Finding research evidence

http:// unihub.mdx.ac.uk / study / library

MSc Creative Technology Oct 2013

In this workshop we will look at...• How to find information

• Developing an effective search strategy

• Resources available and how to use them

• Evaluating information for quality and relevance

• Managing references

Thinking about resources

Find out moreMyUniHub > MyStudy > MyLibrary > Library Subject Guides

http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/EIS

Thinking about keywords

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rossjamesparker/89414788/

The real thingReminiscence therapy online resources for older people

• Keywords

• Alternative keywords

• More specific keywords

• Related subjects

So far so good

So far we’ve looked at:

• The range of resources available

• Choosing the right resource

• Coming up with useful keywords

Next:

• Searching and evaluating information

Finding resourcesmyUniHub > My Study > My Library > Summon

Select Summon and search for information on Reminiscence Therapy online resources for older people

Refining your search

Google vs Summon

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ennuiislife/3450743002/

Google

• Familiar and easy to use

• Finds too much information

• Fast results

• Access from any computer

• Access to some books and journals

• Designed to sell you things

• Search results sponsored

• Searches for info from any source

• Pay for academic information

Summon

• Easy to use

• Finds lots of academic info

• Fast results

• Access from any computer

• Access to lots of books and journals

• Designed to find you information

• Search results by relevance

• Searches quality resources

• Free access to full text

Citation searching• Which articles have cited an earlier article

• Find articles on similar/related subject

• How many times an article has been cited

• Best journals in your field

Web of ScienceMyUniHub > MyStudy > MyLibrary > Databases > W

Library Subject GuidesMyUniHub > MyStudy > MyLibrary > Library Subject Guides

http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/EIS

Keeping up-to-date with your subject

• Zetoc Alert

• CiteuLike

• TicTOC

• Google Alerts

More information on Library Subject Guide:

http://bit.ly/CSkeepingcurrent

It’s not in the Library!• Inter Library Loans http://bit.ly/InterLibraryLoans

• Sconul Access http://www.access.sconul.ac.uk/sconul-access

• Other libraries http://bit.ly/visitingotherlibraries

But is it any good?

Evaluating information

Imagine you are writing an essay on ‘Network Security’.

Have a look at the 4 items that you have been given and consider the following:

• Which items are the most relevant to your essay?

• Which items would be no use?

• Which item has the most academic authority?

• Which items might have bias?

• Which item is the most current?

• Authority

• Relevance

• Intent

• Objectivity

• Currency

Evaluating information

Referencing and PlagiarismmyUniHub > My Study > My Library > Library Subject Guides

http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/plagiarismreferencing

Managing your references• Use bibliographic management software

• RefWorks

• myUniHub > MyStudy > MyLibrary > Databases > R

• More information http://bit.ly/RefWorkshelp

Keeping in touch• Librarian Blog http://satlibrarian.blogspot.com

• Librarian Twitter http://twitter.com/SATlibrarian

• Library Facebook Middlesex University Library

• Library Twitter http://twitter.com/MDXLibrary

• MDX App http://unihub.mdx.ac.uk/support/app/index.aspx

Need further help?

Your Librarian is:

Vanessa Hill v.hill@mdx.ac.uk

http://unihub.mdx.ac.uk/support/unihelp/