Special Education Research

Research in Special Education:

a guide to library resources

For additional assistance:

Ask the librarian at the Information Desk (315 / 267-2485, ask for the Information Desk)
Click on "Research Assistance" to contact the desk through Instant Messenger, e-mail a question or schedule an appointment with a librarian.

The library home page web address is http://www.potsdam.edu/library.

REFERENCE SOURCES

Overviews:

Encyclopedia of Special Education (Ref LC4007 .E53 2000)
Educational Measurement (Ref. LB3051.E266 1993)

Each contains overviews and references on major topics in this area. For developments since the dates of publication of reference sources, see recent journal articles.

Special Education Law:

Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe (through the library web page - click on "Other Catalogs & Collections") gives access to the full text of US and state laws and recent case law.
The Yearbook of Education Law (Ref LB2514 .Y4) is an annual survey of case law.
Information specific to some cases in New York State may be found in the Judicial Decisions of the Commissioner of Education (Ref. KFN5662.A55.) Look in the subject index under 'Children with Handicapping Conditions.'
School Law (KFN5662 .H3 1998) answers questions about law, especially case law, pertaining to New York schools.

Testing in Special Education: See, for example

Educational measurement (Ref.LB 3051.E266 1993) - for discussion of some research.
Mental measurements yearbook (Ref. Z 5814.P8B932) - for test critiques.
Tests in Print V (Ref LB3060.32.N67 B85 1999) 2 volumes - comprehensive index to reviews in MMY (above.)

Research designs: The Educator's Desk Reference (Ref. LB1028.27.U6F74 1989) includes chapters which summarize research designs and statistical procedures.

THE CATALOG; for books: You can search the online catalog in a number of ways including author, title and subject. Some of the useful subject headings to use are:

HANDICAPPED CHILDREN - EDUCATION
MENTALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN
SPECIAL EDUCATION
SPECIAL EDUCATION - UNITED STATES

Remember to look through the subdivisions of your subject headings, eg. SPECIAL EDUCATION - NEW YORK (STATE)

To find related subject headings in the online catalog: Use Subject Search mode, or sh=. If the subject heading displayed has an asterisk after it, enter the line number with a plus sign after it (ex.: 5+.) This will often lead to more records. Also try alternative terms, use the Library of Congress Subject Headings books, or ask for help.

U.S. GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS: In addition to searching the online catalog, look in Marvice, through the library web page (click on "Other Collections", then "U.S. Government").

PERIODICALS: There are many periodicals that publish research in special education. The indexes to these periodicals that will be most useful are:

ERIC - The combined index to many education journals and to the ERIC microfiche collection. This is probably the most important database for research in education. The two indexes which make up ERIC, Current Index to Journals in Education and Resources in Education, are available through the library web page and in paper in the Reference area.)
See the Thesaurus of ERIC Descriptors, for subject headings (in ERIC online, and at Ref LB1028.27.U6 T4 ed.13) Use of subject headings usually gives more focused and useful search results.
The ERIC documents (labeled ED) are on microfiche in black file cabinets behind the stairs on the first floor, filed by their ED number (ED nnn-nnn).
ERIC Database on the Internet: In the library, search at computers in the Reference area with Internet access, from the library's home page (http://www.potsdam.edu/library).
To reach the FirstSearch version of ERIC from off campus
- Go to the library home page
- Click on Other Collections
- Click on ERIC
- Click on ERIC via FirstSearch
- When BearBridge dialog box comes up, type in your SUNY Potsdam computing services username and password.
To reach several sites which currently allow free searching of ERIC over the Internet: See this web page - http://www.accesseric.org/searchdb/dbchart_s.html
Psychological Abstracts - An index to journals in psychology. (Through the library web page - click on "Finding Articles")

And several other indexes depending on the topic.

These periodical indexes provide author and subject access to many periodicals, including these important journals:

Eduation and Training in Mental Retardation Learning Disability Quarterly

Exceptional Children Remedial and Special Education (RASE)

Gifted Child Quarterly Roeper Review

Intervention in School and Clinic Teaching Exceptional Children

Journal of Educational Research and more

Check the library online catalog, or one of the shorter index specific lists, to determine which periodicals are to be found here.

Locating Library Materials

If it is a book:

Look in the online catalog under the author or title. If not found we can check the St. Lawrence Univ. online catalog - available through the library's web page (click on Finding Books, then Other Library Catalogs.). Interlibrary loan may be requested for any book you can identify, if you have enough time to wait.

If it is a journal article:

Look in the online catalog - under the title of the journal.
If the title is there type in the line number and look for the call number, which should be highlighted on the screen(s.)
Information about the extent of the library holdings appears immediately after the call number.
Paper and microfilm holdings are listed separately in the online catalog.
Recent issues (up to a year) will be on the open Current Periodicals shelves, as indicated.
Older paper issues are shelved with the book collection, by call number.

If it is an unpublished paper, conference report, speech, curriculum guide, etc.:

Try ERIC. Search in ERIC by author, title, or subject. The reports in the ERIC microfiche collection are mainly unpublished materials of this kind. ERIC microfiche are filed by their document number (ED nnn nnn).

If it is a dissertation or master's theses:

These will take some time to obtain, since they must usually be requested from afar, and sometimes aren't available at all. Still, you may request them through interlibrary loan.

Key library services:

Information desk service: Ask for help of any sort at the Information Desk, call 315 / 267-2486, or contact via Instant Messenger. When classes are in session during the fall and spring semesters hours of service are:

Monday through Thursday 9:00 am - 9:00 pm
Fridays 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Sunday 1:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Hours during college breaks and summer sessions are posted.

Interlibrary loan:

To request materials not available in Potsdam you can use the library web form, or fill out cards at the Information Desk and give them to the librarian there. Allow for a minimum of a week to ten days.

Search for materials not found on the shelves:

Fill out a "Search" card for any item you need that you do not find on the shelf. Trained searchers will try to find it. If found it will be held for you at the Circulation Desk.

latest update 2/01 HC (chambehe@potsdam.edu) (315 / 267-3312)

Eduation and Training in Mental Retardation	Learning Disability Quarterly
Exceptional Children	Remedial and Special Education (RASE)
Gifted Child Quarterly	Roeper Review
Intervention in School and Clinic	Teaching Exceptional Children
Journal of Educational Research	and more