CD ROM

Research Design in Occupational Education
Copyright 1997. James P. Key. Oklahoma State University
Except for those materials which are supplied by different departments of the University
(ex. IRB, Thesis Handbook) and references used by permission.

MODULE R2 - CD ROM SEARCH SYSTEM

Background Information

The CD ROM (Compact Disk Read Only Memory) computer search system at the Oklahoma State University library is a retrieval system for documents in a wide range of subjects. A complete list of the documents that can be accessed by this system is included in this module.

How the System Works

Bibliographical information and abstracts of various useful documents are stored on compact disks. These disks are read by a number of processing units at different locations throughout the library. Each unit is designated to work solely with one database of information such as ERIC files. Another unit works with dissertation abstracts.

The terminals connected to the CD ROM processing units are very simple to use and are usually very easily accessed.

ERIC and Dissertation Abstracts

The most widely used CD ROM searches by those involved with research in education are ERIC (Education Resources Information Center) and the Dissertation Abstracts. Included in this module are sample searches from each of these valuable information sources. Other indexes on CD ROM are used in a similar fashion to these examples.

ERIC

As an example we wanted to find a journal article on teaching drug awareness. By using the following steps, you can find exactly what you need.

1. Go to one of the ERIC terminals located on the 1st and 2nd floors of the library at a CD NET terminal.
2. Follow the directions on the screen for beginning a new search. ERIC will prompt you to choose the time period from which to search. The computer will load the appropriate CDs.
3. To begin a search, press F2. ERIC will ask you to enter the first few words of the subject heading in which you are interested. For this example enter Drug Education.

Example:         Number         Records             Request
                        #1                 3529                     Drug
                        #2                 45329                   Education
                        #3                 23                        Drug Education

4. The computer will find all of the records on the CD dealing with Drug Education and generate a number telling how many records are available. To view the search results, press the F4 key. Use the arrow keys or the Page Up/Page Down keys to move through the records, marking any selections you want to print. Pressing ENTER while the cursor in on any line of the record you want to print will mark the selection with an asterisk.

Example:    Unmarked Record                 Marked Record
                    1 of 483                                      1 of 483
                    AN: EJ400353                        *AN:EJ400353
                CHN: EC23243                 *CHN: *EC232453
                AU: Cole-Kevin               *AU: Cole-Kevin
                TI: A comparison            *TI: A comparison

5. To print the marked records, press the F6 key.

6. ERIC contains an Index (F5) which contains a list of searchable terms and a Thesaurus (F9) which contains a list of subject searchable terms. Both of these can aid in finding the best words to use for searching.

7. Searches can be narrowed by combining terms with an AND statement. The search can also be narrowed by publication year or by format to include just journal articles.

Sample Search: Original term - Distance Learning. Added term - Adults

1. Type Distance Learning, press ENTER. This will be line #3.
2. Type Adults, press ENTER. This will be line #4.
3. Type #3 and #4, press ENTER. This should results in fewer records.

Example:     Number    Records         Request
                    #1             3644             Distance
                    #2             13456            Learning
                    #3             2453             Distance Learning
                    #4             1287             Adults
                    #5             35                 #3 and #4

8. Searches can be broadened by combining terms with an OR statement.

        Example:    Number    Records         Request
                             #1             2                 Energy-conserving
                             #2             1                 Energy-conscious
                             #3             3                 #1 or #2

Dissertation Abstracts

As with ERIC, the Dissertation Abstracts contain a variety of subjects. The difference is that this information bank contains only dissertations written over these subjects. These abstracts are very valuable sources of information for reviewing literature related to your subject.

As an example we wanted to find dissertations written on the subject of Standardized Tests.

1. Go to the Dissertation Abstracts terminal located on the second floor of the library.
2. Follow the directions on the screen for beginning
a new search. ERIC will prompt you to choose the time period from which to search. The computer will load the appropriate CDs.
3. The screen will ask you for search term(s). At this prompt, type in Standardized Tests.
4. The computer will now ask you for the subject area(s) you wish to search pertaining to standardized tests. For this example choose Education.
5. The computer will now search for dissertation abstracts dealing with standardized tests in the area of education. In this example, the search will result in 100 items. In order to narrow this search and make it more manageable, press the F3 key to modify the search.
6. The computer will once again ask for search terms. At this prompt type in Standardized Tests and Minority Students.
7. The computer will now search for abstracts dealing with standardized tests and minority students. In this example, the search results in 4 items.
8. Press the F2 key to view the list of commands. Choose the command that will allow you to view the titles of the 4 dissertations found in the search.
9. The screen will now show the titles of the 4 abstracts on file. You may now select the one for which you wish to view bibliographic information.

CD ROM