Reference works are an important source for concept definitions, overview articles, and short bibliographies. The Penn Libraries continues to acquire print and online reference works. These are accessible through the Penn Libraries Catalog.
Search example: (leadership) AND (handbook* OR encyclopedia* OR dictionar*)
Also, see the literature-review journals on this guide's "Literature Reviews" tab.
Bibliographies are lists of works, usually arranged topically and sometimes with annotations explaining each work's significance.
Gale Directory Library - Includes these Gale Reference Directories (select within the search interface)
For Statistical Sources, see these additional guides:
Encyclopedia and dictionaries are great places to start research. Dictionaries will provide clear definitions and descriptions of a term or topic. A good encyclopedia article will outline major research theories and issues, and it describe consensus, controversy, and research fronts; it should also list important, classic, or controversial works that treat the article's topic.
Sage Encyclopedia of Educational Research, Measurement, and Evaluation
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Encyclopedia of Educational Theory and Philosophy
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Encyclopedia of Education Economics and Finance
Encyclopedia of Educational Reform and Dissent
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Handbooks are edited works, gathering chapters around a topic. A good handbook chapter will be journal article-length or longer, it will be more discursive than an encyclopedia article, and it will offer a rich bibliography for further reading.
The Handbook of Educational Theories
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Handbook of Critical Race Theory in Education
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This handbook illustrates how education scholars employ Critical Race Theory (CRT) as a framework to bring attention to issues of race and racism in education. It is the first authoritative reference work to provide a truly comprehensive description and analysis of the topic, from the defining conceptual principles of CRT in the Law that gave shape to its radical underpinnings to the political and social implications of the field today. It is divided into three sections, covering innovations in educational research, policy and practice in both schools and in higher education, and the increasing interdisciplinary nature of critical race research. With 28 newly commissioned pieces written by the most renowned scholars in the field, this handbook provides the definitive statement on the state of critical race theory in education and on its possibilities for the future.
Handbook of Early Childhood Teacher Education
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This handbook synthesizes both contemporary research and best practices in early childhood teacher education, a unique segment of teacher education defined by its focus on child development, the role of the family, and support for all learners. The first volume of its kind, the Handbook of Early Childhood Teacher Education provides comprehensive coverage on key topics in the field, including the history of early childhood teacher education programs, models for preparing early childhood educators, pedagogical approaches to supporting diverse learners, and contemporary influences on this quickly expanding area of study. Appropriate for early childhood teacher educators as well as both pre- and in-service teachers working with children from birth through 8, this handbook articulates the unique features of early childhood teacher education, highlighting the strengths and limitations of current practice as based in empirical research. It concludes by charting future directions for research with an aim to improve the preparation of early childhood educators.