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Education

This guide provides a variety of helpful resources for conducting research in Education.

Course Guides

IES 405: Inquiry, Evidence, and Decision-Making

 
Overview: 

After today’s session, you will be able to:

  • Understand the different types of databases used when conducting research and the type of content in those databases
  • Effectively construct and revise a database search 
  • Locate the full-text of articles
  • Request an Interlibrary Loan article or book
  • Know how to request assistance from a librarian

 

Discussion Questions: 

  • Why use library sources? 
  • What's the difference between academic vs. non-academic sources? 
  • Is there ever a good time to use non-academic sources? 
  • What is the difference in using a book vs. a journal article for your research? 

Zotero!

 

 

Finding Books

 

The Start Your Search bar searches many databases all at once. It is a great place to find journal articles, books, ebooks, and book chapters.

Use Start Your Search to search across multiple databases with a single search.

 

To limit to items within the library (books, DVDs, etc.), search the library catalog: 


 

Interlibrary Loan

Need a book that we don't have access to? Want to request a digital copy of a book chapter to be sent to you?

 

 

Finding Articles

 

Discussion: 
  • What does it mean for an article to be "peer reviewed"?
  • What does it mean if an article contains "empirical research"? 
    • How does that differ from other types of scholarly research articles? 
    • How can you tell if an article contains empirical research? 
  • If Start Your Search finds so many sources, why use an Education-specific database? 

 

Task: 

  • Using the Start Your Search bar, how can I find peer-reviewed journal articles on the research question: how does social media affect teens' mental health? 
  • How could I strategize my search to focus on empirical articles? 

 

Education-Specific Databases

 

Google Scholar, "Cited By"

 

APA Citation help

 

Discussion: 

  • What can a librarian do for you? 
  • Where can you get help from a librarian?

 

Very quick feedback survey: Link to survey 

 

Sample searches: 

  • Social Emotional Learning
  • Social Emotional Learning  AND (middle school OR junior high)
  • Constructivism AND (middle school OR junior high)
  • “Social media” AND “mental health” AND teens AND (empirical OR “original research” )
    • “Social media” AND “mental health” AND teens AND ("qualitative study" OR "quantitative study" )
  • descriptor:"Dyslexia" OR "Reading Difficulties"

 

 

Other optional topics: 

  • Generative AI in library research
  • Spaces in the library
  • Other databases (streaming video, language learning, data visualization)

LBST 240: Literature and Literacy: Children & Adolescents

 

Muth Library of Children's Literature 

This library is located on the left side of the 3rd floor of the Library

The library is composed of children's books from 14 different literature awards, including the

  • Newbery Medal
  • Caldecott Medal
  • Read Across America & California Reads, and more 

Other sections include the Dr. Seuss books and the Dream Collection, which contains all of the Disney DVDs and many Disney children's books. 

The library is arranged in the Library of Congress format, which means that it is arranged by broad subjects, such as American Literature (the largest section), and Recreation and Leisure. 

Search for these books by using the catalog. 

 

 

 

Searching for Children's Books

  • Use the catalog (second box on the library homepage) to search for books. 
  • Muth Children's Literature Books
    • To find books about a topic (such as a genre): use keyword
      • You can modify search to only the Education Library (but not directly for just Muth books)
      • Sometimes it works to add the term juvenile
    • To find books about a person: start with subject and type in the last name
      • SUBJECT:  King, martin luther
        SUBJECT:  King Martin Luther Jr 1929 1968 Juvenile
    • Award-Winning Books
      • Search the name of the award in quotations: "Caldecott"

 

Guide to the Muth Collection

  • Includes picture books interspersed with chapter books, arranged by author’s last name.
  • Current collection size of Muth and Dream collections (as of 2/20/2025): 5,060 items (includes mostly books but also DVDs and CDs)

 

Call numbers within Muth collection: 

  • Largest area: PS - American Literature
    • PS700 - 3576 – Works by Individual authors
      • PS700 - 893.....17th/18th century (colonial period)
      • PS991 - 3390....19th century authors
      • PS3500 - 3549...Authors 1900-1960
      • PS3550 - 3576...Authors 1961-2000
      • PS3600 - 3626...Authors 2001-
  • Other substantial areas:
    • GV - Recreation and Leisure
      • GV557 - 1198.995….. Sports
      • GV1199 - 1570 …. Games and Amusements
      • GV1580 - 1799.4…. Dance
    • PR – English Literature
      • PR6000 - 6049.... Authors 1900-1960
      • PR6050 - 6076.... Authors 1961-2000
      • PR6100 - 6126.... Authors 2001-
  • Notable sections:
    • PS3513.E2= Dr. Seuss - Dream Collection
    • All of the Disney DVDs, many Disney children’s books.

 

Children’s Literature Awards collected by the Leatherby Libraries:

  • ALSC book lists (Association for Library Service to Children) [will begin collecting next year]
  • AMERICAN BOOKSELLERS ASSOCIATION (ABA) AWARDS – 1993-
    • Search for ABA Award
  • ASIAN/PACIFIC AMERICAN AWARD FOR LITERATURE – 2005-
  • CALDECOTT MEDAL – 1938-
  • CALIFORNIA YOUNG READER MEDAL – 1988-
  • CHRISTOPHER AWARDS – 2001-
  • CORETTA SCOTT KING AWARDS – 1970-
  • INTERNATIONAL LITERACY ASSOCIATION AWARDS – 1975-
  • NEWBERY MEDAL – 1922-
  • ONCE UPON A WORLD CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARDS – 1996-2014
  • PURA BELPRÉ AWARD – 1996-
  • READ ACROSS AMERICA & CALIFORNIA READS (selected titles)
  • ROBERT F. SIBERT INFORMATIONAL BOOK MEDAL – 2001-
    • Search for Robert F. Sibert 
  • SCOTT O’DELL AWARD FOR HISTORICAL FICTION – 1984-
  • STONEWALL BOOK AWARDS – 2010-

Note:  We replace these books, when still available, if they are damaged or lost, including the Dr. Seuss/Theo. LeSieg Collection

Search Library catalog:


 

Use Library of Congress subject terms to search the library catalog:

 

For more book options, explore the options through Interlibrary Loan!

 

 

Sample searches: 

  • Music juvenile
  • SUBJECT:  King, martin luther
  • SUBJECT:  King Martin Luther Jr 1929 1968 Juvenile
  • California Young Reader

CES 101: Self and Identity

 
Overview: 

After today’s session, you will be able to:

  • Recognize the services offered by the Leatherby Libraries
  • Understand the meaning of empirical articles and know how to find them
  • Effectively construct and revise a database search 


Discussion Questions: 

  • Why use library sources? 
  • What's the difference between academic vs. non-academic sources? 
  • Is there ever a good time to use non-academic sources? 
  • What is the difference in using a book vs. a journal article for your research? 
  • What is peer review? 
    • Why is it useful to you? 

 

Your Assignment 

Note: you'll have time to work on this assignment during class after my presentation.

  • Find and evaluate a peer-reviewed, empirical research article of your choice having to do with self and/or identity.

 

Empirical articles
  • Original research
    • What does this mean? 
  • Avoid “think pieces” that present a position or opinion but do not include data obtained by the author.
    • Examples to avoid: "review articles," "theoretical articles," "meta-analyses," etc. 
  • Common Structure
    • Introduction: The authors explain the problem they’re investigating and why it matters.
    • Method/Methodology: They describe the details of how they conducted their study—who or what they studied, how data was gathered, and which tools or procedures they used.
    • Results: They present the data they collected (graphs, tables, statistics, etc.).
    • Discussion: They interpret the results, explain what they mean, and relate them back to the broader topic or previous research.
    • References or Bibliography: lists the citations of other books, articles or reports mentioned within the main study

 

Finding Empirical articles: 

  • Use a library database
    • Some databases will allow you to filter by article type or methodology
  • Limit to peer review
  • Try keywords
    • Add words like “empirical,” “empirical research,” or “original research”
      • Other options: “quantitative study,” “qualitative study,” “mixed-methods study”
    • Combine these with Boolean operators (e.g., “AND,” “OR”) to refine results.

  • Check Abstracts and Summaries:

    • Look for phrases like “we conducted a study,” “the participants were…,” “data were collected…,” or “results indicate….”
      Empirical articles typically describe a methodology (how data was gathered) and results (what was found).

  • Use Advanced Search Filters:

    • Many databases let you limit your results by study type or research design (e.g., “quantitative study,” “qualitative study,” “mixed-methods study”).

    • PsycINFO has a “Methodology” box where you can select “Empirical Study.”

    • ERIC sometimes labels articles with descriptors like “Reports – Research.”

  • Look for Tell-Tale Sections in the Full Text:

    • Once you find a promising article, check if it has Method and Results (or Findings) sections. If it does, it’s very likely empirical.

 

Recommended Databases: 
Use Start Your Search to search across multiple databases with a single search.

 

APA Citation help

 

Discussion: 

  • What can a librarian do for you? 
  • Where can you get help from a librarian?

 

Very quick feedback survey: Link to survey 

 

Sample Searches: 

  • "Social Identity"
  • "Social Identity"  AND sports
  • "Social Identity" AND sports AND (empirical OR “original research” )
    • “Social Identity" AND sports AND ("qualitative study" OR "quantitative study" )
  • descriptor:"Extracurricular Activities" OR "Team Sports"
  • "Social Identity"  AND sports AND "high school"

IES 204: Theories of Learning

Finding Articles
  • Top Databases (search simultaneously by selecting "choose database" option)
    • ERIC
    • Education Full Text 
    • Academic Search Premier 
    • PsycINFO and PsycARTICLES
      • Use these database to limit to type of article and methodology, including qualitative or quantitative studies 
  • Search by entering keywords, or the main subjects of your research topic or question. 
Finding Books
  • Use the catalog (second box on the library homepage) to search for books
    • To find books about a topic: use keyword
    • To find books about a person: start with subject and type in the last name
  • To find electronic books
    • Search in the catalog and limit to electronic book type
    • Search in the Start Your Search box and limit to electronic book under "Source Types" limiter

APA Citations

Develop a Search Strategy

1. Determine your keywords. Pick only the main words of your topic.

Topic: How has constructivism been applied to the teaching of the sciences in middle school?

Main concepts: constructivism

science

middle school

2. Determine how to combine your keywords.

AND    constructivism AND science

OR       middle schools OR junior high

3. Decide how you want to focus your results.

Examples:        peer-reviewed journal articles

                        published in the last 10 years

 

Search Library catalog:


Use Start Your Search to search across multiple databases with a single search.