This document provides an overview of an educational research class that covers contacting the library, using ILLiad and RefWorks, and practicing locating peer-reviewed articles in databases. The goals are to understand how to access library resources online, sign up for interlibrary loan and citation management accounts, and search databases for relevant research articles on a given topic. Key databases recommended for finding educational research include Education Research Complete, ERIC, and PsycINFO.

1. EDUC 601: Educational Research
Todd Wehr Memorial Library, Viterbo University

2. Today’s Goals:
1. Understand how to contact the library and
use the webpage.
2. Sign up for ILLiad and RefWorks.
3. Practice locating articles in databases.
This information is available at:
http://libguides.viterbo.edu/educ601

3. GOAL One: Contact Us!
• Email: reference@viterbo.edu
• Phone: 608-796-3270
• Web Page: www.viterbo.edu/library
• Database Access: Use your VU login and
password.
• Chat: Available on the homepage.

4. Goal One: Your Library

5. Goal Two: Using
What is ILLiad?
• If our library doesn’t have access to an article, you’ll use ILLiad to request it
from other libraries.
When to Use ILLiad
• If you do not locate a full-text article online, use your ILLiad account. Articles
will take approximately 2-5 days to arrive electronically.
Note on Books
• If Viterbo does not own the book, your local public library can often get it
faster. We can help you, but it will take longer and you will have the book for
less time.
Note on Dissertations
• If you would like to request a dissertation, please remember that it is not peer-
reviewed. Also, it may be difficult to find older dissertations as most libraries
will not lend them.
ILLiad Guidelines and Instructions:
http://libguides.viterbo.edu/content.php?pid=217725&sid=1809542

6. Goal Two: Using ILLiad
Sign up for an account:
Use your Viterbo username
and password.
When to Use ILLiad:
1. When searching databases, if you
don’t see a link to “fulltext,” “PDF,”
or “linked fulltext,” click on “360
Link to Full Text.”
2. If you still are not able to retrieve
your article, request it through
ILLiad.
Tutorial:
http://alturl.com/hvs58

7. Goal Two: Using
• Official RefWorks Tutorial:
http://www.youtube.com/user/ProQuestRefWorks#p/c/0/MuVb9j0mX6Y
• Our Guide:
http://libguides.viterbo.edu/aecontent.php?pid=217725&sid=4900411
What is RefWorks?
RefWorks is a citation management
program that helps you organize your
research. You may import articles from
databases, create a work cited list, and get
help formatting an APA-style paper.
Access RefWorks through the library’s
homepage.
Choose “Export” from within the database.

8. Goal Three: Searching for Peer-Reviewed, Primary Research
Articles
What you need:
• Research articles (studies)
• Peer-reviewed (refereed)
• Published recently (within 5
years)
Locate these from the EDUC 601
Research Guide or the A-Z List of
Databases.
Where you’ll find these:
• Databases:
• Try Education Research
Complete
• ERIC
• Professional Development
Collection
• Academic Search Complete
• For behavioral issues, try:
• PsycInfo and/or PsycArticles

9. Goal Three: What is “Related” research?
• You need to locate articles related to your topic. This means they
do not have to match your exact topic:
• Research question: Does student writing (journaling) improve writing
skills?
• Age: Middle School
Broader concepts: authorship, writing skills, literacy, communication,
writing activities, student improvement, secondary education
Narrower concepts: dialogue journals, diaries, journaling, free writing,
middle school
Additional concepts: academic improvement, teaching methods for
writing improvement
Most of these concepts can be worked into acceptable article searches.

10. Available Research
Your
Research
Question
Related
Research:
Concept A
Study
Methodologies
Related
Research:
Concept B

11. Goal Three: Your word selection is “key” to your success!
• Use Keywords off the top of your head.
Generate synonyms, too. This chart may
help: http://alturl.com/6rf76
• Use a thesaurus. Search for the words the
database prefers. Look at the top of your
screen or on the left-hand column of your
results page.

12. Goal Three: How to interpret key article information.
• Once in a database, look closely at these items to
interpret your citation:
• Use the “scholarly/peer-reviewed” limiter
• Check the publication information (date,
journal title, etc.)
• Consider who the author(s) are and what their
expertise is
• Take a quick look at the contents to decide if
it’s a study by reviewing the abstract

13. TIME
SAVER:
What Can
You
Discover
from a
Citation?

14. Remember: Contact Us!
• Email: reference@viterbo.edu
• Phone: 608-796-3270
• Web Page: www.viterbo.edu/library
• Database Access: Use your VU login and
password.
• Chat: Available on the homepage.
• For a more detailed look at the research process, go to:
• http://libguides.viterbo.edu/researchprocess