Start here:
ERIC (EBSCO)

ERIC is the primary database supporting research in all areas of education, including psychology, administration, and library science.
ERIC (ProQuest)
ERIC is the primary database supporting research in all areas of education, including psychology, administration, and library science.
Note: 1966 - present
Other databases:
Academic Search Premier (all topics) from EBSCO

Full-text articles in biology, chemistry, education, engineering, humanities, physics, psychology, religion and theology, sociology, etc. Tip: Click the check box to limit to Academic (Peer Reviewed) Journals.
Dissertation Abstracts - PQDT Open
Selective index to open access masters theses and dissertations from U.S., Canada, Great Britain, and Europe. Note: This is an open access subset of Dissertation Abstracts International (DAI).
Google Scholar
While Google Scholar doesn't find everything, you will discover some resources not included in databases. Google Scholar ranks results by how often an article has been cited by other scholars.
PsycINFO
PsycINFO is the premier source for finding scholarly articles and other information relating to all aspects of psychology and related fields.
Teacher Reference Center

Provides indexing and abstracts for over 280 of the most popular teacher and administrator trade journals to assist professional educators.
Research Databases
The complete list of databases from the University Library.
ERIC (EBSCO)





ERIC is the primary database supporting research in all areas of education, including psychology, administration, and library science.
ERIC (ProQuest)



ERIC is the primary database supporting research in all areas of education, including psychology, administration, and library science.
Note: 1966 - present
Other databases:
Academic Search Premier (all topics) from EBSCO





Full-text articles in biology, chemistry, education, engineering, humanities, physics, psychology, religion and theology, sociology, etc. Tip: Click the check box to limit to Academic (Peer Reviewed) Journals.
Dissertation Abstracts - PQDT Open



Selective index to open access masters theses and dissertations from U.S., Canada, Great Britain, and Europe. Note: This is an open access subset of Dissertation Abstracts International (DAI).
Google Scholar
While Google Scholar doesn't find everything, you will discover some resources not included in databases. Google Scholar ranks results by how often an article has been cited by other scholars.
PsycINFO



PsycINFO is the premier source for finding scholarly articles and other information relating to all aspects of psychology and related fields.
Teacher Reference Center




Provides indexing and abstracts for over 280 of the most popular teacher and administrator trade journals to assist professional educators.
Research Databases
The complete list of databases from the University Library.
An empirical article is a research article that reports the results of a study that uses data derived from actual observation or experimentation.
Format of Article:
ERIC and PsycINFO databases have limiter tools to narrow results by methodology type (empirical). Few databases have this limiter tool. However, you can use keywords to locate empirical research articles by using the following terms: empirical, methods, methodology, research design, survey, data, results.
Format of Article:
- Abstract – summary of the study
- Introduction – literature review
- Methods – methodology used
- Results – data results/analysis
- Discussion – significance of study
- References – works used/cited
ERIC and PsycINFO databases have limiter tools to narrow results by methodology type (empirical). Few databases have this limiter tool. However, you can use keywords to locate empirical research articles by using the following terms: empirical, methods, methodology, research design, survey, data, results.
Search for Books in the Library
WorldCat
Search for materials beyond SCSU, from thousands of libraries and institutions around the world. Click on the FindIt! button and sign in to and request items through Interlibrary Loan.
Library Access for Distance Students
Citation searching, also called citation tracking or citation tracing, is searching for scholarly resources through citations instead of keywords. Citation searching works best after you have found several relevant resources.
You can find resources by reviewing the reference list of an article or book you’ve determined is relevant to your research. Search for books using WorldCat . Your results list will indicate whether or not the Library owns the book. If the Library does not have the book, you can request it through Interlibrary Loan (ILL) . For articles, look for the journal title using Find a Journal.
You can also search forward in time by using a tool like Google Scholar . In this case, you search on the title of the resource you already have. In the results, you’ll see the link “Cited by.” Select this link to find works that cite your original research. See How to search by citations: Cited By searching in Google Scholar for more details. Other databases include this feature. Look for phrases like "Times Cited in this Database" or "Cited by."
You can find resources by reviewing the reference list of an article or book you’ve determined is relevant to your research. Search for books using WorldCat . Your results list will indicate whether or not the Library owns the book. If the Library does not have the book, you can request it through Interlibrary Loan (ILL) . For articles, look for the journal title using Find a Journal.
You can also search forward in time by using a tool like Google Scholar . In this case, you search on the title of the resource you already have. In the results, you’ll see the link “Cited by.” Select this link to find works that cite your original research. See How to search by citations: Cited By searching in Google Scholar for more details. Other databases include this feature. Look for phrases like "Times Cited in this Database" or "Cited by."
Literature Reviews: An Overview for Graduate Students
From North Carolina State University Libraries
Literature Reviews
From The Writing Center at the University of North Carolina
Write a Literature Review (Includes video tutorials)
From Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries
Write Place
The Write Place offers one-on-one tutoring at any stage in the writing process. Make an online appointment or visit Webster Hall 117 or University Library 135E.
From North Carolina State University Libraries
Literature Reviews
From The Writing Center at the University of North Carolina
Write a Literature Review (Includes video tutorials)
From Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries
Write Place

The Write Place offers one-on-one tutoring at any stage in the writing process. Make an online appointment or visit Webster Hall 117 or University Library 135E.

Robin Ewing
Professor, Research Librarian
MC 204F
(320) 308-2093
rlewing@stcloudstate.edu

Click to access email (answered usually within an hour during regular Reference Desk hours), chat (available 24 / 7), phone numbers for SCSU Reference Desk, and online form to set up a one-on-one research consultation with a librarian.
As you work on your culminating project, schedule a meeting with me for in-depth guidance on finding the best resources for your topic. I can meet in-person, by phone, and via Skype/Zoom/Google Hangout.
As you start your culminating project, use the Dissertation Calculator from the University of Minnesota Libraries to help you stay on track.
Your culminating project will be submitted to the Repository at St. Cloud State University (Institutional Repository) . The Repository provides open access to a diverse collection of academic, scholarly, scientific, and creative content produced by faculty, students, and staff at the University. As you progress through your program, watch for more information about preparing and uploading your proposal, draft for committee members, and final copy to the Repository. Your culminating project will also be cataloged and available through the SCSU library catalog.
Culminating projects in Educational Administration and Leadership
Your culminating project will be submitted to the Repository at St. Cloud State University (Institutional Repository) . The Repository provides open access to a diverse collection of academic, scholarly, scientific, and creative content produced by faculty, students, and staff at the University. As you progress through your program, watch for more information about preparing and uploading your proposal, draft for committee members, and final copy to the Repository. Your culminating project will also be cataloged and available through the SCSU library catalog.
Culminating projects in Educational Administration and Leadership

ELM: Electronic Library for Minnesota



ELM (eLibraryMN) gives Minnesota residents online access to magazine, journal, newspaper and encyclopedia articles; media including images, videos, audio files; and other information resources via a selection of databases.
On the eLibraryMN homepage, click All Databases. Academic Search Premier, Business Source Premier, and several other databases are available for you to search.
If you find an article that isn't available in full text, you may be able to order it through interlibrary loan at your public library.