Information Searching: Essential Steps

1. Information Searching: Essential Steps Chemical Engineering 100 Sept. 26, 2005 Anne Fullerton, Chemical Engineering Librarian affuller@library.uwaterloo.ca

2. 5 Essential Steps to Finding Information • Deciding what you are looking for • Deciding where to look for information • Knowing how to look for the information you need • Evaluating the information you find • Acknowledging and listing your sources Monash University. 2003. http://www.lib.monash.edu.au/vl/skillind.htm Library Online Tutorials. Essential Steps. [accessed Sept. 25, 2005].

3. Engineers and Information • “Engineers have the most diverse/varied information literature in science and technology!” UT Austin Engineering Library. 2002. Engineering: where science meets the economy.http://www.summaweb.com/teaching/index.htm Accessed Sept. 12, 2003 • Engineers are problem solvers. Finding information is problem solving.

4. This diagram has been adapted from Evolution of Scientific Information. [From Allan Kent and Harold Lancour, eds., Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science (New York, 1979), s.v. "Scientific Literature," by K. Subramanyam, 394].

5. 1.Deciding what you are looking for • what are the key concepts in your topic? List them. • do you understand all the terms involved? If not, consult an encyclopedia or dictionary • what would be the best search terms to use? List them, but be willing to add and subtract from your list. Consult these Sources(see Reference, right hand menu) • Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology • Oxford Reference Online

6. drug* pharmaceutical* ibuprofen analgesic* steroid* drinking water wastewater waste water groundwater drugs drinking water removal AND AND Terms I found by searching an encyclopedia, book, websites, dictionary. Example:How can we remove the growing number of drugs which are appearing in our drinking water? 3 concepts nanofiltration oxidation UV

7. Search Statement combine the terms for each concept with OR and combine the concepts with AND. (drug* OR pharmaceutical* OR ibuprofen) AND (wastewater OR waste water) AND nanofiltration Notes: • Consider alternate spellings of words (British and U.S.) • Truncate for different word endings • Don’t have to use all the terms you found in 1 statement.

8. 2. Where to look:Books Characteristics • Longer than articles • Information is at least 2- 3 year’s old • Topics less specific (broader) than in articles • Summarizes research and provides context • Tables and figures TRELLIS - UW’s Library Catalogue Complete TASK 1 now

9. 2. Where to look:Trade & Professional Magazines; News Characteristics • Focus on current information • Written by journalists, staff writers • General audience – informal style, easy read • Controversies discussed • Refer to experts, current research projects etc. • May include a bibliography e.g. CEP Magazine; Chemical and Engineering News

10. 2. Where to look:Scholarly or Research Journals Characteristics • Current information • Public report of research results • Written by Faculty, Researchers, Grad students etc. • Includes authors’ name and credentials • Scholarly audience – assumes reader knows the issues or topic – difficult reading for novices. • Peer-reviewed (experts evaluate before publication) • Includes a bibliography of sources used in the work e.g. AIChE Journal; Journal of Polymer Research

11. Click and link to journal article online or TRELLIS search. 2. Where to look:Research Indexes for ChE 100 • Applied Science and Technology Full Text • General Science Abstracts • ABI/Inform see Subject Guide - Chemical Engineering Complete TASK 2 now.

12. 2. Where to lookWebsites – via Google or large sites • OK for facts, company & product info, news, government info, society & organizations (conferences, training etc.) • Comprehensive lists of websites are selected by librarians e.g. EEVL Evaluation criteria for websites http://www.eng.uwaterloo.ca/~che100/eval_criteria.htm Google – • Try same search terms as you did for journals • Google Images, Google Link (advanced). Google Define Complete TASK 3 now.

13. Paper TrailAcknowledging and Listing Sources • Proves your work has a substantial, factual basis • Shows the research you’ve done to reach your conclusions • Allows your reader to identify & find the references including images, tables, figures. • Acknowledges the authors whose work you used What Citation or Reference Style to Use? • Ask your prof; check course reading list • APA style for this assignment

14. Plagiarism Do a Google define search on plagiarism -presenting someone else’s words and/or ideas as if they are your own Protecting Yourself from it • Summarize what you read in your own words • Don’t use the sentence structure or words of the author • Use quotation marks if you use the exact phrases http://www.eng.uwaterloo.ca/~che100/plagiarism.html Remember Plagiarism is easy to spot with Google and special software. Plagiarism can cost you your academic career.

15. Questions? Contact me: @ Davis Info Desk: Tues. 5pm – 8pm; Thurs. 1-2pm; 3-5pm Email: affuller@library.uwaterloo.ca Anne Fullerton Chemical Engineering & Biology Librarian Complete TASK 4 before Friday Sept. 30