Note to researchers: There are different journals and different coverage in Education Research Complete. Use both for most comprehensive research.

Performing Your Search:
1. Search screen	Advanced search will open automatically and is the best search option.
2. Beginners-- keyword searching	Using the keyword ("select a field") option, enter search terms chosen for your topic and begin your search
2b. Advanced Searching-- use "descriptors" for more precise research	Before searching, identify relevant subject headings ("descriptors"). To do this, click on the Thesaurus button at the top of the page. You can now browse the ERIC Thesaurus, where you find the "controlled vocabulary" that focuses your search. Enter your subject term or synonym in the browse for box, choose your preferred ranking, and click on browse. Click on a blue link of interest to see suggested options and a definition.( Note: new terms may not be included here--search them as keywords.) Return to advanced search and enter the terms you have found, exactly as they appeared in the thesaurus. Choose SU descriptors from the menu provided to the right of the search box.
3. Phrases	" " require adjacency-- example: "portfolio assessment" Without quotes, terms will be searched individually with AND assumed
4. Other Search Options	author: to locate more articles by a known author accession number: use the EJ## or ED## to return directly to a specific source abstract source: to find articles in a particular journal These fields may be used alone, or combined with subject terms using multiple search boxes. For example, curriculum development as a descriptor AND Maina as an author will result in a list of articles and documents on that subject by that author.
5.Limit as desired	At the bottom of the advanced search screen you will see many limit options. Here are a few of the most useful: Date, Language, Journal or Document, Publication Type (for primary research, choose "reports - research") Note: It is strongly recommended you do not choose full-text or "peer reviewed" limits.
6. Combining Terms--And/Or/Not	Use Boolean logic to combine terms for searching, use: and to require that both terms are included, making your results more precise. (intelligence tests and children) [and is assumed when you choose "narrow results by subject"] or for results with either term, making your results more comprehensive. (adolescen* or teen) not* to exclude a term. (disabilities not mainstreaming)
7. Begin search	Click on search

Help: Excellent help topics are available in ERIC to guide you through your search, if needed.

Selecting & Retrieving Results:
8. Save Desired Items	The result of your search is a list of brief records. Click on the add to folder link under any title to add that item to a select list, helpful for focusing on only those articles of interest.
9. View Folder Items	On the right of the screen you will see your folder list develop,with a Folder View link to click for the full list.
10. Detailed Records	Click on each title to see the full citations and abstracts, or hold your mouse over the magnifying glass for brief information. These sets of information are called records. Find articles with similar content by looking for relevant descriptors for further searches.
11. E-mail -- Print-- Save	In "folder view" you will find buttons at the top of your screen to save the desired records in the format of your choice. The default settings do the following: 1) send you the detailed records; 2) delete everything from your current folder. If you choose email you will get a purl(persistent url) from which you can return to the article information in ERIC. Full-text articles are not available in ERIC. Formatted APA citations are available, and must be saved or sent separately from the detailed records. (Hint: Uncheck the default box that deletes your folder items.) Important: Citations require editing to ensure accurate formatting.
12. Obtaining Articles (EJ#)	Print & Electronic: Look for any of these links to full text: *pdf Full Text, html Full Text, or 360* Link. This last option is found at the bottom of the page and will search other online databases and the library catalog. Look for an "article" link to an electronic version, or use the catalog link to see whether Penfield owns the exact journal issue you need in paper. Interlibrary Loan (ILL): If Penfield Library does not own the article** you want, you may request an interlibrary loan directly from the 360 results page. Click on the link marked ILL, log on, and submit your request. You must first register with the ILLiad system.
13. Obtaining Documents (ED#)	Non-journal documents from 1993 to date are usually available electronically through a Full text from ERIC link. You can also search by ED accession number at the website http://www.eric.ed.gov/. Older ERIC documents are available on microfiche at Penfield Library.
15. Evaluate	Evaluate the articles and documents retrieved and refine your search accordingly. If you have many results, you might want to try narrowing by choosing "narrow results by subject" (on the results page) or "find similar results" (on the detailed record page).
16. Search History	To return to a list of earlier searches in your current session, use the Search History link on the search screen. From here you can also revise past searches.