Information Sources in Educational Research Literature

Abstract

In this paper, we focus on the manner in which research information is disseminated to other researchers and to practitioners. We show a continuing reli ance on journals and a continuing tendency to rely on more recent literature (espe cially journals) in research reports. In addition, we list the 15 journals most fre quently cited in the sixth edition of the Encyclopedia of Educational Research. A comparison of this list with previous studies revealed considerable shifts in the prom inence of journals related to educational research since the third, fourth, and fifth editions of the Encyclopedia. In addition to indicating trends in educational research literature, these results suggest potential areas of interest and emphasis both for the individual reader and researcher and for the compiler of general and research library collections in education. The results also suggest sources for disseminating informa tion most rapidly to the widest possible audiences. IN THIS ARTICLE we explore the manner in which researchers disseminate information to other researchers and to practitioners. An understanding of how research is disseminated can help users of research identify sources in which they are likely to find current information on educational topics. In addition, a knowl edge of dissemination patterns will help researchers identify channels for publish ing the results of their research. What forms of research do experts in educational research most often cite? How recent are these citations? What specific sources are cited most frequently? How have citation patterns changed in recent years? To answer these questions, we examined a systematic random sample of every fifth reference from the lists of references in the sixth edition of the Encyclopedia of Educational Research (Alkin, 1992). We then categorized these references by date of publication and nature of the source. As indicated in Table 1, most of the citations referred to journals (35.6%) and to single-author books (34.4%). Of all the citations, 31.2% referred to sources