ERIC USER GUIDE

 ERIC is an electronic database that enables you to locate citations (author, title, journal, date of publication) and abstracts (summaries) to journal articles and documents on your topic. Citations to journal articles--designated EJ--indicate the name of the journal as well as the year of publication, volume, and issue number. Citations to ERIC documents -- designated ED-- indicate the ED number you use to find the document. Be sure to read the descriptors and the abstract to determine whether or not you want to view the actual journal article or ERIC document.

 BEFORE BEGINNING:

• List all ideas and concepts that describe your search topic.
• Narrow your topic.  Remember your goal is to get a manageable number of useful records.
• Think of as many search terms describing your topic as you can.

 ACCESS:

• Go to the UCF Libraries homepage at http://library.ucf.edu/
• Click on <Articles and Databases> and click on <Education>  in the Discipline list OR click on <E> on the alphabetical "Titles"  menu.
• Click on the database name

• Note that the database selection page contains links for several versions of ERIC.  Use the interface with which you are most comfortable.
• Select <ERIC> from the EBSCOhost menu.

SEARCH:

• Select one of the search screens from the tabbed tool bar for conducting the search.

•  Basic Search – opens the Keyword Search screen. Enter a keyword, phrase or combined word search in the “Find” box and click on <SEARCH>.
• Advanced Search –offers multiple text boxes, Boolean search (AND, OR, NOT) capabilities and searchable fields that allow you to develop a well focused search.
• Thesaurus –uses subject keyword searching, search history and limiters to help one focus a search.  Click <Thesaurus> from the subtoolbar button.  Enter search terms in the “Browse for” field, select limiters and field codes, then click <Search>. 
• Choose Databases –allows you to select another EBSCOhost database to search.

• Type a search term or phrase in the <Find> field.

• Separate keywords with AND, OR, or NOT.  Expand the search with synonyms by connecting words with the word "or".  Narrow the search by adding more terms and linking them with the word "and".  Combine search techniques: i.e., discipline AND (secondary schools OR high schools)
  If "and" and "or" are both used, the words linked by "or" need to be in parentheses).
• Use the asterisk (*) to retrieve various endings. i.e., college* retrieves college OR colleges.
• To keep words in a specific order, use the (w) within operator.  i.e., behavior w problems retrieves the word behavior always followed by the word problems.  
• Click on <Search>.
• Use <Advanced Search> when searching multiple entry fields, Boolean operators, field codes or multiple search terms.
• Click <Advanced Search> from the Search window toolbar.
• Enter your search terms in the “Find” box.
• Enter additional search terms in the optional text boxes.



• Use the pull-down menus to select Boolean operators to connect your search terms.  
• Add limiters to narrow your search or expanders to broaden it. To select multiple terms from a list, press the Ctrl key (or Command key) and click the left mouse button. (If you change expanders while searching, this may affect your search history.)   In the example below I have limited results to journal articles.  If I wish to retrieve both journal articles and non-journal items (documents), highlight "None applied."  For additional examples, see the Limit the Current Search below.



 

• Click <Search>.  

 

SELECTING SEARCH TERMS USING the ERIC THESAURUS 

• From the UCF Library homepage, click <Databases Titles A-L>

• Select <E> from the alphabetic list at the top of the page
• Click on <ERIC Thesaurus> from the database list
• Follow the directions on the ERIC Search Wizard User Guide (http://library.ucf.edu/Reference/Instruction/Education/eric_search_wizard_user_guide.htm ) or

 SELECTING SEARCH TERMS  (Using the EBSCOhost Toolbar options)

• Allows you to look up subject terms using the subject authority file, to perform journal searches or to do a new search.
• Click on the thesaurus button on the green toolbar to select search terms from the subject authority file.
• Enter your search terms, for example discipline, in the Browse for field. To search for a person's name, use the following format: last name, first name.
• Click the Alphabetical radio button to list your search results in alphabetical order.  Click on the Relevancy Ranked radio button to list your search results according to relevance.  
• Explode retrieves all references indexed to your term and its related narrower terms.
• Click Browse to view your term(s) as they appear in the Subject Authority File. A results list is then displayed showing terms retrieved.

• Select one or more terms by checking the box to the left of the term desired.  

• After selecting the terms you wish to search, click on <Add> to add the selected term/s to the search. Your terms will appear in the Find box
• Click on <Search> to retrieve records that match your search criteria.
  
   

REFINING YOUR SEARCH:

• Add additional terms to your search to help narrow or broaden it.  

• Click <Search>   .

LIMIT THE CURRENT SEARCH: 

• Use boolean operators when the search contains two or more aspects (terms)

classroom discipline AND  secondary schools (retrieves records that contain both terms)

secondary schools OR high schools (retrieves records that contain one or both terms)

teachers NOT principals (retrieves records that contain the first term but not the second term) 

• Special limiters for ERIC can be used by clicking in the appropriate box and highlighting the needed information.    Reports - Research enables you to retrieve quantitative reports and research reports.

• Publication types: include dissertations./theses, journal articles, guides, historical material, legal/legislative materials, reports, conference papers, statistical data, and tests/evaluation instruments.