Design 119 – Starting Design 119 – Starting research projectresearch project

Nigel MayNigel May

Academic Support ManagerAcademic Support Manager

Searching for informationSearching for information

• Where do you start?Where do you start?

• Using books rather than the webUsing books rather than the web

• Using the Library catalogue – VoyagerUsing the Library catalogue – Voyager

• Locating journal articlesLocating journal articles

• Using the webUsing the web

• The importance of citing and The importance of citing and referencing your workreferencing your work

Where to startWhere to start

• Clarify and understand what exactly Clarify and understand what exactly you have to do.you have to do.

• Deconstruct your essay/project titleDeconstruct your essay/project title• Select out the important keywords and Select out the important keywords and

conceptsconcepts• Think about related keywords Think about related keywords

(synonyms)(synonyms)• Think about using “more specific” or Think about using “more specific” or

“more general “keywords“more general “keywords

KeywordsKeywords

• Example:- Power GenerationExample:- Power Generation

• Related:-Related:-– Power supply; Energy supply; etc.Power supply; Energy supply; etc.

• More Specific:-More Specific:-– Electricity Supply; Electricity Supply;

• More General:-More General:-– Technology; TechnologicalTechnology; Technological

Why keywords are Why keywords are importantimportant• Do not search for the essay title aloneDo not search for the essay title alone

• If one set of keywords don’t deliver you If one set of keywords don’t deliver you with information, try a different setwith information, try a different set

• Remember to use plurals and be aware Remember to use plurals and be aware of US spellingof US spelling

• There is no excuse – “There was no There is no excuse – “There was no information”information”

Why books are as important as Why books are as important as the web.the web.

• All books will have been through an All books will have been through an editorial process and information validated.editorial process and information validated.

• Information is written within a Information is written within a much broader contextmuch broader context

• The author is clearly identifiableThe author is clearly identifiable

• Sources/references will be clearly identifiedSources/references will be clearly identified

• Date of Publication easily identifiedDate of Publication easily identified

• Information can never to changedInformation can never to changed

Using the Library Catalogue - Using the Library Catalogue - VoyagerVoyager

• Voyager terminals in the LibraryVoyager terminals in the Library• Student Portal – MyCourse – Library Student Portal – MyCourse – Library

pages – Electronic Resourcespages – Electronic Resources• When searching for particular books When searching for particular books

use :-use :-– Simple Search - KeywordSimple Search - Keyword

• When searching for books on a When searching for books on a subject use:-subject use:-– Advanced SearchAdvanced Search

Library Pages - via the Library Pages - via the PortalPortal

Voyager – Advanced SearchVoyager – Advanced Search

Note the use of related keywords

Use of the ? Wildcard – ethic, ethics, ethical

“Any of these” will ensure the search looks for one or other of the terms.

Voyager – Search resultsVoyager – Search results

Note Shelfmark – 3 letter suffix

Ordinary loan – 3 weeks

Status available – book is on the shelf

Journal articlesJournal articles

• One of the major ways that engineers One of the major ways that engineers communicate communicate

• Most journals require articles to peer-Most journals require articles to peer-reviewed before they are published.reviewed before they are published.

• Information in journals has been Information in journals has been verified and checkedverified and checked

• Sources of information are clearly Sources of information are clearly identifiedidentified

Locating Journals on Locating Journals on VoyagerVoyager

Remember that you are only searching words in the journal title – you will not find specific articles in Voyager

Journal Title keyword - Journal Title keyword - resultsresults

Journal titles that have “ Engineering design” in the title.

Shelfmark

Electronic copy available –MAY deliver full text of the articles – or only abstract

Finding journal articlesFinding journal articles

• You cannot find them using VoyagerYou cannot find them using Voyager

• You could identify a journal title of You could identify a journal title of interest and browse through past interest and browse through past copies.copies.

• The best way is to use “Electronic The best way is to use “Electronic databases” available via the Library E-databases” available via the Library E-Resources web pageResources web page

Finding Journal titles via Finding Journal titles via VoyagerVoyager

Journal title search on Voyager Journal title search on Voyager - results- results

Following the links to Full text Following the links to Full text articlesarticles

Link to full text articles

Note only available between 1995 – 2002

If Full text not delivered – check the E-Journals A-Z list for the journal title and follow the links.

(See next slides)

E-Resources via the Library E-Resources via the Library pagespages

Electronic ResourcesElectronic Resources

Range of E-Resources available

Try them out for yourself

Abstracts in New Technology Abstracts in New Technology and Engineeringand Engineering

• Covers literature Covers literature from from 1981 – to date1981 – to date

• Updated Updated monthlymonthly

• From 350 academic From 350 academic & & trade trade publicationspublications

• Includes Includes New CivilNew Civil EngineerEngineer, , Structural Structural EngineerEngineer & & New New Scientist etc…Scientist etc…

Abstracts in New Technology Abstracts in New Technology and Engineering plus othersand Engineering plus others

You can select other databases that might help identify related journal articles

e.g. BHI – Social , Political issues

DAAI – Design issues

Keyword search using ANTE, Keyword search using ANTE, BHI, DAAIBHI, DAAI

Use the Advanced Search option

Identify the related keywords

Use the wildcard to find similar words

ethic, ethics, ethical

ANTE, BHI – Search ResultsANTE, BHI – Search Results

Number search results

Newspaper – for full text of article – you will need to use the E-Newspapers

Full text Linking – if the link does not deliver Full text – go back to E-Journals A-Z List

Check any journal title against Voyager Journal Title search

Using the web - evaluatingUsing the web - evaluating

• Think about the:-Think about the:-– AccuracyAccuracy – who wrote it? Are they qualified? – who wrote it? Are they qualified?

• Check the Check the HOME PAGEHOME PAGE

– Authority Authority – where is the host sited? – where is the host sited? .edu.edu .gov .gov .org.org

– ObjectivityObjectivity – is there a bias? Are there adverts? – is there a bias? Are there adverts?– CurrencyCurrency – do the links still work? Is the site – do the links still work? Is the site

dated?dated?– Referencing Referencing – know how to reference websites/ – know how to reference websites/

webpageswebpages

Referencing your work – advice Referencing your work – advice on the PORTALon the PORTAL

Detail in the Referencing Detail in the Referencing GuideGuide

ConclusionsConclusions

• Think about the Think about the keywordskeywords you will be you will be using to search – word stems, synonyms, using to search – word stems, synonyms, broader and narrower terms.broader and narrower terms.

• Get to know how to use Voyager and how Get to know how to use Voyager and how to find books in the Library.to find books in the Library.

• Know how to find journal titles on VoyagerKnow how to find journal titles on Voyager• Use the E-journals, E-Newspapers and E-Use the E-journals, E-Newspapers and E-

Databases on the E-Resources pagesDatabases on the E-Resources pages• Know how to look for journal articles using Know how to look for journal articles using

E-databasesE-databases

Further ConclusionsFurther Conclusions

• Understand the purpose of evaluating Understand the purpose of evaluating all web resources used.all web resources used.

• Understand the important of the Understand the important of the HOME PAGEHOME PAGE

• Referencing your work - know where Referencing your work - know where to find advice on the PORTALto find advice on the PORTAL

• Remember that searching for Remember that searching for information needs planning and takes information needs planning and takes time.time.

FinallyFinally

• Help is available:-Help is available:-– This presentation will be available in the This presentation will be available in the

Module FolderModule Folder– The Library Enquiry desk staff will provide The Library Enquiry desk staff will provide

general guidance – Library LEVEL 1general guidance – Library LEVEL 1– Ask colleagues for help/adviceAsk colleagues for help/advice– You can contact me direct You can contact me direct

•nigel.may @plymouth.ac.uknigel.may @plymouth.ac.uk