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Diploma of Project ManagementSemester 1, 2014

Jan Coe, Librarian

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What this session will cover:

• Research process - think about your assignment

• Search techniques - find what you need for the assignment

• Referencing – correctly cite/reference what you use

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Reproduced by Central Institute of Technology Library with the permission of Michael Carr, University of Newcastle.

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websites

articles

Finding something nice while looking for something else

It

involves

serendipity

often

Good research is not linear...

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Some options for starting your research…The Library Website - your "research portal" where you

can find:

Subject guides

Library catalogue

Online databases

Study Skills workshops and online tutorials

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General tips for searching

Understand the assignment – what are you being asked to do?e.g. Describe? Compare? Contrast?

Outline?

To gain a greater understanding of PM, undertake research on any of the following facets of project management:

Project scope Stakeholder engagement Project procurement Project risk

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Where to start? It depends on the topic, but...

Books, really?• Books can give you a broad overview and

general definitions for your the topic• You might learn more about the historical

development of a topic• Books are written for different levels of

readers: • Basic, knowledgeable, expert

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Catalogue search

“Project scope” in all fields – Why?• + It seems intuitive• - Aspects of a larger topic may not have entire

books written about them…

“Project management” in the subject – Why?• + Will usually get everything • - you have to know the subject heading

beforehand! 658.404

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So, to re-cap: searching the catalogue... Textbooks or books of a general nature

are good for beginning research...

Use a variety of search strategies:• All fields• Title• Subject• Subject phrase and additional keyword in All

fields, e.g.“project management” and procurement

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What about ebooks?

We have three different collections of ebooks that are relevant to business

You can access all of them from the library website > Online databases page

Or, you can search for them in the catalogue

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Articles in newspapers and journals• Articles are more specific, usually covering a

particular issue or an aspect of a larger topic• e.g. The importance of risk factors in customer

relationship management projects

• Articles are timely – they are the most up-to-date sources on a topic.

• Articles can point you to other articles (through their references)

• Articles are how professionals communicate with each other and their industry at large.

13Searching for articles and relevant journals

You now have two ways to search for articles:

1. By individual database (Ebsco, ProQuest, and APAFT) 1 2

Ebsco full-text ProQuest full textPM Network (from 2003)

PM World Today (ceased 2012)

Project Management Journal

PM Network (from 2005)

• New free ejournal: Project Manager (Aus)• Free ejournal: Project Accelerator News (UK)• Free ejournal: PM World Journal (US)

14 Supersearch How is Supersearch different?

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So, to re-cap: searching for articles in databases

Be flexible and use a variety of search strategies:• Phrase search• In title• In subject• In abstract• Play around with Supersearch

Sort the list in different ways – relevance vs most recently published

Create an account and save anything of interest to folders

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Websites, webpages• The best of them tend to have:

• An ‘About us’ section that establishes their credentials• A ‘Publications’ section where you might find free pdfs

or other information• Look for:

• Other library subject guides• Industry group websites• Government websites • Educational websites

• Use both Google and Bing• Evaluate the websites you find before using them

in an assignment.

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Switching gears...

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What is Referencing? Referencing is a standardized way to

acknowledge the sources of information (and ideas) that you have used in your written work

The APA style is used at Central Institute of Technology

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Why do you reference?Benefits you

Benefits you

To show the breadth of your researchTo strengthen your academic argument

To show the reader the source of your information

To allow the reader to consult your sources independently

Benefits your reader

Benefits your reader

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When do you have to reference?If you: quote (use someone else’s exact words) copy (use figures, tables, graphics,etc) paraphrase (convert someone else’s ideas

into your own words) summarise (use a brief account of someone

else’s ideas).

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What is paraphrasing? Paraphrasing means to restate accurately

and concisely in your own words something you have read.

If you refer to specific ideas on particular pages of a resource, you need to include page numbers.

If you refer to general themes mentioned throughout the resource, page numbers need not be shown.

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Why paraphrase? Paraphrasing shows that you have

understood the passage you are referencing and can put it in your own words in a coherent manner.

Paraphrasing is an alternative to quoting directly, but as the paraphrase is still dependent on someone else's ideas, the source material must be referenced.

Communications Learning Centre, Paraphrasing, Retrieved fromhttp://clc.cqu.edu.au/FCWViewer/view.do?page=853

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Original quote:

The surging interest in project management within

the public sector can be seen to be driven by the

need for government departments to become

more responsive to change and the increasing

recognition of the project as an adaptable form of

work organization.

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Paraphrase

Government departments have embraced project management as an adaptable tool for addressing change (Darrell, Baccarini, and Love, 2010, p. 56).

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What if you don’t reference?

You commit plagiarism!

Plagiarism is the term used when you copy another person’s ideas or opinions as your own and don’t acknowledge the original source of the information

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Referencing is made up of in-text and

end-text references An in-text reference is the shortened version of the reference that you incorporate into the body of your report or paper.

An end-text reference is the full citation that gives enough information about the source so that someone can find it on their own.

You always have to have BOTH

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Barry, P. (2002). PM: What it is and what it isn’t. (7th ed.).

Philadelphia: Lippincott.

Format for the print end-text reference

Who When

What Where: Pub

Author Date Title Edition Place of pub & publisher

(ed.)ed

Format for a ‘typical’ print in-text reference

In the most recent edition of his textbook, Barry (2010, p. 245) provides a thorough summary of the project manager’s role.

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EdWel PMP. (2013). PreparePM: Your leading source for PMP® Exam Questions,

application support, and study materials. Retrieved from

http://preparepm.com/index.html

Format for the online end-text reference

Who When

What

Where (URL)

Author Date Title [format] Retrieved from ...

Type*ed

Format for an online in-text referenceThere are many exam preparation guides for project management. Prepare PM (2013) is a website that offers a tutorial, mock exam, and sample exam questions.

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Two options for more help with APA

If you are brand new to referencing

If you need a refresher or more detailed information on

referencing

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A good place to practice your referencing skills

http://campusguides.dtwd.wa.gov.au/apaprac

Password: apaprac

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Automated referencing toolsMicrosoft WORD 2007http://office.microsoft.com/en-au/word-help/create-a-bibliography-HA010067492.aspx

Microsoft WORD 2010http://office.microsoft.com/en-au/word-help/create-a-bibliography-HA010368774.aspx?CTT=1

Mendeleyhttp://www.mendeley.com/

Endnotehttp://endnote.com/

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The main things to take away:• Keep a list of your references as you are writing your report or paper or use the ‘References’ feature in MS WORD 2007 or 2010.

• If you’ve used an in-text reference in your report or paper, you MUST have the full

reference in the Reference List

• ASK FOR HELP if you get stuck!

• Watch Central’s APA Referencing video on You Tube

(highly recommended)

33View this presentation again at:

http://perthlibrarian.wikispaces.com/