tsem research spring 2012
TRANSCRIPT
Agenda
How to start a search
Evaluate resources
Search tips and tricks
Finding Books: Cook Library Catalogs
Finding Articles: Databases
Hands on database practice
How can I help you?
In class session to learn how to use resourcesPhone help 410.704.3359.Email: [email protected] Chat help
Go to Library website and click “Ask a Librarian”One-on-one appointmentsHelp at the reference desk
Web “Pre-Searching”
Why not start your search on Google? The Invisible Web
http://goshen.libguides.com/beyond_googling
Can you trust this information?
TED video: Online filter bubble – Eli Pariser http://
www.ted.com/talks/eli_pariser_beware_online_filter_bubbles.html
Web “Pre-Searching”
Why start your search on Google?
Find background information
Help solidify research topic
Find new terminology to use as keywords
Find links and/or citations to other sources
Evaluate what you find
Go to one of the websites below and analyze it http://bit.ly/cosmicweb1 http://bit.ly/cosmicweb2 http://bit.ly/cosmicweb3 http://bit.ly/cosmicweb4 http://bit.ly/cosmicweb5 http://bit.ly/cosmicweb6 http://bit.ly/cosmicweb7
CurrencyReliabilityAuthorityPurpose/Point of View
Check for CRAP
Currency How recent is the information? Can you locate a date when the resource was
written/created/updated? Based on your topic, is this current enough? Why might the date matter for your topic?
Check for CRAP
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
Reliability What kind of information is included in the resource? Does the author provide citations & references for
quotations & data Where am I accessing this information?
Check for CRAP
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
Authority Can you determine who the author/creator is? What are their credentials (education, affiliation,
experience, etc.)? Who is the publisher or sponsor of the work/site? Is this publisher/sponsor reputable
Check for CRAP
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
Purpose/Point of View Is the content primarily opinion? Is the information balanced or biased? What is the purpose of the information? Is it to
inform, teach, sell, entertain or persuade
Check for CRAP
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
Formulating a Keyword Search
1. Choose a Topic
Formulating a Keyword Search
1. Choose a Topic Zero in mathematics
Formulating a Keyword Search
2. Narrow/Broaden your search
Formulating a Keyword Search
2. Narrow/Broaden your search The role of zero in the development of mathematics
Formulating a Keyword Search
3. Identify the key concepts
Formulating a Keyword Search
3. Identify the key concepts Zero
Mathematics
Development
Formulating a Keyword Search
4. Consider synonyms/alternative spellings for terms
Zero
Mathematics
Development
Formulating a Keyword Search
4. Consider synonyms/alternative spellings for terms Zero
Mathematics Math Mathematical Numerical Algebra Trigonometry
Development History Analysis Role
Formulating a Keyword Search
5. Formulate your search utilizing various combinations of your words
String them together using AND/OR/NOT
Truncate *
Good searching starts with good keywords
Boolean “search connectors”
AND OR NOT
For example:
zero AND mathematics• Combining >1 topic
Development OR history• Combining synonymous terms
Search Tip #1
Use AND when you need to combine more than one topic
Zero AND mathematics
mathematics
zero
Search Tip #2
Use OR to combine synonymous terms (to get results regardless of what term an author uses).
history development
Search Tip #3
Use truncation!
mathem* finds mathematic mathematical mathematics
Etc…
Search Tip #4
Phrase Searching… Use quotations to keep a keyword phrase intact
(words will be searched in the specific order)
Examples: “golden ratio” “Pythagorean theorem”
Putting it all together…
The role of zero in the development of mathematics
zeroNothing
“0”
developmenthistory
analysis
mathem*numericalalgebra
zero OR nothing OR “0”
AND
development OR history OR analysis
AND
mathem* OR numerical OR algebra
Find a Book
http://cooklibrary.towson.edu
Towson Books Find the Collection and Call number
USMAI Books Request it with the yellow button
Interlibrary Loan For books not in Maryland and for articles we do not
have
Find an Article
Looking for specific research about your topic
The library subscribes to thousands of journals (but not all of them)
Databases help you search through multiple journals
Use subject specific databases to help narrow your article search
Find an Article
Go to the Math Subject Gateway
Recommended databases- Academic Search Premier ScienceDirect Web of Science
Let’s start searching!
Form keywords
Then begin researching your own topic
As you are finding information on your topic please fill in this digital spreadsheet
http://bit.ly/VisualMath
Questions?
Feel free to contact me: Laksamee Putnam [email protected] 410.704.3746. Twitter: @CookLibraryofTU
Or any reference librarian: Visit Cook Library Reference Desk 410.704.2462. IM – tucookchat