ISTC 780/782:

Investigating & Evaluating

Research in Instructional Technology

Claire Holmes, MLS

cholmes@towson.edu
Research & Instruction Librarian,
Cook Library
 Today’s Agenda:

 Review general search strategies

 Find ARTICLES using database indexes

 Document organization tools

Search Tips

 REVIEW: Boolean search connectors

◦ education AND technology

 Combining >1 topic

◦ instruct OR teach
 Combining synonymous terms
What AND does…

education technology

education AND technology

What OR does…

instruct teach

instruct OR teach
Don’t forget: Truncation helps

educat* finds…
educat e
educat ion
educat ing
educat or

…etc!
 Finding Scholarly Articles

Research
Databases
or
Subject
Gateways
Multidisciplinary Topics…
 Check Cook Library Subject Gateways for database
suggestions

 Search multiple EBSCO databases simultaneously

 Search different facets of a topic in different

databases
 Database search sample
Add other EBSCO databases
to your search if needed.

Hint: Divide your topic into its components

and use [or] to combine synonymous
terms in separate keyword fields.

Use subject tags/terms

listed here (and in the Use [research or study] as keywords
article citations) to modify to identify primary research sources.
your own keyword choices.
 Tracking a citation… 3 steps.

2. Type in the journal title

here.

1. Journal List

3. Noting the date ranges of

journal subscription options,
choose a database that covers
the timeframe you need.
 Library Style Guides

 Citing
Sources

 APA,
MLA,
etc.

• Print & electronic citation samples

• In-text citation guides
Elements of an APA Citation
(Book Source)
 Author/s last name & first initial
 Year of publication
 Title of book
 Publication information

◦ Place (including state name)

◦ Publisher’s name
Citing Books in APA Style

Melvin, S. P. (2005). Cyberlaw and e-commerce

regulation: An entrepreneurial approach.

Mason, OH: Thomson.

Elements of an APA Citation
(Electronic Source)
 Author/s last name & first initial
 Date of original source
 Title of document
 Title and publication information
 DOI (if applicable)
 Internet address/URL (if applicable)
 Date retrieved from the web (if applicable)
Elements of an APA Citation
(Electronic Source)
What is a DOI?

 DOI is an abbreviation for Digital Object

Identifier

 A DOI is a permanent publisher-assigned

number that allows ongoing access to a
document
 IMPORTANT Changes:
APA (6th edition) RETRIEVAL STATEMENTS
 Citations must include a DOI or the URL of
the original source.

 Database names are no longer included in

retrieval statements.

 Retrieval dates are no longer required except

when the content is in a changing digital
format, such as blogs or wikis.
 Sample: Article Citation w/ DOI
LaRocque, M. (2008). Assessing perceptions

of the environment in elementary classrooms:

The link with achievement. Educational

Psychology in Practice, 24(4), 289-305.

doi:10.1080/02667360802488732.
Sample: Article Citation w/o DOI

Foster, W. & Miller, M. (2007, July).

Development of the literacy achievement gap:
A longitudinal study of kindergarten through
third grade. Language, Speech, & Hearing
Services in Schools. 38(3), 173-181.
Retrieved from http://lshss.asha.org/
Citing Web Sources in APA Style
Basic Format
Author last name, 1st initial. (year, month,
day) of original source. Title of document.
Retrieved from http://xxxyyy.zzz
 Sample Internet Source Citation:
CAST: Center for Applied Special Technology.

(2007). Universal Design for Learning

(UDL) Guidelines - Version 1.0. Retrieved from

http://www.cast.org/publications/UDLguide

lines/UDL_Guidelines_v1.0-Organizer.pdf
Document Retrieval & Organization Tools
 EBSCO options
◦ Create an EBSCO account
◦ EBSCO’s Alert/Save/Share feature
◦ EBSCO’s email client (attach .pdf)
◦ APA Citation “help”

 MS WORD 2007 “References” feature

 ILLiad (Cook Library’s Interlibrary Loan

system)
EBSCO’s Account Options
Questions?
Feel free to contact either Education Librarian:
Claire Holmes Ada Woods
410.704.3795 410.704.5326
cholmes@towson.edu awoods@towson.edu
pages.towson.edu/cholmes

Or any reference librarian:

Cook Library Reference Desk: 410.704.2462
(M-R: 8am-10pm, F: 8-8, Sat: 10am-8, Sun:noon-2am)
IM: (tucookchat)
TEXT: 66746