LibGuides: Education: Journal articles

Journal articles are usually short papers on specific topics. They are published in issues or parts of journals (also called periodicals) which appear regularly. Use articles to find:

up-to-date research in your subject
reviews of developments in your subject - these review articles include extensive lists of references

Types of articles

Primary - these are first hand accounts of research that has been undertaken written by the researchers themselves.
Secondary - describe, summarise, or discuss information or details originally presented in another source. These include review articles which summarise the current state of the knowledge on a topic (many databases allow you to restrict search results to this type of article). A more specialised secondary source are systematic reviews which use the existing literature to try to answer a specific question, often including a meta-analysis of the all the studies included in the relevant articles.

Finding journal articles

Search the Summon discovery service using the box below to find full-text journal articles available via the Library. Search using topic topic words or for a specific article title.

Search Summon:

Search databases covering your subject

Alternatively try the subject-related databases listed below. They will give you references to journal articles - they may also give you the full-text of the article, or at least link you to the full-text if it is available online.

Key databases for finding journal articles etc.

To search across ALL 6 EDUCATION DATABASES LISTED HERE at once, follow links to one database, select 'Choose Databases' (blue lettering above search boxes) and tick the 6 education databases.

Education Research Complete [partial full-text] This link opens in a new window
Education Research Complete is the definitive online resource for education research. Topics covered include all levels of education from early childhood to higher education, and all educational specialties, such as multilingual education, health education, and testing.

It provides indexing and abstracts for more than 2,100 journals, as well as full-text access to more than 1,200 journals and nearly 500 books and monographs.

Topics covered include all levels of education from early childhood to higher education, and all educational specialties, such as multilingual education, health education, and testing.

The dates available varies between journals – many are indexed and/or full-text back to 2000s, some back to 1990s.

Help and guidance
EBSCOhost Advanced Search Help
Viewing results in EBSCOhost
British Education Index This link opens in a new window
Broad selection of UK-compiled research-level education references. (You may need to request items not at Reading through the Library's Inter-Library Loans service.)

Covers 1975-

Help and guidance
EBSCOhost user guide
Child Development & Adolescent Studies This link opens in a new window
References to journal articles, books and theses related to growth and development of children to the age of 21.

Covers 1927 onwards.

Help and guidance
EBSCOhost user guide
Education Abstracts This link opens in a new window
References to journal articles, books and yearbooks in education, covering topics including adult education, comparative education, government funding, higher education, school administration, and teacher evaluation.

References to journal articles, books and yearbooks in education.

Subjects covered include:

adult education
comparative education
government funding
higher education
school administration
teacher evaluation

Help and guidance
EBSCOhost user guide
Educational Administration Abstracts This link opens in a new window
References to journal articles in educational administration, including leadership, management and research after 1965.

educational leadership
educational management
educational research

Covers 1966 onwards.

Help and guidance
EBSCOhost user guide
ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center) This link opens in a new window
Broad selection of US-compiled research-level education references. (You may need to request items not at Reading through the Library's Inter-Library Loans service.)

Help and guidance
EBSCOhost user guide

Citation example in the APA style

Saddler, H. (2014). Researching the influence of teaching assistants on the learning of pupils identified with special educational needs in mainstream primary schools: Exploring social inclusion. Journal of Research In Special Educational Needs, 14(3), 145-152. doi:10.1111/1471-3802.12019

Getting articles not held at Reading

Our Inter-Library Loans service can get articles not held at Reading from other libraries (usually from the British Library).

For more information see our webpages:

Inter-library loans service
Use this service to get publications not held at the University of Reading.

Help!

If you are having difficulties accessing articles via Summon or one of our databases see the links below.

If there is a problem with a Library e-resource please fill in a problem report form.

Video: finding a journal article from a reference

This video will show you how to find out if the Library has access to a specific article - online or in print.

Education: Journal articles