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Searching the Literature planning a search using information resources effectively

Searching the Literature planning a search using information resources effectively. Psychology (Applied) Heather Robb Academic Liaison Librarian October 2014. Outline. planning a search where to look finding answers presentation practical workbook. Gathering information.

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Searching the Literature planning a search using information resources effectively

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  1. Searching the Literatureplanning a searchusing information resources effectively Psychology (Applied) Heather Robb Academic Liaison Librarian October 2014

  2. Outline • planning a search • where to look • finding answers • presentation • practical • workbook

  3. Gathering information • 1 – definitions • 2 – search strategy • 3 – choose resources • 4 – begin searches • 5 – refine searches • 6 – note the sources of information used

  4. What am I looking for? Planning is the key: • look carefully at your topic • break it down into concepts or themes e.g.“how can we assess the perception of another person’s gaze”?

  5. How to put concepts together AND OR looking OR gaze perception AND gaze Boolean operators

  6. Boolean operators • use the Boolean operators to help you express your search logically e.g. AND AND

  7. Synonyms and spellings • think about other terms which mean the same i.e. synonyms, or related terms • remember alternative spellings e.g. US vs British AND AND OR OR

  8. Widening a search Other options with keyword searching: • use truncation to pick up plurals or other word endings • e.g. assess* = assessment, assessing • use wildcards to pick up spelling variants • e.g. behavio?r = behavior, behaviour • use adjaceny for words appearing in the same sentence • e.g. nature NEAR/4 nuture = nature nurture, nature versus nurture, nurture as opposed to nature,...

  9. Widening a search AND AND OR OR

  10. Limiting a search • Can you make your search more specific? • For example: • English language • type of publication (review articles?) • type of population (human? animal?) • date of publication (last 5 years?)

  11. Have a go... • in pairs plan this search using the simple grid structure • break the question down into key terms/concepts • think of synonyms, alternative spelling and plurals • decide which Boolean operators are required • What part do genes play in human intelligence?

  12. AND AND human intellig* genes OR OR OR homo sapiens intellect* gene OR OR IQ genetic* OR genom*

  13. Selecting your resource(s) • what kind of information do you want? • which “finding aids” cover this type of information? e.g. • Library Catalogue for books or Discover for books, journal articles, theses, images, and more • databases e.g. PsycInfo/ PsycArticlesor Web of Science for journal articles • Nexis UK or Factiva for newspaper articles

  14. Psychology Subject Page

  15. Tips • Access via the Library website not via DUO • Use Title field to focus a keyword search • Use limit options to refine your search • Use ConneXions to check for full-text online • also check Library catalogue link – for print options and alternative links • Google an article title in quotes (“”) if not found via ConneXions to check for free full-text • Use Library’s DDS not “pay-per-view” options

  16. Practical • open Library homepage • choose: Subject information | Psychology | Information skills | Psychology (Applied) - Literature Searching • plan your own search and try it out on PsycINFO or Web of Science

  17. Questions? • Do you think what you’ve learned in the session today will be useful to you in the future?

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