Find Background Information and Identifying Search Terms

Reference books can be used to get background information on a topic, acquire basic information on an unfamiliar concept, or gather ideas for a paper. This list provides examples of books in the Reference Collection that may help you define your topic and find good search terms. Consult discipline-specific subject pages or ask a reference librarian for more suggestions.

Sage Encyclopedia of Social Science Research Methods. Clapp Ref H 62 S34 2004 3 vols
Authoritative essays on topics such as randomized control trial, sampling and sampling bias, longitudinal research, estimation, and forecasting

• Encyclopedia of American Education (Clapp Ref LB 17.U54 2001). 3 volumes.
• Encyclopedia of Education (Clapp Ref LB15 .E47 2003). 10 volumes.
• Encyclopedia of Special Education, 2nd ed.(Clapp Ref LC 4007 .E53 2000). 3 volumes.
• International Encyclopedia of Education, 2nd ed. (Clapp Ref LB 15 .I569 1994). 12 volumes.
• International Encyclopedia of Higher Education (Clapp Ref LB 15 .I57). 10 volumes.
• World Education Encyclopedia (Clapp Ref LB 15 W87 2002) 3 volumes. Education systems of countries.

NCES - National Center for Education Statistics

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), located within the U.S. Department of Education, is the primary federal entity for collecting and analyzing data related to education.

• The Site Index may be the best place to start at this site. It provides a good overview of what you can find.
  • Publications & Products - Search by Subject A-Z
    • Topics include: charter schools, computers, dropout rates, educational attainment, homeschooling, international comparisons, and women's educational equity
  • Data Tools - State Education Data Profiles and NAEP State Comparisons
  • Surveys by Category (middle column) - Elementary/Secondary, Postsecondary, International, Resources
    • If you use the Data Analysis System, look for the Tables Library. If you download the files, there is a .xls file that will open in Excel.
  • Tables & Figures - allows you to search for tables contained in the annual reports listed above
  • Fast Facts - can lead to related tables
    
    
• NCES Annual Publications and Reports - tables downloadable to Excel, note popular keywords
  • Condition of Education, also in paper at Clapp Ref L 112 N377a (1975-).
  • Digest of Education Statistics, also in paper at Clapp Docs L 11 D48 (1962-).
  • Indicators of School Crime and Safety, also in paper at Clapp SuDocs ED 1.347:1998-2002
  • Projections of Education Statistics, also in paper at Clapp Docs LA 210 A28 (1975/76-)
    
    
• NCES is your source for many federal surveys and programs known by their acronyms (CCD, TIMSS, NAEP, SASS, HS&B, etc.)
  • Common Core of Data (CCD) - use "Build a Table" or "Data Tables" (under Data Resources)
  • High School and Beyond (HS&B) - use the NEDRC Tables in DAS and the DAS Tables Library
  • National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) - choose "Analyze Data" or the "State Profiles"
  • National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS:88) - use the "Data Analysis System" and the "DAS Tables Library"
  • Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS) - use the "Data Tables"; tables downloadable to Excel

United States Census Bureau - useful for statistics by city or town

U.S. Census Bureau - use Subjects A to Z for topics under "Education" and "School".

American Community Survey - yearly survey designed to take the place of the decennial census long form and provide more timely information. Can be accessed through American Factfinder. The 2006 data is available for places of more than 65,000 population.

American Factfinder - the primary source for data from the American Community Survey and 2000 census as well as thematic and geographic maps.

• Choose People or Housing to get basic statistics
• Data Sets allows you to select more specific tables for chosen geographies by leading you through a series of menus. Towns in New England may be found under the geography "County Subdivision".

  1990 Census and earlier - Some 1990 census data is available through American Factfinder. All 1990 census data is available electronically on various CDs. All census data (1790-2000) in print form is shelved in Docs HA 201 [year] and Docs HD 7293 A488 [year].

Remember: 100% data comes from the short form that is given to everyone. Sample data files come from the long form that is given to 1 in 6 households. Sample data include more detailed information on education, employment, housing, and income.

Other Statistical Sources

National Education Data Resource Center - includes student aid, finances, and institution characteristics.

Statistical Abstract of the US, 1879+ (Clapp Docs HA202 .A2), also available online. Has basic education statistics.

Childstats.gov - Provides statistical reports on the status of U.S. children and their families. Coverage includes population and family characteristics, economic security, health, behavior and social environment, and education. From the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics. Some reports require Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Kids Count - Statistics on the educational, social, economic, and physical well-being of children. The Kids Count Data Book is also available in print, (1994+) at Clapp Docs HQ 792 U5 K53. View profiles in .html or download the raw data.

Research Resources for Statistics: Education

For Country data:

• UNESCO Education and Statistics
• Both World Development Indicators and the UN Common Database have basic education variables

Search the Librarians' Index to the Internet to find more resources. Search for education and statistics, or search more narrowly for your topic. Follow subject headings for more leads. Also consider using the Advanced Search if you need to narrow your results.

Finding Journal Articles

The following indexes and databases provide either full-text articles, or citations (information about when and where the article was published). Once you have a citation for an article, use the Find It! @ Wellesleylink from each citation to connect to the full text, or do a title search in the Wellesley College Library catalog using the name of the journal as the title. Watch dates carefully! If we don't have it, go to the Interlibrary Loan page to request a copy from another library.

Academic Search Complete - scholarly, multi-disciplinary database with selected full text. Dates vary, 1980+

ERIC 1966+ . There are 2 parts to ERIC:

• RIE (items will have ED#s and are ERIC Documents. Some link to full text online and some are available at Clapp in microfiche (floor 1, in the microfiche cabinets by the microfilm, call number ED 1.310/2:[ED no.], others ILL ). The full text of Eric Documents is available online from October 2002+ at the GPO Access Web site.
• CIJE (items will have EJ#s and are journal articles, use the link or check journal titles in catalog).
  Tip: If you get a lot of results, limit your search to Document type: Journal (CIJE)

  For social and psychological aspects of education issues: PsycINFO, 1887+

  For policy information and comparative/international aspects: PAIS (Public Affairs Information Service) 1915+

  For general topic searching or searching for articles that cite known journal articles or books: Web of Science 1965+

  Wellesley has subscriptions to many education periodicals available online and in print. For example:

  American Educational Research Journal 2001+
  Chronicle of Higher Education
  Education Week, the annual Quality Counts issues may be particularly helpful for this class, or use their Education Counts database and build your own tables.
  Review of Educational Research 2001+

  Looking for a different title or year? Search the Library Catalog for additional titles and formats.

  How to cite information

  ---

  Return to top | Return to Research Resources for Education | Return to Resources by Subject

  ---