effective literature searching for projects and dissertations
TRANSCRIPT
Today’s Session
•Constructing an effective search strategy
•Finding resources with Library Search
•Using the databases on your Subject Guide
•Evaluating & referencing with infoSuss
•Further support
Effective Searching
• Identify key concepts and alternative terms
•Narrow your search with phrase searching
“research methods”
•Broaden your search using * or OR
method* for methods or methodology
reference OR citation
Your turn
Analyse your topic and produce a list of keywords
Think about alternative terms, related topics, acronyms etc.
Library Search
•Tabbed searching across all resources
•Use the left-hand menu to refine your results
•Sign in to save results, searches, and set alerts
•Links to Reading Lists and Interlibrary Requests
Your turn
Search for materials on Library Search using your keywords
Think about best operators and filters to use
Subject Guides
•Contain a wide range of key subject specific
resources including academic databases and
specialist archives
•Access from the Library Homepage
•Cross-check results with Library holdings using:
Other Guides
Although we have grouped the
most relevant resources on to your
guide, you may also find useful
information in the Other Guides
section, for example:
•These and dissertations
•Ebooks
Web resources
•An increasing number of potentially useful
resources available online
• It is important to critically evaluate what
you are using to ensure it is suitable
•The Assessing web pages guide on
infoSuss will help with this
Referencing and Reference Management
•Look at infoSuss on Study Direct for guidance on
referencing styles and software
•Different software includes:
Endnote - supported by ITS
Zotero - guides on Study Direct