Finding information: Engineering and Computing Sciences

1. Finding information: Engineering and Computing Sciences Nicola Conway October 2011

2. Aims of the session To help you: • Identify, find & evaluate relevant resources for your research • Use the library effectively, and make the most of our services and resources • Know who to contact for further help

3. Format of the session What the session will involve: • A demonstration of quality academic resources for your subject • A chance for you to begin searching for information • An opportunity to ask for help and advice

5. Library basics • http://www.dur.ac.uk/library/ • Main Library Level 3 : Sciences • Information for students: • New, Current and Researcher web pages : http://www.dur.ac.uk/library/using/information/ • Opening hours • Loan entitlements • Durham University email • Contacts / support

6. Subject Specific Support: http://www.dur.ac.uk/library/engineering/

7. 4 steps to finding information

8. 1. Identify Keywords Identify keywords from your topic: • “Discuss how artificial intelligence could be used to detecterrors in data sets” Advanced searching techniques: • Synonyms: error OR mistake OR fault / artificial intelligence OR AI • Truncation: detect* to locate detection, detecting etc. • Phrases:“data set” • Wildcards: organi?ation to locate organization or organisation • Joining Words: AND, OR, NOT

9. Task One p.3 of handout • Identify keywords from the topic you are researching, if you haven’t got a topic to research yet you can use: “Discuss how the evolution of 3D software has affected cinema and television”

10. Task One p.3 of handout (2) “Discuss how the evolution of 3D software has affected cinema and television” OR OR Progress* Advance* Evolution AND Software Program Cinema 4D XL AND 3D 3 dimension*

11. 2. Decide where to search (1) What information do you need? • Overview of a topic, theory, idea, concept? • Encyclopaedias and Dictionaries (online and in print) • Background information? • Textbook/E-book • Information on the latest developments? • Journal Article • Conference Paper • News item • E-Print/Research Repository

12. 2. Decide where to search (2) • Do you have a specific reference? • Yes Library Catalogue • No Online resource • Have you consulted the information resources available for Engineering and Computing Sciences? http://www.dur.ac.uk/library/engineering

13. 3: Search - the Library Catalogue • Can be searched using a variety of methods • Author/Title (combined) for known item • Keyword • Classmark and Subject search • Searches for print and electronic resources but does not search within them • Can save searches and email results

14. 3: Search – Online databases Which online resource? • Databases • Journal Articles • Standards • E-books • Conference Papers • Theses

15. Journals and Conference Papers Databases search a wide range of material: • Some provide full text • Science Direct • Some provide some full text and some bibliographic information • ACM Digital Library / Computer abstracts international database • Some only provide bibliographic information • Web of Knowledge • Can use ConneXions to see if Durham subscribes to the content No single database will cover everything

16. Journal Ranking • ARC: Australian Research Council • http://www.arc.gov.au/era/era_2010/archive/era_journal_list.htm • A* - Not Ranked • Web of Knowledge: • Journal Citation Reports • Impact Factor (1.5+)

17. Task Two p.6 of handout • Use the keywords you identified in Task One to search for information in: • An online database

18. Using other online resources • Standards: British Standards Online • Patents • Theses & dissertations : • http://www.dur.ac.uk/library/using/finding/theses/ • News and news archives • E-prints/Research Repositories: arXiv.org • E-books

19. Using Internet Resources (1) • Remember to evaluate information on the web • Anyone can be a web author • There are few controls over what is posted on the web • Is material peer-reviewed or edited? • Is the information up to date? • Check for bias or an agenda

20. Using Internet Resources (2) • TechXtra - access to e-prints, technical reports, theses, articles, news, trade magazines and job announcements. • Scirus - science search engine of evaluated academic sites • Google Scholar – search engine for academic resources • uses Durham ConneXions button

21. Task Two p.6 of handout • Use the keywords you identified in Task One to search for information: • Using another online resource

22. Obtaining items outside of Durham • Visiting other universities e.g. Newcastle and Northumbria • Check their catalogues: http://www.dur.ac.uk/library/resources/online/catalogues/ • Access to other libraries • SCONUL Access Scheme • http://www.dur.ac.uk/library/otherlibraries/ • Document Delivery Service • http://www.dur.ac.uk/library/using/borrowing/dds/

23. 4. Review your results • Are your results useful? • Do you need to change your keywords or search in a different database? • Use one record to find similar useful resources • Evaluate the quality of your sources • particularly if they are found on the internet • Keep references • e-mail yourself useful references

24. References and Bibliographies • Always keep a full and accurate record of your information sources • Use the Library Catalogue and online databases to e-mail references for saving • Make sure you refer correctly to other authors within your work • Avoid plagiarism

25. Where to get further help • Academic Support Team: Nicola Conway – Engineering & Computing Sciences • Subject information page: • http://www.dur.ac.uk/library/engineering/ • Help and Information Point on Level 2 • Online enquiries form: • http://www.dur.ac.uk/library/using/enquiries/

26. Any Questions Nicola Conway: nicola.conway@durham.ac.uk