Music Education: Learning Module on Special Needs Students

Suggested Keywords for Searching

The key database for education literature is ERIC (linked below.) While you can use any keywords that describe the topic, using the terms that ERIC uses to describe topics (called descriptors) can make a big difference in finding useful articles and other publications.  These terms can be identified using the ERIC Thesaurus.  

Please note that in order to locate older articles published, scholarly research often requires searching with phrases or words that are now inappropriate, such as "mental retardation." 

General:

• MUSIC EDUCATION
• SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS 
• The thesaurus provides a long list of related terms, among them DISABILITIES.  This term has many narrower terms associated with it, including 
  • MENTAL RETARDATION
  • INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY
  • SEVERE DISABILITIES. 
    • Narrower terms are listed under each of these, such as DOWN SYNDROME.  The indexers who assign terms tend to assign the most specific term for the article in hand, so you may need to search several synonyms. 
    • These can be combined using the OR command, e.g., MENTAL RETARDATION OR DOWN SYNDROME.

For legal issues, consider searching:

• EDUCATIONAL LEGISLATION
• SCHOOL LAW
• SCHOOL POLICY
• STUDENT RIGHTS
• TEACHER RIGHTS

Combining appropriate legal terms with appropriate terms for special needs students using the AND command will provide more relevant articles, e.g.,

• SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS AND SCHOOL LAW