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Education: Starting your Research
How to approach an unfamiliar topic!
When you begin research on a topic with which you are not familiar, you may want to start by reading some basic materials written by experts in their fields. This is a great way to research smarter, not harder!
Here are some resources to get you started on your journey of discovery:
Encyclopedias can provide definitions and general background information on a topic. Refer to UW Tacoma's Dictionaries & Encylopedias Guide for more information.
For example, Education Today: Issues, Policies & Practices (2018) examines education in America, with articles written by education experts and administrators on a wide range of topics, starting with a historical look at education, and including sections on: Education Theory; Psychology; Law; Government; School Safety; Diversity; Curriculum; Counseling; Teaching Methods; Technology in Education; Testing; Alternative Education; Teacher Education; International Perspectives; and more. (available through Gale Virtual Reference Library)
Handbooks are good resources for discovering information about a topic. They are written by experts and often provide overviews of research and topics as well as including bibliographies that help you find additional studies related to the topic. See examples below:
Dictionaries offer you a quick way to look up a relevant term in your field. Unsure of who Piaget was? Want to remind yourself of what intrinsic motivation or scaffolding are?
Books are often good places to start your explorations. Scholarly books contain authoritative information which can include comprehensive or in-depth coverage of research, historical perspectives, and overviews of a topic. They are good for getting background information on a topic, to add more in-depth information to your topic, and often to get multiple views on a topic. Click on the Books tab on the left for information on how to find books.
Encyclopedias
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Encyclopedia of Bilingual Education by ISBN: 9781412937207Publication Date: 2008-06-05With articles on Spanglish and Spanish loan words in English as well as Southeast Asian refugees and World Englishes, this encyclopedia has a broad scope that will make it useful in academic and large public libraries serving those involved in teaching and learning in multiple languages. -
Encyclopedia of EducationISBN: 002865594XThis fully-revised second edition offers a complete view of the institutions, people, processes, roles and philosophies found in educational practice in the United States and throughout the world. -
Encyclopedia of the Social and Cultural Foundations of Education by ISBN: 9781412963992Publication Date: 2008-10-29The Encyclopedia of the Social and Cultural Foundations of Education provides a comprehensive introduction to the social and cultural foundations of education. The first two volumes consist of A-Z entries, and a third volume is made up of documentary, photographic, and visual resources. The two A-Z volumes include essays representing the major disciplines (philosophy, history, sociology, etc.). -
Gender and Education by ISBN: 9780313041969Publication Date: 2007-01-01Exploring the intersection of gender and education, this work includes entries that deal with educational theories, research, curricula, practices, personnel, and policies, but also with variations in the gendering of education across history and cultural contexts. It includes discussions on gender as a social construction. -
Handbooks
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The Palgrave international handbook on adult and lifelong education and learning by ISBN: 1137557834This Handbook provides a wide-ranging frame of reference for researching adult and lifelong education and learning. With contributions from scores of established and newer scholars from six continents, the volume covers a diverse range of geopolitical and social territories across the world. -
Handbook of Contemporary Education Economics by ISBN: 9781785369063Publication Date: 2017-12-29This Handbook provides a comprehensive overview of the modern economics of education literature, bringing together a series of original contributions by globally renowned experts in their fields. -
Handbook of Research on Classroom Diversity and Inclusive Education Practice by ISBN: 9781522525219Publication Date: 2017-05-30The Handbook of Research on Classroom Diversity and Inclusive Education Practice is an authoritative reference source for the latest scholarly research on ways to effectively teach all students and further refine and strengthen school-wide inclusive pedagogy, methods, and policies. -
Handbook of Research on Digital Content, Mobile Learning, and Technology Integration Models in Teacher Education by ISBN: 9781522529545Publication Date: 2017-07-13The Handbook of Research on Digital Content, Mobile Learning, and Technology Integration Models in Teacher Education is a pivotal scholarly reference source that outlines the most efficient ways for educators to employ technology-enhanced lesson plans in their classroom. -
Handbook of the Sociology of Education in the 21st CenturyISBN: 3319766945This handbook unifies access and opportunity, two key concepts of sociology of education, throughout its 25 chapters. It explores today's populations rarely noticed, such as undocumented students, first generation college students, and LGBTQs; and emphasizing the intersectionality of gender, race, ethnicity and social class -
International Handbook on Early Childhood Education by ISBN: 9402409254Publication Date: 2017-10-18This international handbook gives a comprehensive overview of findings from longstanding and contemporary research, theory, and practices in early childhood education in the Northern and Southern hemispheres. -
K-12 STEM Education by ISBN: 9781522538332Publication Date: 2017-10-31K-12 STEM Education: Breakthroughs in Research and Practice is a pivotal source of academic material on the latest trends, techniques, technological tools, and scholarly perspectives on STEM education in K-12 learning environments. Including a range of pertinent topics such as instructional design, online learning, and educational technologies, this book is an ideal reference source for teachers, teacher educators, professionals, students, researchers, and practitioners interested in the latest developments in K-12 STEM education.
Dictionaries and More
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The Almanac of American Education 2017 by ISBN: 9781598889185Publication Date: 2017-06-29Statistics compiled by the US Census and NCES provide "historical and current data, insightful analysis, and useful graphics that paint a compelling picture of the state of education in America." -
Historical Dictionary of American Education by ISBN: 9780585392028Publication Date: 1999-01-01The history of American education is a vital and productive field of study. This reference book provides factual information about eminent people and important topics related to the development of American public, private, and parochial schools, covering elementary and secondary levels.
