research methods: overview of library research sfu library gordon coleman 13 october 2004
TRANSCRIPT
Research Methods: Research Methods: Overview of Library Overview of Library
ResearchResearch
SFU LibrarySFU Library
Gordon ColemanGordon Coleman
13 October 200413 October 2004
Today’s workshopToday’s workshop
Background: publishing cycle, Background: publishing cycle, accessing informationaccessing information
Problem #1: known citationsProblem #1: known citations Problem #2: searching by topicProblem #2: searching by topic Problem #3: information overloadProblem #3: information overload Additional problemsAdditional problems
Academic Publication CycleAcademic Publication Cycle
the lone scientist doing research in her labthe lone scientist doing research in her lab
articles in journals, conference articles in journals, conference presentationspresentations
books summarize recent researchbooks summarize recent research
textbooks, reference books, encyclopediastextbooks, reference books, encyclopedias
Accessing informationAccessing information
OnlineOnline Freely availableFreely available Protected/licensed databasesProtected/licensed databases
PrintPrint SFU Surrey LibrarySFU Surrey Library SFU LibrarySFU Library BeyondBeyond
Problem #1: Known Problem #1: Known citationscitations
““My professor told me to get the My professor told me to get the following articles … How do I do it?”following articles … How do I do it?”
Yeasin, Polat, etc. A multiobject tracking Yeasin, Polat, etc. A multiobject tracking framework for interactive multimedia framework for interactive multimedia applications. applications. IEEE Transactions on Multimedia,IEEE Transactions on Multimedia, 6 6 (3), 2004.(3), 2004.
Schroeder, Grabowski. Patterns of exploration Schroeder, Grabowski. Patterns of exploration and learning with hypermedia. and learning with hypermedia. Journal of Journal of Educational Computing Research, Educational Computing Research, 13 (4), 1995.13 (4), 1995.
Bommier, BlanchetBommier, Blanchet. . Binary Quasi-Cyclic Goppa Binary Quasi-Cyclic Goppa Codes.Codes. Codes and Cryptography Codes and Cryptography, 20 (2), 2000., 20 (2), 2000.
Known CitationsKnown Citations
Start at the library homepage: Start at the library homepage: www.lib.sfu.cawww.lib.sfu.ca
Check the catalogue to determine if Check the catalogue to determine if we have the item online or in print.we have the item online or in print.
If it’s unavailable, use the “Request If it’s unavailable, use the “Request Items from Other Libraries” link.Items from Other Libraries” link.
Problem #2: Searching by Problem #2: Searching by TopicTopic
““I need to learn about the field of I need to learn about the field of ___[insert your topic here]___. Where ___[insert your topic here]___. Where should I start?”should I start?”
Searching by Topic: Getting Searching by Topic: Getting StartedStarted
Basic textbooks, reference booksBasic textbooks, reference books Browse the shelvesBrowse the shelves Supervisor’s reading listSupervisor’s reading list Meta-analyses & review articlesMeta-analyses & review articles Bibliography mining of all of the Bibliography mining of all of the
aboveabove Search engines, databases …Search engines, databases …
Searching by Topic: Search Searching by Topic: Search EnginesEngines
Also called “library databases”, Also called “library databases”, “article indexes”“article indexes”
Each one covers certain types of Each one covers certain types of material (books, journal articles, CP, material (books, journal articles, CP, theses, etc.) from certain disciplines theses, etc.) from certain disciplines
More that one database for your More that one database for your topictopic
Searching by Topic: Selecting Searching by Topic: Selecting databasesdatabases
Library homepage Library homepage Article indexes & databases Article indexes & databases Interactive Arts & Technology listInteractive Arts & Technology list
Ask a librarian for more assistanceAsk a librarian for more assistance
Database search tipsDatabase search tips Boolean logic: AND, ORBoolean logic: AND, OR Truncation *Truncation * Look for subject headings, index terms, or Look for subject headings, index terms, or
alternate termsalternate terms Search for separate concepts, then Search for separate concepts, then
combine your search setscombine your search sets Iterate your searches and record what Iterate your searches and record what
you’ve doneyou’ve done Ask a librarian for helpAsk a librarian for help
Getting the item Getting the item
Is it full-text in the database? If not …Is it full-text in the database? If not … Where Can I Get ThisWhere Can I Get This tells you: tells you:
Available online in another databaseAvailable online in another database Available in print at BurnabyAvailable in print at Burnaby Order from another university libraryOrder from another university library Inter-library loan staff will search for itInter-library loan staff will search for it
Problem #3: Info overloadProblem #3: Info overload
““Oh my goodness, there is so much Oh my goodness, there is so much on my topic, where do I start?”on my topic, where do I start?”
Info overload: Web of Science Info overload: Web of Science dbdb
Search by topic, like other databasesSearch by topic, like other databases Rank articles by “most-cited” to Rank articles by “most-cited” to
determine their importancedetermine their importance Cited References = this paper’s list Cited References = this paper’s list
of sourcesof sources Times Cited = papers which cite this Times Cited = papers which cite this
paperpaper Also a useful way to track ideas Also a useful way to track ideas
forward in timeforward in time
Info overload: Managing Info overload: Managing citationscitations
Use Citation Manager and/or Use Citation Manager and/or RefWorks to manage your personal RefWorks to manage your personal database of citationsdatabase of citations
Library homepage Library homepage Research tools Research tools
Additional problemsAdditional problems
““How do I stay on top of How do I stay on top of developments in my field?” developments in my field?” journal journal TofCs TofCs
““How do I know if my thesis topic is How do I know if my thesis topic is original?” original?” Digital Dissertations Digital Dissertations databasedatabase
HomeworkHomework
Search for books on your topicSearch for books on your topic Search for journal articlesSearch for journal articles Use their bibliographies to find moreUse their bibliographies to find more When you find good articles, look for other When you find good articles, look for other
articles which cite themarticles which cite them Meet with a librarian to learn about more Meet with a librarian to learn about more
resources on your topicresources on your topic Start browsing journals in your fieldStart browsing journals in your field Use citation management softwareUse citation management software All homework is optional, but recommendedAll homework is optional, but recommended
Ask Us!Ask Us!
SFU Surrey LibrarySFU Surrey Library Gordon [email protected] [email protected] Natalie [email protected] [email protected]
SFU Library Ask Us! SFU Library Ask Us! www.lib.sfu.ca/researchhelp/askuswww.lib.sfu.ca/researchhelp/askus Email, in person, online chat, telephoneEmail, in person, online chat, telephone