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GS2060: Adult learning theories
Finding Books :
To find books, films and other items in the North Park Library, use the online catalog. For help in searching the online catalog, see here.
If the Brandel Library doesn't have the books that you want, search I-Share to see which other libraries might have them. Make sure that when you request these books, you use your library borrower ID (starts with 2701200) in the form provided. This is the long number in very small writing close to the barcode on your i.d.
The following are a few examples of sources in the reference section on the first floor of the library. For more reference books, go to the "LB" and "LC" call number sections.
| REF LC5215 .H245 |
Handbook of Adult and Continuing Education |
| REF LB15 .E47 |
Encyclopedia of Education |
| REF LC1099.3 H35 |
Learning Theories A-Z |
| REF LB1028 .H315 |
Handbook of Research on Teaching |
| REF LB1028 .E3184 |
Educational Research, Methodology & Measurement |
| REF LB15 .W87 |
World Educational Encyclopedia |
Popular or Scholarly?
Websites can be unreliable because anyone can create them regardless of their authority on the subject matter. When writing a research paper, the use of websites should be kept to a minimum and limited to those sponsored by well-known authorities or organizations. Always check with you professor to find out if s/he allows the use of websites. When assessing a website, consider the following:
- Like a scholarly journal, does it cite credible sources?
- Are the authors and their credentials listed? Don't forget to check their credentials in a secondary source.
- Is the website listed in the bibliography/works cited list of another credible source?
Periodicals
Scholarly Journals are sometimes referred to as "academic" or "peer-reviewed." As college students, your professors will expect you to become familiar with the scholarly journals in your field.
Scholarly periodicals generally:
- Are written by experts in their fields. The author's credentials such as their university affiliation should be on the article.
- Include a bibliography or works cited list.
- Have longer articles.
- Are published less frequently. Many scholarly journals are released quarterly.
- Include few if any advertisements.
Popular magazines generally:
- Are written by staff writers.
- Might mention sources, but do not include bibliographies.
- Are written for the general public.
- Include more pictures and advertisements.
Trade publications are a periodicals that are written for a profession audience with expertise in the field, but they do not include in depth articles with citations.
Finding Database Articles:
Databases are available on campus and off. Not all articles are full-text.
Education Research Complete includes full-text journal articles and book chapters on a variety of topics in education, including curriculum, standards, and special education.
ERIC is a government sponsored resource which indexes current education research. There is a limited amount of full-text content. Because this database includes dissertations and other unpuplished content, begin by limiting your search to journals only.
Academic Search Premier is a general databases, and offers several educational articles, both in research journals and in popular magazines and newspapers. Many articles are full-text.
PsycInfo is a psychology database which carries quite a few articles about education and development. 
If you see the "find full text" box, it does not mean that the article is full-text in that database. Click on the box to find out if the NPU or other Illinois libraries own the journal, or if it is full-text in another database. It will also allow you to click on interlibrary loan. Just fill in your information and we will contact you when your article arrives.
Bibliographic format :
Always ask your professor which bibliographic format s/he requires for the class. For basic citation information, see our citation style guide.
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Research