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Education

Finding Academic Articles

How to search in multiple EBSCO databases at once

Your research topic might overlap with other disciplines. By searching in other databases, you can cast a wider net and find relevant articles. 

Pro-tip: You can search in multiple Ebsco databases at the same time if your research topic overlaps (ex: if you're researching school counseling, you might want to search in ERIC and PsycINFO at the same time)

 

Image of Ebsco search boxes, with a circle drawn around Choose Databases

Select Choose Databases and click the box next to the other databases you want to use at the same time. Press Ok and then click the Search button to re-do your search with the same keywords but this time in all the databases you selected. 

Google Scholar can be a great resource when you're trying to find related articles for your topic. It's also helpful if you're having some issues finding resources on a topic where there might be a limited amount of available published literature or if you've found some good articles but they're not the most recent publications.

Access Google Scholar from Quick Links on the Library homepage. In Google Scholar, paste in the title of the article you're using for your research. Look for the Cited By link underneath the article info. For the example below, 88 articles have cited the Oakleaf & Kaske article since it was published in 2009. By clicking on Cited By, you would see the information for the 88 articles. Look for the PDF or FindIt@UND button to access the articles. 

 

 

Pro-tip: Don't see the FindIt@UND button next to an article you need for your research? Get it through our Interlibrary Loan service!

Databases

Academic vs. Practioner Journals

Both academic journals and practitioner journals are useful when looking for research on topics in education.

There are some differences: 

  • Academic journals in education feature articles written by researchers which focus on the latest scholarship in the fields of teaching and learning. These will often have a specific format (introduction, methods, results, and discussion) and a lengthy list of references. These articles are frequently peer-reviewed and can be excellent resources for educators on measurement and evaluation, policy, leadership and decision-making, human development, theoretical and conceptual foundations, and institutional structures.
  • Practitioner journal articles are written to reach those working in the field and will have information on practical and engaging instructional methods or trends in the field. These articles will also have references but tend to be fewer. Education practitioner journals feature articles written by educators on trends, changes, and innovative practices in the field. These journals can be excellent resources for educators on instruction, curriculum design, and effective and engaging activities for the classroom.

Pro-tip:  To limit to peer-reviewed journals

  • After clicking on the Search icon or pressing ENTER
  • Select "Peer-reviewed Journals" under "Availability" in the left hand column on the search results page.