Article Databases
ERIC, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar are the most generally useful article databases for special education topics. For some topics, health related databases may be useful (linked further down on this page).
The Search Tutorial section of this guide provides quick instruction on using databases to find articles. Tips for Finding Full Text will help you get to the full article.
If you haven't used these databases before or you have a topic that is difficult to search it might be a good idea to make a Zoom appointment with a librarian. See Schedule Appointment button on this page.
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PsycINFO This link opens in a new windowSubjects: Psychology, Education, Business, Communication, Linguistics, Social Work
Info type: scholarly articles, book info, conference papers, dissertations
How To: ProQuest Basics
Locating Quantitative and Qualitative Articles in PsycINFO
PsycINFO Quick Reference Guide -
Google Scholar with EMU Full Text This link opens in a new windowSearch for scholarly materials on any topic
Info type: scholarly articles, books, research reports, theses, working papers, cited sources
Access Tips: Use link above to get access to EMU subscriptions with Findtext+ links.
If this link does not work and you receive an error message from Google then use this alternate link to Google Scholar and also set your Google Scholar preferences to show EMU library access links.
Search Instruction: Google Scholar Video -
ERIC This link opens in a new windowKey source for Education articles and reports. To update results use Supplemental Education Index.
Info type: scholarly articles, professional articles, dissertations, ERIC documents
Brief how to video: ERIC Basics
Look up Subject terms: Thesaurus on ERIC.gov -
Supplemental Education Index This link opens in a new window
Use this database to update results after using ERIC in order to get more articles from 2025 and later. You won’t be able to search by grade level.
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Social Services Abstracts This link opens in a new windowSubjects: Social Work, Social Problems, Poverty, Disabilities, Gerontology
Info type: scholarly articles, book reviews, dissertations
Brief How-To Video: ProQuest Basics
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REHABDATA - National Rehabilitation Information CenterSearch for research on disability and rehabilitation. Offers abstracts and some full text. For those where full text is not in this database, try the Tips for Finding Full Text.
ERIC Basics
Medical & Health Related Article Databases
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CINAHL This link opens in a new window
Indexes journal articles in the fields of nursing, occupational therapy, orthotics and prosthetics, health administration, speech pathology, nutrition, laboratory sciences, and other allied health professions.
Search Tips: Using CINAHL/PubMed Tutorials from EMU -
PubMed This link opens in a new window
Subjects: Health Sciences, Life Sciences, Medicine, Health Admin, Public Health, Nursing
Info type: scholarly articles, professional articles
Search Tips:
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Semantic ScholarA free experimental search engine that can be good for finding medical articles. This database isn't set up for FindText+--for those articles that aren't full text in Semantic Scholar, using the methods on the 2nd page of the Finding Full Text Articles handout will help you find many in EMU subscriptions.
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Health Source: Consumer Edition This link opens in a new window
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Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition This link opens in a new windowProvides researchers, allied health professionals, nurses, and medical educators access to scholarly journals on many medical disciplines.
Access Tips: Also available via
mel.org
Systematic or Comprehensive Reviews
Systematic reviews summarize the best available primary research on a specific question.
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Best Evidence Encyclopedia - BEEOffers meta-analyses or other quantitative syntheses that provide "summaries of evidence on the effectiveness of programs or practices used with children in grades K-12, focusing on achievement outcomes." From the the Johns Hopkins University School of Education's Center for Data-Driven Reform in Education.
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Cochrane Library This link opens in a new window
This library is composed of six databases containing Cochrane reviews, systematic reviews, clinical trials, and methods, assessments, and economic studies in health care.
Search Instruction: Searching the Cochrane Library pdf
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EPPI Centre Knowledge LibrarySystematic reviews from a center at the University College London include education topics.
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What Works ClearinghouseThe " WWC identifies studies that provide credible and reliable evidence of the effectiveness of a given practice, program, or policy (referred to as “interventions”), and disseminates summary information and free reports."
