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Research skills for Theatre students. Planning your search strategy – step 1. Spend some time thinking about your topic Break down your topic Keywords and phrases. Step 2 – the search words. Consider alternative terms e.g. devising OR directing
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Planning your search strategy – step 1 • Spend some time thinking about your topic • Break down your topic • Keywords and phrases
Step 2 – the search words • Consider alternative terms e.g. devising OR directing • Consider alternative spellings, word endings, plurals e.g. theatre OR theater • Truncate using asterisks e.g. perform* will find perform, performance, performers, performing
Step 3 – linking search words together • AND search – combining two different subjects together, e.g. improvisation AND rehearsal • OR search – alternative words/phrases, e.g. reading AND realisation • NOT search – excluding words/phrases, e.g. agit-prop NOT literature • Words as a phrase e.g., avant-garde; experimental theatre
Step 4 – choosing databases • Consider subject area • Be open minded! • Types of sources covered • Amount of information provided
Useful databases • Academic OneFile • Index to Theses • International Bibliography of Theatre & Dance • Literary Reference Center • MLA • Zetoc
Additional databases • Cinahl, AMED & IBTD (e.g. drama/theatre and therapy, disability and theatre, etc.) • British Education Index (e.g. drama and the curriculum) • Emerald (e.g. theatre and business) • PsychInfo; Cinahl(e.g. theatre and mental health) • Historical Abstracts; IBTD (e.g. theatre and Holocaust)
Other resources • OIAster (digital resources) • Library catalogues such as WorldCat or COPAC • Websites link on subject page including Intute • Google Scholar – searches for articles outside the scope of our databases
Step 5 – searching and modifying Different databases will • use different search terms • limit to searching within different indexes • limit to years of publication • limit to types of document e.g. books, journals, etc.
Evaluation Once you have found useful articles consider the following: • Authority • Currency • Coverage • Objectivity • Accuracy
Step 6 – results achieved! • Is the item full text? • Is the item held in the Learning Centre? • Do you need to apply for an Inter Library loan?
Getting hold of materials not in stock • Allocation of 30 ILLs – from start of 2nd year to end of final year • Green ILL forms for articles, blue for books, theses, etc., or use the online forms on the Library webpages • Allow at least one week for the material to arrive • See the Library webpages for Inter Library loans
At York St John University • Follow the Harvard style of Referencing • Record all references as you work • Acknowledge all sources used.
Further help Having trouble finding articles? • Book a one-to-one with Lottie Alexander - email l.alexander@yorksj.ac.uk Or ask for help at the Information & Help desk on the 1st floor of the Learning Centre