Appendix A: The ERIC System

The Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) is a nationwide information network designed to provide users with ready access to education literature. At the heart of ERIC is the largest education database in the world; it contains more than 735,000 bibliographic records of documents and journal articles. These records are indexed and abstracted to allow for easy searches by topic. It's easy to submit documents to ERIC, which means there is a lot in there. Some of it is excellent, the usefulness of other items is dubious. By reading the abstracts - which are simply summaries of the articles themselves - you can usually figure out which ones will be relevant to your work.

ERIC offers free reference and referral services to the public through its network of Clearinghouses and its toll free number 1-800-LET-ERIC. Staff are available to provide ERIC publications, answer questions about ERIC, locate hard-to-find documents, and refer callers to other appropriate information sources.

There are 1,000 locations designated as ERIC information service providers. Each maintains a substantial microfiche collection and/or can perform computer searches of the ERIC database. Typically, university, state, and large city public libraries offer access to ERIC. Searches on ERIC can be done manually, online, or by using CD-ROM (compact disc). Whichever search method you use, your first step is to define and focus your topic. Identify key words (descriptors) to use in your search. You can consult the Thesaurus of ERIC Descriptors to help you choose appropriate words or terms. The Thesaurus is available at the service provider site.

LITERATURE SEARCHES

MANUAL: This is the "old fashioned" way, for those without computer access. Consult the printed indexes (Resources in Education and Current Index to Journals in Education) to find the citations of appropriate documents.

Computer searching is the most efficient means of retrieving a large amount of information because it allows you to combine two or more subjects. Both of these methods allow you to identify, by the use of Boolean operators (these are the words AND, OR, NOT which are used to join descriptors), articles that are indexed under different subject terms and that cut across a variety of subjects. You can limit your search to such fields as author, publication date, subject, or document type.

ONLINE SEARCHES - For experienced ERIC users: These can be both efficient and effective, provided you know what you are looking for. If you have not sufficiently focused your topic, however, it can result in irrelevant material and because you are paying for computer time, can be expensive. CD-ROM SEARCHES - For novice ERIC users: These menu-driven programs make it easy for novice searchers to locate information. After you input the descriptors for your subject, the system will help you locate citations containing terms related to your topic. Because there are no online charges being incurred, you enjoy the luxury of "browsing" while the computer does the searching.

Using different sets of descriptors, and different Boolean operators, you can combine or separate terms to "fine-tune" your search. You can now browse through the citations and mark those you would like to print out. You can choose to print only certain selected fields. (Citation only = CITN; title and abstract = TI, AB)

Regardless of which type of search used, the result is a list of article citations identified by an ERIC number, which has either an ED or EJ prefix (for example, ED3489 or EJ6631). ED means ERIC document, and EJ means ERIC journal. ERIC documents are generally kept on microfiche or film. Many libraries carry all the ERIC documents. ERIC journals articles are re-printed from published journals and may be available on fiche or in book form. If the facility has a microfiche reader/printer, you may choose to read from the screen and print only selected items for further study. There will probably be a charge for each page printed. Libraries do not carry all journals; if your library does not have a journal article you need, ask the librarian to see if you can get it through inter-library loan.

The Reference Librarian is your key to successfully learning your way around the ERIC system at your library. Inquire about best times and for assistance in using their system. Ask if there are workshops (often offered to incoming students) that you might attend. Be aware of heavy student use times (when are student research papers beginning?) You may need to sign up for a time to use the system or it may be first-come, first-served. Some locations may impose a time limit to allow greater access for all users.

SUBMITTING DOCUMENTS TO ERIC

In addition to using ERIC in your research process, consider submitting your completed findings to ERIC for others to read! Entering your work into ERIC will ensure continuous availability to others.

Submitting your document is easy. There is no fee to pay and only one form to complete and sign. A Reproduction Release Form is available from ERIC or the Research Network.

A document does not have to be formally published to be entered into the ERIC database. In fact, ERIC seeks out the unpublished or "fugitive" material not usually available through conventional library channels. ERIC would like to be given the opportunity to examine virtually any documents dealing with education or its aspects. The ERIC audience is so broad (encompassing teachers, administrators, school board members, librarians, researchers, media specialists, students and their parents, counselors, and every other type of educator or educational practitioner) that it must collect a wide variety of documentation in order to satisfy its users.