Conducting A Literature Review. Tips And Suggestions

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Thank you for requesting information from the National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities (NICHCY). As you may know, NICHCY maintains a resource collection and database that is utilized to develop publications, fact sheets, and to answer specific inquiries. Unfortunately, our Information Specialists are not able to do in-depth literature reviews, research bibliographies, and thesis/dissertation abstracts for students, journalists, or professional researchers. This effort, while worthwhile, is far beyond the financial and labor capacities of this project. We are able to provide you with some general information and tips to assist you in the development of your research. The enclosed information should assist you in locating the references you need.

We would suggest that you begin at a university, public, or private library that can give you access to computer databases. Ask the Reference Librarian to help you conduct a bibliographic search on your topic. In many instances, there are computerized databases available for searching. The library may then have some of the materials you identify.

There are two excellent databases in existence which are useful when seeking information resources (articles, conference proceedings, research reports, etc.) in Special Education: ERIC and ECER.These two are described in more detail below, and information is given about how you may access these valuable resources in your literature search.

We hope that this information is useful in assisting you with your search, and we wish you success in your studies and research.

What is ERIC?

ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center) is a federally funded information system with a database of over 40,000 journal annotations and 700,000 education related document abstracts. It is a source of publications about all aspects of education.

How Can You Access ERIC?

• Through the Clearinghouses: One way to use the ERIC system is to contact the ERIC Clearinghouse that covers your topic. (See the list of clearinghouses that follows). The Clearinghouse response may be: pamphlets or flyers, bibliographies of selected publications, suggestions for searching, or referral to other sources of information.
  
  
• Through a Local Library: A university, professional, or public library near your home probably has access to the ERIC database. The librarian can help you find the information you need by using the ERIC reference publications or by doing a computerized search of the database. Many university libraries also have the ERIC database on CD-ROM which often enables users to access and search ERIC without charge.
  
  
• Through a Home, Office, or School Computer: Using a computer equipped with a modem, you can search ERIC via Internet or for a fee by signing up with any of these services:
  • BRS (1-800-955-0906);
  • CompuServe (1-800-848-8199);
  • Dialog (1-800-334-2564);
  • GTE (1-800-927-3000), and
  • OCLC (I-800-848-5878)
    
    

What is ECER?

ECER (Exceptional Child Education Resources) is a database privately developed by the Council for Exceptional Children. The database contains citations and abstracts of print and nonprint materials dealing with the education and development of people of all ages who have disabilities or who are gifted. Resources in all areas of special education and related services are also covered in ECER.

Some overlap exists between the ECER and ERIC databases. This overlap applies primarily to unpublished documents (curriculum and teaching guides, reports etc.) and to articles in core special education journals. The ECER records that do not appear in ERIC include published books, additional journal articles, and nonprint materials. Therefore, to conduct a comprehensive search of resources in special education, it is a good idea to search both ERIC and ECER.

How Can You Access ECER?

To access ECER at the present time, you will need to contact the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) and ask that a search of the database be conducted to meet your specific needs. CEC is currently in the process of making the database available on CD-ROM, a process that should be completed sometime in 1994. For information on the availability and accessibility of the database, or to request an information search, call 1-800-328-0272.

ERIC Clearinghouses

ACCESS ERIC

• (For information about the entire ERIC network)
• Aspen Systems Corporation
• Rockville, MD
• (301) 251-5264; (800) LET-ERIC

Adult, Career, and Vocational Education (CE)

• The Ohio State University
• Columbus, OH
• (614)292-4353; (800) 948-4815
• Internet:ericacve@mapus.acs.ohio-state.edu

Assessment and Evaluation

• Catholic University of America
• Washington, DC
• (202)319-5120; (800) 464-3742
• Internet: eric_ae@cua.edu

Community Colleges

• University of California at Los Angeles
• Los Angeles, CA
• (310)825-3931; (800) 832-8256
• Internet: eeh3usc@mvs.oac.ucla.edu

Counseling and Student Services (CG)

• University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• Greensboro, NC
• (919)334-4114; (800) 414-9769
• Internet: bleuerj@iris.uncg.edu

Disabilities and Gifted Education

• Council for Exceptional Children
• Reston, VA
• (703)264-9474; (800) 328-0272
• Internet: ericec@inet.ed.gov

Educational Management (EA)

• University of Oregon
• Eugene, OR
• (503)346-5043; (800) 438-8841
• Internet: ppiele@oregon.uoregon.edu

Elementary and Early Childhood Education (PS)

• University of Illinois, College of Education
• Urbana, IL
• (217)333-1386; (800) 583-4135
• Internet: ericeece@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu

Higher Education (HE)

• The George Washington University
• Washington, DC
• (202)296-2597; (800) 773-3742
• Internet: eriche@inet.ed.gov

Information and Technology

• Syracuse University
• Syracuse, NY
• (315)443-3640; (800)464-9107
• Internet: eric@ericir.syr.edu

Languages and Linguistics

• Center for Applied Linguistics
• Washington, DC
• (202)429-9292; (800) 276-9834
• Internet: cal@guvax.georgetown.edu

Reading, English, and Communication

• Indiana University, Smith Research Center
• Bloomington, IN
• (812)855-5847; (800) 759-4723
• Internet: ericcs@ucs.indiana.edu

Rural Education and Small Schools (RC)

• Appalachia Educational Laboratory, Inc.
• Charleston, WV
• (304)347-0400; (800) 624-912O
• Internet: u56d9@wvnvm.wvnet.edu

Science, Mathematics and Environmental Education (SE)

• Ohio State University
• Columbus, OH
• (614)292-6717,(800) 276-0462
• Internet: ericse@osu.edu

Social Studies/Social Science Education (SO)

• Indiana University
• Bloomington, IN
• (812)855-3838; (800) 266-3815
• Internet:ericso@ucs.indianaedu

Teaching and Teacher Education (SP)

• American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education
• Washington, DC
• (202) 293-2450; (800) 822-9229
• Internet. jbeck@inet.ed.gov

Urban Education (UD)

• Teachers College, Columbia University
• New York, NY
• (212) 678-3433; (800) 601-4868
• Internet eric-cue@columbia.edu
  
  

Credits

Update 8/23/94

This fact sheet is made possible through Cooperative Agreement #HO3OA30003 between the Academy for Educational Development and the Office of Special Education Programs. The contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of Education nor does mention of trade names, commercial products organization imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. This information is copyright free. Readers are encouraged to copy and share it, but please credit the National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities (NICHCY).