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Design 119 – Starting a research project. Nigel May Academic Support Manager. Searching for information. Where do you start? Using books rather than the web Using the Library catalogue – Voyager Locating journal articles Using the web The importance of citing and referencing your work.
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Design 119 – Starting a research project Nigel May Academic Support Manager
Searching for information • Where do you start? • Using books rather than the web • Using the Library catalogue – Voyager • Locating journal articles • Using the web • The importance of citing and referencing your work
Where to start • Clarify and understand what exactly you have to do • Deconstruct your essay/project title • Select out the important keywords and concepts • Think about related keywords (synonyms) • Think about using “more specific” or “more general “keywords
Keywords • Example:- Power Generation • Related:- • Power supply; Energy supply; etc. • More Specific:- • Electricity Supply; • More General:- • Technology; Technological
Why keywords are important • Do not search for the essay title alone • If one set of keywords don’t deliver you with information, try a different set • Remember to use plurals and be aware of US spelling • There is no excuse – “There was no information”
Why books are as important as the web. • All books will have been through an editorial process and information validated. • Information is written within a much broader context • The author is clearly identifiable • Sources/references will be clearly identified • Date of Publication easily identified • Information can never to changed
Using the Library Catalogue - Voyager • Voyager terminals in the Library • Student Portal – MyCourse – Library pages – Electronic Resources • When searching for particular books use :- • Simple Search - Keyword • When searching for books on a subject use:- • Advanced Search
Voyager – Advanced Search Note the use of related keywords Use of the ? Wildcard – ethic, ethics, ethical “Any of these” will ensure the search looks for one or other of the terms.
Voyager – Search results Note Shelfmark – 3 letter suffix Ordinary loan – 3 weeks Status available – book is on the shelf
Journal articles • One of the major ways that engineers communicate • Most journals require articles to peer-reviewed before they are published. • Information in journals has been verified and checked • Sources of information are clearly identified
Locating Journals on Voyager Remember that you are only searching words in the journal title – you will not find specific articles in Voyager
Journal Title keyword - results Journal titles that have “ Engineering design” in the title. Shelfmark Electronic copy available –MAY deliver full text of the articles – or only abstract
Finding journal articles • You cannot find them using Voyager • You could identify a journal title of interest and browse through past copies • The best way is to use “Electronic databases” available via the Library E-Resources web page
Following the links to Full text articles Link to full text articles Note only available between 1995 – 2002 If Full text not delivered – check the E-Journals A-Z list for the journal title and follow the links. (See next slides)
Electronic Resources Range of E-Resources available Try them out for yourself
Abstracts in New Technology and Engineering • Covers literature from 1981 – to date • Updated monthly • From 350 academic & trade publications • Includes New CivilEngineer, Structural Engineer & New Scientist etc…
Abstracts in New Technology and Engineering plus others You can select other databases that might help identify related journal articles e.g. BHI – Social , Political issues DAAI – Design issues
Keyword search using ANTE, BHI, DAAI Use the Advanced Search option Identify the related keywords Use the wildcard to find similar words ethic, ethics, ethical
ANTE, BHI – Search Results Number search results Newspaper – for full text of article – you will need to use the E-Newspapers Full text Linking – if the link does not deliver Full text – go back to E-Journals A-Z List Check any journal title against Voyager Journal Title search
Using the web - evaluating • Think about the:- • Accuracy – who wrote it? Are they qualified? • Check the HOME PAGE • Authority – where is the host sited? .edu .gov .org • Objectivity – is there a bias? Are there adverts? • Currency – do the links still work? Is the site dated? • Referencing – know how to reference websites/ webpages
Conclusions • Think about the keywords you will be using to search – word stems, synonyms, broader and narrower terms. • Get to know how to use Voyager and how to find books in the Library. • Know how to find journal titles on Voyager • Use the E-journals, E-Newspapers and E-Databases on the E-Resources pages • Know how to look for journal articles using E-databases
Further Conclusions • Understand the purpose of evaluating all web resources used. • Understand the important of the HOME PAGE • Referencing your work - know where to find advice on the PORTAL • Remember that searching for information needs planning and takes time.
Finally • Help is available:- • This presentation will be available in the Module Folder • The Library Enquiry desk staff will provide general guidance – Library LEVEL 1 • Ask colleagues for help/advice • You can contact me direct • nigel.may @plymouth.ac.uk