2. In this workshop we will look at...
• How you currently search for
literature and what you would
like to know
• How to develop an effective
search strategy
• How to use the library resources / databases
effectively
• Evaluating information for quality and relevance
4. Think about the following……
• What do I need to find?
• How and where am I going to find the information?
• How do I know if the information is good?
5. A Literature Search
• Having decided on a subject area, starting off with
a broad review of the literature should help to
develop your ideas and your search strategy.
• Having defined / narrowed your search topic, you
can focus on the research / literature that can
contributes to your review.
• Searching the literature can help you to piece
together a picture of the network of citations and
the identify the core works.
6. Planning your search strategy
Think about:
• Area of interest
• Keywords
• Scope of subject
14. Searching Library Databases
Today, we will look for information on:
‘The mobile phone industry in the UK’
Using a variety of databases, including:
• Business Source Complete
• Keynote
• Passport GMID
23. Evaluating information
• It is crucial to evaluate your search
results for quality and relevance
• Is it what you need and is it trustworthy?
• You should consider the following criteria:
24. • Authority : Who is the author? What is their knowledge
base/qualifications? Is the article published in a scholarly /
peer reviewed journal?
• Relevance : Is this what I need? Will it answer my question?
Is it at the right level?
• Objectivity : Balanced view? Opposing views represented?
Links to supporting information?
• Intent : What is the purpose of information e.g. financial
gain, propaganda, academic etc?
• Method : How was the information produced? Are the
research methods appropriate?
• Currency: How old is this information? When was it last
updated and by whom?
36. Need further help?
Please e-mail us for further help / to book an appointment
Jamie Halstead j.halstead@mdx.ac.uk
Ask a Librarian http://askalibrarian.mdx.ac.uk/
37. Finally
I would be very grateful if you would spend a
couple of minutes to provide some feedback on this
session and your Library Experiences
Editor's Notes
What you have learnt so far and what you need to knowHow to develop an effective search strategy when you need to find information for an essay or projectHow to use library resources effectively to find good quality and relevant information for your essayEvaluating information for quality and relevanceUsing our resources and learning how to search to help you get better grades00:05
If you have an essay/project, you need to find some information.Ask class how they find information? DiscussWhat do you need to do next in order to find the info they need (next slide)DiscussCarry out a literature search. Finding the information available on a subjectFinding information to inform, underpin and shape your researchFinding what has already been written on a subjectIdentifying the main trendsFinding appropriate information: the information needs to be suitable for your needie. right level, current if important, sufficient breadth or detail etc00:25
What do I need to find out in order to answer my information need? Facts and figures, images and graphs, theories, case studies, projects, reviews, reports and proceedings etc. How much: in-depth, overview, key facts etc.How am I going to find the information? Think about search terms/phrases, related subjects, synonyms, concepts etc.Where am I going to find this information? Library catalogue, Internet, journals, databases, broadcasts, newspapers, interviews and questionnaires etcHow do I know if the information is good? How do I know that the information is relevant, trustworthy and accurate?
Explain to students how to access our resources:Go to UniHub > Login in to MyUniHub > My Study > My LibraryProvides access to our Library catalogue, Summon, Journal Databases etcThis is new to you. No longer need to log in to Athens. Seamless access to our e-resources if you log in to myUniHub.Ask them to log in
Reminder of user ID and password
Referencing and Plagiarism libguide includes information on how to reference material correctly.Referencing tutorials available on request.EIS LibGuide bring together all the resources for your subject area.
In groups.What is a journal database:Database of journals, conference proceedings, reports, newspapers etcSearchableProvides list of references with bibliographic detailsOften provides full-text access to the articleAccessed online from the Learning Resources websiteWhy use a journal database?Access quality information eg. Peer reviewed journal articlesAccess to researchInformation not available elsewhereUp-to-dateFocussed/specificCan be accessed off campusFull-text accessCS £1397 IEEE Xplore £61,00001:15 (to do exercise)01:35 (after feedback)
01:55
01:55
Divide class into groups and ask them to discuss (5 mins):3 things you like about the library3 things that irritate you about the libraryFeedback and discussion00:20
