Research in ECE
The Rasmussen University Online Library has a lot of different ways for you to find sources for your research. Check out our video series for more information about getting the most out of the online library, including information about:
Research Process: The Basics
1. Define your topic.
2. Do some background research.
3. Use library resources to find relevant books, articles, reliable websites, videos to support your argument.
4. Evaluate the quality and reliability of the resources gathered.
5. Take notes and record bibliographic information.
6. Organize notes and create an outline.
7. Write a rough draft.
8. Insert citations for resources integrated into the paper.
For more information on writing a research paper, visit The Writing Guide.
Dictionaries & Encyclopedias: Early Childhood Education
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Credo Reference This link opens in a new window
Credo is an easy-to-use tool for starting research. Gather background information on your topic from hundreds of full-text general and subject-specific reference titles, as well as 500,000 images and nearly 1,000 videos.
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GALE Ebooks This link opens in a new window
Hundreds of reference ebooks (dictionaries, encyclopedias, & topic overviews) across all subject areas.
Specific ECE Encyclopedias and Dictionaries:
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Early Childhood Education: An International EncyclopediaA landmark contribution to the field, this compendium addresses key historical and contemporary issues, research, theoretical perspectives, national policies and practices in early childhood education and care.
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Encyclopedia of Special Education: A Reference for the Education of the Handicapped and Other Exceptional Children and AdultsThe highly acclaimed Encyclopedia of Special Education addresses issues of importance ranging from theory to practice and is a critical reference for researchers as well as those working in the special education field. This completely updated and comprehensive A-Z reference includes about 200 new entries, with increased attention given to those topics that have grown in importance since the publication of the third edition, such as technology, service delivery policies, international issues, neuropsychology, and RTI. The latest editions of assessment instruments frequently administered in special education settings are discussed.
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Cambridge Encyclopedia of Child DevelopmentAn authoritative, accessible and up-to-date account of all aspects of child development. Covers everything from prenatal development to education, pediatrics, neuroscience, theories and research methods to physical development, social development, cognitive development, psychopathology and parenting. It also looks at cultural issues, sex differences and the history of child development.
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A History of Children's Play and Play Environments: Toward a Contemporary Child-Saving Movementhis valuable book traces the history of children's play and play environments from their roots in ancient Greece and Rome to the present time in the high stakes testing environment. Through this exploration, scholar Dr. Joe Frost shows how this history informs where we are today and why we need to re-establish play as a priority. Ultimately, the author proposes active solutions to play deprivation. This book is a must-read for scholars, researchers, and students in the fields of early childhood education and child development.
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International Encyclopedia of Marriage and FamilyThe second edition of the International Encyclopedia of Marriage and Family revises and expands Macmillan's 1995 Encyclopedia of Marriage and the Family, adopting an international, cross-cultural approach to such diverse topics as adolescent parenthood, family planning, cohabitation, widowhood, domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, codependency and commuter marriages. It includes articles specific to countries and to religious traditions, examining the history of family life within these cultures and discussing how families have been affected by political and social change.
Library Databases: Early Childhood Education
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Education Research Complete This link opens in a new window
Education-related articles from more than 2,100 scholarly and practical journals and 500+ books. Covers all levels of education (early childhood to college) and all educational specialties (educational psychology, school nursing, technology, curriculum and instruction, classroom management, and supervision and administration).
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Education via ProQuest This link opens in a new window
Education, psychology and social science databases from ProQuest.
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Children's Literature Comprehensive Database (CLCD) This link opens in a new window
Children's Literature Comprehensive Database (CLCD) covers children's literature from beginning readers to young adults. It includes over 1.2 million titles, 600K professional reviews, 1.25K award sources for 110K book awards, reading measurement programs, author links, lesson plans, and teaching guides. It offers 50 search filters and an 18 STEM terms search feature. It's a great tool for selecting trade books, creating thematic reading lists, annotated bibliographies, interpreting reviews, and developing classroom collections.
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ERIC: The Educational Resource Information Center This link opens in a new windowA comprehensive source of articles from both practical and scholarly education journals. Also includes the most comprehensive source of "gray" literature in the field of education (reports, conference proceedings, activity guides & case studies).
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Discovery Search This link opens in a new window
Search most of our academic databases at one time on our familiar, easy-to-use EBSCO platform. Watch the video below for a demonstration of how to use this database tool effectively.
For help with searching in these databases, visit the Database Search Tips box below!
Web Resources: Early Childhood Education
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Zero to Three**Note for faculty - If you want to use Zero to Three's videos or articles in a course, you need to submit a request form. You can find that form here: https://www.zerotothree.org/permissions.
Unsure of whether or not a website you found is credible and appropriate to use for an assignment? Visit this Answer!
eBook Databases: Early Childhood Education
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eBooks and Academic eBooks This link opens in a new window
24/7 access to ebooks in all program areas.
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Ebook Central
Ebook Central (ProQuest) is a collection of ebooks selected by Rasmussen University Librarians to aid in research and support course assignments.
Video Resources: Early Childhood Education
Videatives is a database of over 290 early childhood education videos and clips. You can browse by subject or age.
EdFlicks: Child Care Exchange Videos offers over 130 videos on Early Childhood Education topics ranging from addressing challenging behaviors to promoting wellness, building enrollment to child assessment, and caring for infants and toddlers to supporting teacher performance.
Zero to Three provides resources (video and articles) surrounding four topics:
**Note for faculty - If you want to use Zero to Three's videos or articles in a course, you need to submit a request form. You can find that form here: https://www.zerotothree.org/permissions.