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Finding Information

Finding Information. for Level 2 Physics Undergraduates. Aims of the session. To help you Search effectively Use Databases Become aware of other online resources. Which sources of information will you need for your research?. Resources. Books & E-books Journals & e-journals E-prints

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Finding Information

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  1. Finding Information for Level 2 Physics Undergraduates

  2. Aims of the session To help you • Search effectively • Use Databases • Become aware of other online resources

  3. Which sources of information will you need for your research?

  4. Resources • Books & E-books • Journals & e-journals • E-prints • Conference proceedings • Theses • Internet pages • News sources • Statistics • Official publications • Patents • Specialist reports • Organisations/Contacts • Discussion groups • Academics & librarians

  5. Effective searching • Definitions and synonyms e.g. information, data, facts, statistics • Adjacency or refine e.g. “Institute of Physics” • Boolean operators: AND, OR & AND NOT

  6. Effective searching • Truncation: e.g. physic** to locate physics, physical, physicist etc. • Wildcards e.g. organi?ation • Proximity e.g. molecul* within 3 atom* • Advanced search option/ help

  7. Keyword search strategy The physics behind butterflies’ iridescent colours AND NOT AND moth* butterfl* iridescen* lepidoptera colo?r OR UK “diurnal insects” “photonic crystal*”

  8. Results • Anon (1998) ‘Iridescence in Lepidotera’, Physics Review [online] Available at: http://newton.ex.ac.uk/research/emag/butterflies/iridesc-text.htm (Accessed: 20/10/06). • Joannopoulos, John D., Robert D. Meade & Joshua N. Winn (1995) Photonic crystals: molding the flow of light. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

  9. Activity • In groups or on your own use the sheet to plan a search strategy for your essay. • You will use this when exploring online resources later in the session.

  10. Using the Library Catalogue • Can be searched using a variety of methods • Author/Title (combined) for known item • Keyword • Classmark and Subject search for related records • Save searches and email results

  11. Journals • Information on very specific topics • Research outputs • Up-to-date information • Print and/or electronic versions catalogued by JOURNAL title • Check date coverage

  12. Databases • Search for wide range of journal articles • Some full text • Use ConneXions to see if Durham subscribes to the content • Consider variety of databases e.g. Institute of Physics Journals, Web of Knowledge, Science Direct

  13. Other online resources • E-prints • arXiv, PhysNet • Conference proceedings • News • Infotrac, LexisNexis • Images • Bristol Biomedical Image Archive • Statistics and data Online resources

  14. Evaluating Websites • What to look for • Who is the author? • Is the material biased? • Who is hosting this web page? • When was it posted or last updated? • Is there a bibliography or further references? • Use subject gateways e.g. EEVL, PSIgate

  15. Web page Reference • Author(s) (If available. If not use Title) (Year of publication or last update) Title. Available at: URL. (Accessed: date). • e.g. Bunn, T. (1995) Black holes FAQ. Available at: http://cosmology.berkeley.edu/Education/BHfaq.html (Accessed: 1 October 2006).

  16. References and Bibliographies • ALWAYS keep a full and accurate record of your information sources • E-mail references for saving • Make sure you refer correctly to other authors within your work • Avoid plagiarism

  17. Where to get help • Enquiries Desk on Level 2 • Email Enquirieshttp://www.dur.ac.uk/library/using/enquiries/ • Academic Support Team • Richard Pears and Laura Jeffrey

  18. What Happens Next • First connect to the internet • From the Library home page click on: Subject Information | Physics | Information skills | Level 2 training • Please fill in Online Evaluation at bottom of this page

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