Advanced Library Information Skills for USP Students

1. Advanced Library Information Skillsfor USP Students Conducted by Mrs. Hew Yik Suan Manager (Science Library)

2. Today’s Topics • How to initiate a systematic approach on conducting research • How to search the relevant reference databases available for your subject of study

3. Starting a Research Project Identify the research topic Initiate a literature search

4. How to initiate a literature search? • Start with a simple / quick literature search in LINC • Follow with an extensive search in relevant reference databases in Digital Library

5. How to construct the search concept? List synonyms for each concept Identify keywords & main concepts Think of the broader terms for each concept to get abetter perspective on your research topic

6. Research Topic : Altruism in Animals

7. Altruism • Zoology behaviour of an animal that benefits another at its own expense • Selfless concern for the well being of others • The practice of thinking of the needs and desires of other people instead of your own • Sacrifice, if necessary of life itself, so that others, commonly offspring or other genetically close younger relatives, may survive or otherwise benefit.

8. Search ConceptResearch Topic: Altruism in Animals

9. Search ConceptResearch Topic : A Study of Eulerian graph

10. Use Boolean operators to formulate the search statement • AND is used to indicate that both terms must be present • OR is used to indicate that either terms may be present • NOT is used to indicate that one term must be present For example: (Graph! OR Combinatoric*) NOT (Function graph!) (altrui! OR unselfish behavior) AND (animal*) NOT (ant*)

11. Search Relevance How do you know that the search is relevant? You may consider the following questions : • Does the item give an overview of your topic? • Does the item cover one or some aspects of your topic? • Does the item cover the situation in the country and place that you are covering?

12. Evaluating Sources How good are the sources? In evaluating your sources, you may wish to consider the following general criteria: • Authority(Is it done by the experts in that field?) • Accuracy(Are the information, data or methods reliable?) • Objectivity (How objective is it? Is it peer reviewed?) • Timeliness(Is the information up-to-date?)

13. How do you cite references ? Book Chen, J.F. 1995. Nutritional immunology. Provo, Utah: Bright Ideas Press. Chapter in Book Williams, M.E. 1992. Molecular biology of cytoplasmic male sterility. In Plant Breeding Reviews, ed. Janick, J., pp. 23-51. New York: Wiley. Journal Article Pierrard, V. 2003. Evaporation of hydrogen and helium atoms from the atmospheres of Earch and Mars. Planetary and Space Science51: 319-327. Conference paper Turner, S. and Somerville, C. 1995. Analysis of vascular tissue differentiation. 6th International Conference on Arabidopsis Research. 93-95. Theses Ng Khee Yew. 1997. Regulation of photosynthesis and phloem transport in Oncidium Goldiana. (B.Sc. Hons.) School of Biological Sciences, The National University of Singapore. Pp. 126

14. Searching one database may not be sufficient, do the search in a few other relevant databases to get wider coverage and perspective.

15. Abstracts and Indexes Biological Sciences Reference Databases in Digital Library : BIOSIS Previews Science Citation Index SciFinder Scholar PubMed Encyclopedia of Life Sciences Standalone CD-ROMs in Science Library: Life Science CD Focus on Genetics Zoological Abstracts on Compact Disc

16. Abstracts and Indexes Mathematics Reference Databases in Digital Library : MathSciNet Science Citation Index NUSNET (via CD-ROM on Windows) Encyclopedia of Mathematics Standalone CD-ROMs in Science Library: Current Index to Statistics CIS Extended Database Calculus Live MathCad 2001

17. Abstracts and Indexes • Physics • Reference Databases in Digital Library: • INSPEC • Science Citation Index • SPIN (Searchable Physics Information Notices) • Standalone CD-ROMs in Science Library • Powder Diffraction File • Handbook of Chemistry and Physics

18. Abstracts and Indexes Computer Science Reference Databases in Digital Library : • IEEE Xplore • ISI Essential Science Indicators • ISI Proceedings • INSPEC • ACM Online Guide to Computing Literature • MathSciNet Standalone CD-ROMs in Science Library: • ISTP on CD-ROM • Computer Abstracts • Hilites Database

19. Abstracts and Indexes Chemistry • Reference Databases in Digital Library : • SciFinder Scholar • Science Citation Index • Dictionary of Substances and their Effects • MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) • Food Science and Technology • Standalone CD-ROMs in Science Library: • Powder Diffraction File • Official Methods of Analysis of AOAC International • Properties of Organic Compounds • ACD/ Labs Software: IUPAC Name Pro 4.5 & Aldrich FT-NMR Library Pro 4.5

20. Reference Databases Search • ScienceDirect consists of: • BIOSIS Previews • INSPEC • Compendex • MEDLINE • MathSciNet

21. Access the Digital Library http://www.lib.nus.edu.sg/digital/index.html

22. Access the Digital Library off-Campus http://www.lib.nus.edu.sg/help/digital/accessdl.html

23. BIOSIS Previews • BIOSIS Previews is the reference database in the Life Sciences • Links to full text journals, access depend on whether NUS Libraries subscribes to them • Requires login ID and Password for using full search features http://www.lib.nus.edu.sg/digital/

25. MathSciNet MathSciNet is a searchable database providing access to “Mathematical Reviews” and “Current Mathematical Publications” both produced by the American Mathematical Society.

26. MathSciNet It provides: Fulltext coverage of “Mathematical Reviews” from to the present (updated monthly) Bibliographic data for recent and forthcoming publications in “Current Mathematical Publications” (updated daily)

27. Useful Writing Guides Guide to the successful thesis and dissertation/ J. E. Mauch & J. W. Birch. – Marcel Dekker,1998. (LB2369 Mau) (SC Ref 9) Mathematics into type. Updated ed. – American Mathematical Society, 1999. (T11 Swa) (SC Ref 9) The scientist’s handbook for writing papers and dissertations/ A. M. Wilkinson. – Prentice Hall, 1991. (T11 Wil) (SC Ref 9)

28. Useful Writing Guides A student handbook for writing in biology/ K. Knisely. – Freeman, 2002. (QH304 Kni 2002) (SC Ref 5) The write right guide /C. Low & D. Pan. - 5th ed. – Centre for Development of Teaching and Learning, NUS. (PE1408 Low 2003) (SC Ref 9) Writing research papers : a complete guide/ J. D. Lester. - 9th ed. – Longman,1999. (LB2369 Les) (SC Ref 9) Writing science through critical thinking / M. F. Moriarty. Jones & Bartlett Pub., 1997. (T11 Mor) (SC Main Shelves)

29. What do you do when the materials you want is not found in the NUS Libraries? You may request the library to obtain the item for you through electronic forms available at Digital Library Request for Document Delivery Request to Purchase New Books for the Library Request to Subscribe to New Journals for the Library Check whether other major local libraries (NTU, Singapore Polytechnic, Botanic Gardens) hold a particular book or journal

30. Thank You !

31. Science Library Exercises for the Advanced Library Information Skills for USP Students Workshop 1. Construct a search statement for the following research topic. (Select one of them) a). A study of Zebra-fish trade in Singapore b). Quantum theory of tunneling c). A study of Set Theory and Logic 2. List the keywords, synonyms, and broader terms for the topic KeywordsSynonymsBroader Terms 3. What reference databases are you going to use for the above topic? 4. Too many references? Too less references? What can you do to broaden or narrow down the search?

32. Search ConceptResearchTopic : A study of Zebra-fish trade in Singapore

33. Research Topic: Quantum theory of tunneling KeywordSynonyms Broader Terms Quantum Quantum mechanic Physics Theory Tunneling Potential barrier Junction

34. A study of Set theory and Logic KeywordSynonymsBroader Term Set theory Symbolic Mathematics Logic Reasoning Methodology thought & Intellect thinking Philosophy