Dictionaries & Encyclopedias
For Your Reference
Reference sources such as dictionaries and encyclopedias can provide background information. Use the resources here when you:
- Want to quickly learn about a topic.
- Have trouble selecting a topic.
- Don’t know what search terms to use.
- Need to find facts and figures.
Virtual Reference
Digital Reference Texts
Full-text resources in Gale eBooks include:
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Includes numerous entries chosen by a diverse team of experts to form an exhaustive list of the most important concepts in social psychology. Entries provide brief, clear explanations to the vast number of ideas and concepts that make up the intellectual and scientific content in the area of social psychology.
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Scholarly treasury of over 450 distinguished quotations. Focuses on the best thinking in the disciplines of psychology, philosophy, and artificial intelligence, from the classical period of Greece to contemporary cognitive science.
Dictionaries
The following is a sample from our reference collection.
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A Critical Dictionary of Educational Concepts by
Call Number: Ref. 370.3 B279ISBN: 0312002297Publication Date:This alphabetic guide offers a critical analysis of the central and also of the more important controversial concepts in educational theory and practice. The authors address each idea or issue by means of an essay-length analysis.
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Dictionary of Psychological Testing, Assessment and Treatment by
Call Number: eBookISBN: 9781435603042Publication Date:The fully revised and updated second edition of this well-established reference provides over 400 new or improved terms, and is an exhaustive guide to the key terms used in psychological testing, assessment, and measurement.
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Dictionary of Special Education and Rehabilitation by
Call Number: Ref. 371.903 V586d3ISBN: 0891082123Publication Date:Provides definitions of more than 2,000 terms unique to special education and rehabilitation. This work provides listings of professional organizations and resources, and is a useful reference for those in the special education field.
Almanacs & Handbooks
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Handbook of Early Literacy Research by
Call Number: 372.6 H19154ISBN: 157230653XPublication Date:Important discoveries in research increasingly highlight the role of early literacy in young children’s development—and facilitate the growth of practices and policies that promote success among diverse learners. The Handbook of Early Literacy Research presents cutting-edge knowledge on all aspects of literacy learning in the preschool years.
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Handbook of Research on Multicultural Education by
Call Number: Ref. 370.117 H19172b2ISBN: 0787959154Publication Date:In this second edition, twenty-nine classic chapters have been revised and updated, and twenty new chapters have been added to reflect how the field has evolved since the first edition of the Handbook was published in .
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Handbook of Research on Teaching the English Language Arts by
Call Number: Ref. 428.007 H191f2ISBN: 0805837868Publication Date:The Handbook of Research on Teaching the English Language Arts, Second Edition, offers a comprehensive overview of research in the field. This thoroughly updated second edition reflects developments in educational research and new information within the areas of language learning and instruction since the publication of the first edition in .
Encyclopedias
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Encyclopedia of Educational Research by
Call Number: Ref. 370.78 En19 5th ed.ISBN: 0029004314Publication Date:Sponsored by the American Educational Research Association, this encyclopedia provides a critical synthesis and interpretation of reported educational research on various issues from preschool to post-secondary education for 50 years.
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Encyclopedia of Research Design by
Call Number: eBookISBN: 1452265828Publication Date:Comprising more than 500 entries, the Encyclopedia of Research Design explains how to make decisions about research design, undertake research projects in an ethical manner, interpret and draw valid inferences from data, and evaluate experiment design strategies and results.
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Encyclopedia of Special Education by
Call Number: Ref. 371.903 En19ISBN: 0471828580Publication Date:Alphabetical listing of over 2,000 topics that include biographies, educational and psychological tests, interventions and service delivery, handicapping conditions, related services, legal matters, and miscellaneous. Intended for professionals and general public.
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International Encyclopedia of Adult Education by
Call Number: Ref. 374.003 In851ISBN: 1403917353Publication Date:The Encyclopedia of Adult Education is the first comprehensive reference work in this important and fast-growing field, and is an invaluable resource for adult educators who research and teach in the fields of higher education, work in community-based settings, or practise in public or private organizations.
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World Education Encyclopedia by
Call Number: eBookISBN: 0787676969Publication Date:A reference on education around the world includes more than 225 countries, with each entry providing a history of the country; the constitutional and legal foundations of the education system; an overview of the educational system itself; sections on preprimary, primary, secondary, and higher education; administration, finance, and educational research; the profession of teaching; and a summary.
Reference Databases
These research databases contain full-text reference works.
Their content includes encyclopedias and specialized dictionaries but may also include journal articles and other sources.
General Reference
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For students and adults alike, the Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia database indexes over 25,000 records, covering an array of topics.
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Gale eBooks is a database of encyclopedias and specialized reference sources for multidisciplinary research.
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The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is widely regarded as the accepted authority on the English language. It is an unsurpassed guide to the meaning, history, and pronunciation of 600,000 words—past and present—from across the English-speaking world.
Legal & Business Information
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In addition to 225 full-text journals, this database features full-text legal reference books from the organization Nolo.
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This databases contains over 450 reference books related to business.
English & Literature
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In addition to full-text short stories, plays, poems, and articles on literature, the Gale Literature Resource Center offers access to Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary and Merriam-Webster’s Encyclopedia of Literature.
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In addition to full-text stories and poems as well as critical essays, this database contains articles from reference works on poetry and literature.
Health & Psychology
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This ebook reference collection offers a rich selection of eBook titles covering a broad range of general health topics including cancer and diabetes; weight management and exercise; allergies; senior care; social–emotional health; developmental disorders; and natural health.
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Produced by the Buros Center for Testing at the University of Nebraska, the Mental Measurements Yearbook (MMY) provides users with a comprehensive guide to thousands of contemporary testing instruments.
Home & Craft
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Intended for public libraries, this database dedicated to home improvement and repair includes full-text reference works.
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Intended for public libraries, this database dedicated to home improvement and repair includes full-text reference works.
Schools & Public Libraries
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Although designed for high schools, MAS Complete includes the contents of 440 full-text reference books that may be useful for beginning research or quick overviews of subjects.
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This eBook reference collection offers a rich selection of eBook titles covering a broad range of general reference subjects for high-school students.
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Designed for public libraries, MasterFILE Premier includes the full text of 500 reference books that may be useful for general information or beginning research.
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This eBook reference collection offers a rich selection of eBook titles covering a broad range of general reference subjects.
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This eBook reference collection offers a rich selection of eBook titles covering a broad range of general reference subjects for middle-school students. Topics include social studies, math, history, language arts, technology, geography, culture, and science.
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This eBook reference collection offers a rich selection of eBook titles covering a broad range of general reference subjects for primary-school students. Topics include social studies, history, language arts, geography, culture, math, and science.