password.It’s available to you after you “authenticate” yourself.The password changes for each new academic term.

How do you access the Swilley Education databases?

The databases you choose to search willcertainly determine the results you receive.

Two databases I turn to frequently are:

Formally known as:

Research Library at ProQuest

Generally known as:

Wilson OmniFile

Each database is multidisciplinary and offersfull text from at least 1,700 publications.

Other helpful databases the library buys for youare from the EBSCO company. You can searchsimultaneously a suite of Education databases.

(1) Go to the Swilley Education databases(2) Click on Academic Search Complete

You’ll see a list of about 60databases. Use the checkboxesto mark those you want to search.

To search for articles on a wide rangeof Education topics, I suggest youchoose these EBSCO databases . . .

Academic Search Complete E-Journals ERIC Professional Development CollectionPsycARTICLES Psychology and Behavioral Sciences CollectionPsycINFO Sociological Collection

Then click

An important skill for finding relevant articles isto put limitslimits on the results you are looking for.

You can limit your results by . . .

Type of publication (scholarly, newspaper, …) Date of publication Features of the documents you want (statistics, …) Articles available from the database in full text

BUT DON’T LIMIT TO FULL TEXT ONLY!!!BUT DON’T LIMIT TO FULL TEXT ONLY!!!

If one database doesn’t have the full text of what you want,there are easy ways to see if you can get it another way.

NO!

This function adds considerable power to your search.

Looking for research articles with quantitative data?

Identifying Articles with Quantitative Data

When you limit your results to TableTable in Wilson OmniFile,the table might be something like a rubric in grid form.It’s not guaranteed to be a table of numerical data.

Try this in any of the databases you search.

An alternative way to find articles with quantitativedata is to use quantitative as one of your search terms.

When you have identified a relevant article, howcan you find more articles on the same subject?

You could investigate the suggestions thatare contained within your own search results.

Suggestions for related topic searches.You may need to “Search WithinResults” because these are broad topics.

Suggestions for other search terms.

Note how broad the terms are – this may limit their value.

You’ve heard reasons about why not to limityour search results to what the databaseprovides in full text. So how can you findthe full text when the database offersonly an abstract?

(1) Each of the databases we’re reviewing does offer an internal link to show Swilley holdings.

(2) The Swilley page offers a “Journal Search” feature. If you know the journal you need, you can see if we have the specific issue you want.

Examples follow . . . .

Click on this to see ifSwilley has this journalfor the issue you need.

We want the April 2000 issue -- Vol. 57, Iss. 7

Notice all the databases that offer full text.Let’s click on the first database to get the article.

If you see no sign that full text is available from the database,you can click on the link to see the Swilley holdings.

No indication that the database provides full text.

Click here to link to Swilley holdings.

Maybe we have it in print, or on microfilm?

You’ll see . . .

Here’s a fail-safe method to see theSwilley holdings for any journal.

Print or microfilm

First: Click here.

Second: Enter the journal title.

Remember how the EBSCO databases use thissystem to help you find an article in a journal?

If you are directed to Wilson OmniFile for the full text, you’llsee just some empty search boxes. You must enter the terms.

Specific to thearticle you’relooking for.

Create a References ListUsing the APA Citation Format

(1) The handout we prepared for you may be helpful.

(2) Refer to the APA Publication Manual. (Swilley has copies.)

(3) Online help to see examples: Swilley page Education “APA Format Tip Sheet” (bottom)

(4) Google search: APA citation style (You’ll see many sites.)

(5) is online software to help create bibliographies.

I’ll demonstrate it now and I’ll give you a step-by-step handout.

The librarians are very eager to help you succeed.

We want to empower you to become a skillful and self-reliant searcher who knows how to navigate thecomplex world of information.

If you need further consultation with me, get in touch –

678.547.6256 (my office); 678.547.6282 (Reference Desk)

otto_pj@mercer.edu