1. John Rylands University Library
Planning Your Project Research
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2. Contents
Introduction 3
Step 1 – Topic Description 5
Step 2 – Identifying your keywords 5
Step 3 – Identifying your sources 6
Step 4 – Additional sources 7
Step 5 – Search the Databases 7
6. Useful hints 8
7. Project Methodology checklist 9
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3. Introduction: Aim, Objectives and Learning Outcomes
Introduction
• The primary purpose of this handout is to provide guidance on how to plan your project
research. On this first page the aim, objectives and learning outcomes in respect of this
handbook are set out.
Aim
• Understand the different resources and search tools available from the Library to gather
evidence for your project.
Objectives
 How to build your search.
 How to find and identify relevant library databases from the JRUL Library Website
 How to access and search selected library databases
Learning Outcomes
 Understand how to plan a search strategy to identify the relevant material for your project
 Understand the range of data available from the library databases
Note
The library databases are accessible throughout your degree programme and your
understanding of what is available could prove valuable for other modules, projects/assignments
and/or for your career/professional development.
Make the most of the databases now whilst you can and remember there is a dedicated library
support service (in person/online) to help assist you in finding, accessing or searching data.
Good luck with your research now and in the future!
Dave Hirst
Faculty Team Librarian for EEE & MACE
Joule Library
Tel: 0161 306 4932
Email: david.hirst@manchester.ac.uk
Blog: http://jrulenginfo.wordpress.com/
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4. Finding and Accessing Databases
Finding the Databases
 http://www.library.manchester.ac.uk/
Select “Search Resources”
Select “Databases A to Z”
Accessing the Databases
 University Username and Password (Institutional Access)
Most databases will require you to enter your University Username and Password to
access off-campus. This is a unique ID confirming you are a registered student at the
University of Manchester.
When required you will be asked to enter your Central Username and password via
the University’s Central Authentication Service.
https://login.manchester.ac.uk
 Individual “Special” database usernames and passwords
A small number of databases require an individual username and password.
Whenever you see a link “special username and password” you need to select this
and log in (using your University username and password) to the Library’s protected
password page first to find the username and password required to log into the
database.
 Select the “special username and password” link from the individual database
information page
 The Library’s password information page will be displayed
 Select “databases” from under the special username and password section
 Enter your university username and password to access the database password
page
 Scroll down the list to find the relevant database username and password
 Go back to the database information page and select the database link
 Enter the username and password you obtained from the password page
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5. Step 1: Topic Description
In this box you will see set out an example of a project topic description. In the following sections the
steps that you need to take to access the appropriate and relevant databases and research resources.
The impact of wind turbines on microwave communications
“Due to the size of modern wind turbines and their location on the landscape, they have the potential
to obstruct radio paths and also act as reflectors of radio energy. The effect has been described as
being similar to a dance hall mirror ball, although the number of reflecting surfaces on a wind turbine
is smaller. As a result of their large moving surfaces the interference effect is difficult to predict and
constantly changing. Although wind turbines have a detrimental effect on all radio communications,
their effect on mobile systems, such as cell phones, will not be as great as on fixed systems. Mobile
systems are designed to operate in a rapidly changing radio propagation environment but radio
communication systems designed to interact with mainly fixed infrastructure are vulnerable to the
detrimental effects of wind turbines. The systems most affected are those which rely on a stable
propagation environment such as aircraft radars, television and fixed data systems.”
Step 2: Identifying your Keywords
Using a keyword or key phrase will enable you to focus your search for
relevant information. You should note that the process of identifying
keywords should be repeated more than once to build on the
information initially found.
Think about…..
 Wide range of terms
 Related areas
 Effective use of thesauri/controlled vocabulary if available
 Effective use of keyword index if available
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6. Key Search Terms
 Wind turbine(s)
 Wind farm(s)
 Wind turbine clutter
 Wind power
 Microwave
 Microwave communications
Wider Range of Terms
 Scattering
 Electromagnetic RF waves
 Radio communications
 Telecommunications
 Electromagnetic Interference Assessment
(EIA)
 Radar clutter
 Doppler clutter
Step 3 – Identify your sources
Question: What is the value of searching across the library’s journal
databases for articles?
Answer: You can search multiple journals, professional magazines and
trade journals at one time for:
• Up to date research within leading publications not always published within
textbooks
• Latest peer reviewed academic research in specialised engineering fields
• Critiques of existing research/literature
• Access to primary resource material
• Case examples of specific research techniques in practice
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7. Key databases
 Compendex
 Web of Science
 Scopus
 Emerald
 Science Direct
 Proquest
Step 4: Additional Sources
 Library Catalogue - books, conference proceedings, reports etc
 Google Scholar – journal articles, conference proceedings, grey literature
 Grey literature (Technical reports, Conferences, Theses, Newsletters, Trade/product literature,
Standards and specifications, Codes of practice, Pre-prints, Web-objects)
 Document Supply and Inter Library Loans – if the library does not hold a specific book or journal
article then you can order it via the Document Supply service.
 Knovel - The database provides the full text of over 1,000 reference works in science and
technology.
Step 5: Search the databases.
Access the recommended databases from Step 3.
Each database allows the user to build up specific searches quite easily with a number of
keywords. Using the tips below you can get the best out of the databases and locate
high quality relevant academic articles.
Boolean Logic - you can choose to combine search terms using the search boxes and you
can search for your keywords in specific fields e.g. within the article title, the abstract,
author, publisher etc.
Limiters - you can also choose to ‘limit’ the search by including a date range e.g. 1997-
2007, choosing the language you want the article to be in and what type of article you
want the search to locate e.g. journal article, conference proceeding, monograph etc.
Limiters allow the user to narrow their search and target the relevant articles.
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8. Truncation - e.g. searching for wind farm* will also retrieve results including wind farms,
wind farming etc
Alternative spellings e.g. stabili?ation searches for US and UK spellings
6. Useful Hints
Focus on Key Publications
Look at publications that have made a big impact on the field. If a reference has been
cited numerous times by other reputable authors, it is fair to assume that it is a key
publication. It is also important to include recent publications to show that you are up to
date with ideas and developments in the field.
To locate highly cited articles examine your search results on the database and rank
them according to how many times they have been cited. You can do this on the
majority of the library databases. Looking at how many times an article has been cited is
a useful indicator of the scholarly impact of the article. Look at the journals that the
highly cited articles have been published in and carry out an in-depth search on those
journals to retrieve other relevant articles.
You can search multiple journals on the Databases A-Z listing.
You can also search individual journals by accessing the Electronic Journals A-Z.
Include a Range of Sources
To demonstrate you’ve read widely on your project topic you should include a range of
sources. You can include any type of reference in a literature review provided it is
relevant to your topic and of a high quality. Depending on your topic, you may include
books, journal articles, websites, conference proceedings, government reports, and even
media reports.
How to find an example of a Literature Review?
The best way to find an example of a literature review is to search a database in your
subject area. Do a keyword search for your subject area and also the word ‘review’ in
the document title e.g. wind turbines AND review or wind farms AND review.
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9. Endnote
After searching the databases you will need to keep a record of your search results. The
University supports Endnote which is a popular bibliographic reference manager
package, available for both Windows and Mac.
Endnote enables you to download references from a wide range of databases, store,
organise and retrieve your references, cite them in your dissertations and articles and
produce bibliographies and reading lists in a variety of formats.
You can view more information, training, video tutorials and guides on JRUL Endnote
webpage.
7. Project Methodology Checklist
Use this checklist to help guide you with planning and conducting your search strategy.
Plan your searches
□ Identify your key search terms
□ Identify your synonyms
□ Identify potential sources
Identifying and searching Potential Sources
Check the following to establish if there is any relevant research via:
□ Library catalogue
□ Key databases
□ Electronic journals A-Z list
□ External Sources
□ External catalogues/research networks
□ Official Statistical Agencies
□ Government Bodies
□ NGOs
□ Trade Associations
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10. Refining your database search
Has your search retrieved too many articles?
You can be more specific:
 Search for your key phrase in the title of the article
e.g. "wind turbines"
 Combine your keywords for a more specific search
e.g. "wind turbines" in the title of the article AND “microwave”
 Only look at the last 5 or 10 years
e.g. 1999-2009
Want to locate more relevant articles?
 Look at the keyword subject terms/descriptors that the database uses to describe
the relevant articles you've found. (If you look at the full record of an item, these are
normally towards the bottom of the record.) Can you use any of these terms as
keywords in your own search?
 In some databases there will be a link to 'more references like this' (in Web of
Knowledge try "find related records")
Not getting anything on your subject?
 Look again at the keywords you are using - are there any alternatives that you can
use? Sometimes words are spelt differently or there may be abbreviations that you
can use.
 You may be using a database that does not cover your subject. Go to the library
WebPages for your subject at:
http://www.library.manchester.ac.uk/academicsupport/subjects/
 Also search the catalogue for Thesis that cover your subject.
 Each database is different so check out the help pages to ensure you are using it
correctly.
 If you are not locating the relevant articles then you can contact your Supervisor and
your Faculty Team Librarian.
EEE Blackboard Information Skills course
 All EEE students have access to an Information Skills course on Blackboard which
contains detailed step by step instructions on how to carry out a literature
search, reference material correctly and critically evaluate information.
 You can view the course by logging on to Blackboard 9 and accessing the My
Communities section or logging on via My Manchester. The course is called
Library and Information Skills.
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11. Dave Hirst, Faculty Team Library for MACE & EEE
Tel: 0161 3064932
Email: david.hirst@manchester.ac.uk
EEE subject pages: http://www.library.manchester.ac.uk/academicsupport/subjects/eee/
MACE & EEE Library Blog: http://jrulenginfo.wordpress.com/
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