Core Databases

Search for a Specific Journal  When you need to see if Bethel has access

Core Education Journals A selected list available through BUL

See also:

 How do I get the full text of an article?

Finding Full Text of Articles

Full text in a database

When the full text of an article is available, you'll see a link to the .pdf or HTML:

Other ways to get the full text

• If there is no full text icon, click Search for Bethel Libraries Full Text to search for full text throughout all Bethel resources.
• If full text is available, it will open a new window
• If full text does not open in this window, find the "click here for more options" link at the top of the window to view more information

If full text isn't available

If you see the message "Sorry, this item is not available in Bethel's resources," you will have to request the article through BUL's interlibrary loan service.

 

Requesting Articles BUL does not have

• Click Request item through ILLiad to request the articleClick to enlarge

• Log in with your Bethel username and password (the same one you use to log into Blink

  NOTE: The first time you log in you will be asked to create an ILLiad account

• Submit the Request an Article form.
• You will be notified by email when the article is available, usually in 3-5 working days.

 What is an empirical research article?

An empirical research article is a scholarly article in which the authors themselves have conducted the research described in the article.

Limiting searches to return only empirical research articles

Many online indexes/databases--such as ERIC--don't provide a specific limiting feature for empirical research articles. Instead, try limiting your search by adding one or more of these words to your search: (research or study or empirical or qualitative or quantitative)

 What's the difference between a popular journal, a trade journal, and a scholarly journal?

Different types of publications have different purposes and different audiences. When we talk about journals, we can usually divide these publications into three broad categories: scholarly, popular, and trade publications.
 

	Scholarly Journals	Popular Journals	Trade Journals
Purpose	Informs and reports on original research done by scholars and experts in the field.	Entertains and informs a general audience without providing in-depth analysis.	Reports on industry trends and new products or techniques useful to people in a trade or business.
Authors	Articles are written by subject specialists and experts in the field.	Articles are written by journalists, freelance writers, or an editorial staff.	Articles are written by specialists in a certain field or industry.
Audience	Intended for a limited audience - researchers, scholars, and experts.	Intended for a broad segment of the population, appealing to non-specialists.	Intended for practititioners in a particular profession, business, or industry.

 How do I get/use a permalink for an article?

To learn how to find and use permalinks within various BUL databases, see our guide on Persistent Links.

 How do I evaluate my sources?

 Setting up Database Alerts

An alert is a way for you to save a search and get email notification of any new records that have been found in the database that match your search criteria as new records are added. It's a great way to stay current without having to redo previous work! This works for EBSCO databases like Academic Search Premier and ERIC.

• When you are in the database, set up a new account.Click to enlarge
• Perform a search on the topic of your choice.Click to enlarge
• Choose Alert/Save/Share. You can then choose how you would like to be notified.Click to enlarge
• Make sure you use your Bethel email account and save your alert.Click to enlarge
• You can also choose and RSS feed and have it sent to the reader of your choice.

 Conducting Effective Searches

To learn tips and tricks for increasing the effectiveness of your searches, see our guide on effective searching.

 Finding articles with Google Scholar

In addition to our scholarly database subscriptions, you might try Google Scholar.

To see links to subscriptions you have access to through Bethel, click on Settings in the upper right corner of the GS search page. Look for the Library Links section, where you can search for Bethel University Library and select it as your affiliate library. After that, you'll see links to full text @ your library in your search results.

 

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Search for books and ebooks

• Try CLICsearch for Bethel, Concordia-SP, Hamline, Northwestern, St. Thomas, and St. Kate's. Requests usually take only 1 business day.

• Try WorldCat for a search of nearly all libraries

Featured Titles 

See also:

 Do I have a Bethel Library Card?

Your Bethel University ID card is also your Library card. This card allows you to check out materials at Bethel Libraries.

If you do not have an ID card and would like one, email Bethel University CAPS/GS Orientation.

The barcode number on the card can be used to request books through our "CLICnet" system. When prompted for your barcode, simply type in the 14-digit number that appears on the top right corner of the card shown below(leave off the "A" at the beginning and end of the number).

 

If you do not have a physical ID card, you can find your library barcode number in Blink:

1. Log into Blink
2. Click on the "Banner" icon located in the upper right corner
3. Click on "Personal Information"
4. Click on "View Library Barcode Value"

 

 Can I have a book mailed to me?

Yes, those in Bethel's EdD program can have books mailed to them. Learn more about BUL's mailing services.

 Find ebooks using Google Books

In Google Books you may be able to view entire books or just portions of books.

Check to see if we might have the book by finding and clicking on the Find this book in a library link (it will appear just to the right of the results on the Google Books results page).

 

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Electronic Reference Sources

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Find Tests/Measures Using PsycTESTS

The interface looks like PsycINFO, but the contents are restricted to tests. Use words associated with what you want to measure. You may want to search PsycINFO first, to get a sense for the best terminology to use.

Click to enlarge

Find Tests/Measures Using ERIC and PsycINFO

One of the best ways to find tests (AKA measures, scales, instruments, surveys, questionnaires, assessment, evaluation) is to search the journal literature in your discipline. For Education research, the best place to look is ERIC. After ERIC, try PsycINFO, which indexes tests and measures of all kinds, and also has limiting features for both Methodology and Tests & Measures. Super helpful!

OK. But how? It's easy, really. Once you formulate your search (see the "Search Tips" section of this guide on the "Find Articles" tab), add a variety of terms commonly used to describe assessment or evaluation, like this:

Click to enlarge

Among your results, you'll find various studies that use some kind of instrument. Sometimes these are reproduced within the article, and sometimes only mentioned. If you need to find a test that is mentioned in an article, check the reference list to see its source. You can also try searching the database using the name of the test. Not all of these will be available to students, but some will. Remember that professional ethics require that if the article does not explicitly grant permission to use a test reproduced in its entirety, you should attempt to contact the author for permission. Contact information is usually provided within the PsycINFO record. Or ask your friendly librarian for help!

Test Resources on the Web

Tests & Measurements Books in Print

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Library Search--Dissertations

How do I Track Down a Specific Thesis?

What if you need a particular thesis and it’s NOT freely available online? You may use interlibrary loan to request a copy 

Request a copy via ILL (Interlibrary Loan)
Note: In many cases we can acquire an electronic version, but some theses are often physically owned by only one library at the degree-granting institution. Some libraries will loan their copy, some will not. It’s always OK to try, but it’s not a sure thing that you’ll get it.

• Find a record for the thesis in the WorldCat catalog. From there you can click on the Request Item button, log in with your Bethel account, and submit the form.

OR

• Find a record for the thesis in a Bethel database like ERIC or PsycINFO. Click on the link to Search for Bethel Libraries Full Text. Look for the link to request.
  See how to do this here.

OR

• Fill out a blank ILL form. Find a link to ILLiad, our requesting system, on the library’s website (Library Accounts link). Login with your Bethel account. Click on the link for Dissertation/Thesis requests. Fill out the form and submit it.

And Last But Not Least
It's always worth trying a search engine--Google, Bing, or your favorite--using quotation marks around the title and perhaps the author's last name, if the title isn't unique--to see if the author has posted the dissertation on the web somewhere. It's surprising how often this is the case.

And for cases where you can't find a free copy, but you CAN find contact info for the author, try to get in touch with the author and ask if they'd be willing to share a copy of their thesis with you. Many people are thrilled that someone is interested in their blood-sweat-and-tears project, and would happily oblige.

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Statistics & Assessment Resources

Reports & Other Government Resources

Federal Govt. & Other National

Minnesota Education

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Contact an EdD Subject Librarian

	Rhonda Gilbraith Office:  HC 315 651-638-6221 Email Rhonda		Karen Dubay Office:  HC 315A 651-638-6479 Email Karen
Schedule Appointment		Schedule Appointment

Contact the BUL Reference Desk

Phone: 651-638-6224

Email the Reference Desk

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Self Help

Search Library FAQ

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