Instruction
Home

SEARCHING ERIC THROUGH OVID


Choosing ERIC

To access ERIC using the library's subscription go to: http://www.library.umass.edu/research/html/eric.html Searching ERIC 1. You may click on the icons on the top of the page to discover how to search. Try tools to learn about the Thesaurus. Click on Help for tips on searching.

2. Type your search in the Keyword box and press Enter.

ex. multicultural education. The system will "map" your term. The next screen that appears will allow you to choose additional terms that might be useful in your search by checking in the box to the left of the term. It is usually preferable to select subject heading terms, rather than the keyword. However, if you would like to search by keyword, scroll down to the end of the list and click next to the keyword choice (in black). At the top of the page press Continue.

3. You will probably want to narrow your search by typing another term and later combining the terms. For example: In the Keyword box type Middle schools and Enter. Again, you will go through the mapping screen. If you click on Middle Schools you will next see a screen that gives related words that you can check. When you have checked the desired boxes click Continue. Next you will combine the terms.

4. To Combine terms click on Combine at the top of the page. The next screen will allow you to check the boxes of the terms you wish to combine. You may then click on Display to see the records. Note: You will probably want to keep adding terms until your search is at least under 100 records.

Note: see shortcuts towards the end of this document to learn how to speed up your searching

Viewing Records:

Once you click on Display, the next screen will show a brief citation. There are usually only 20 records on a screen. After you have viewed those records click on Next Records. To see more information click on Abstract or Complete Records. Note: Records that begin with an ED number are on microfiche (in our microforms room). Other records should have a Journal citation. You will need to check the Library Catalog to determine if UMASS owns the journal. To do that you can click on that option on the top of the screen (when viewing a record).

Marking/E-Mailing/Saving Records:

1. Check the box to the left of the citation to mark (save).

2. When all records for that search have been checked scroll to the bottom of the Titles Page. There should be a chart that allows you to change the format from Citation + Abstract to Complete Record. Click on the option you prefer. 3. Click on E-Mail to send citations to an e-mail address.
4. Click on Save to download records to a disc. You may change the file name and drive.
5. To print (if a printer is available) click on Display. After the records are displayed on the screen you may press the Print button available on your Netscape terminal.

Shortcuts

1. In the Keyword box simply type your whole search strategy
multicultural education and (middle school$ or junior high school$) and language.

If you are not sure of a term check the thesaurus (under tools).

2. To combine searches simply type the numbers of the searches you wish to combine with the word and between the numbers
    1   multicultural education
    2   middle schools or junior high schools
    3   poetry

You type 1 and 2 and 3

(or) 1 and 2 and poetry

3. Truncation $

Teach$ will retrieve teacher, teachers, teaching etc.
example: 1 and 2 and teach$
4. Limiting --you can limit by year desired and records only in English, Spanish, etc.
    Choose the Limit icon on the top of the menu for other limiting features

Logging Off

1. When finished searching, go back to the Main Search Page and click on Logoff

2. On the next screen click on File and Exit from the upper left hand corner.


Lori Mestre, M.A.L.S., Ed.D. Coordinator of Instructional and Curriculum Support Services, W.E.B. Du Bois Library
University of Massachusetts Amherst 01003 lori.mestre@library.umass.edu
http://www.library.umass.edu/subject/education ovideric.doc 7/02