Researching the dissertation

BI03330

http:// unihub.mdx.ac.uk / study / library

Today we will look at...• Planning an effective search strategy

• Using the databases and other resources effectively

• Identifying and accessing relevant journal articles

Planning

• Be the early bird!

• Start gathering your literature as early as you can

• Time to deal with the unexpected and seek guidance

Getting started...• What do I need to find?

• How and where am I going to find the information?

• How do I know if the information is good quality?

Dissertation marking criteriaAnalysis

• Appraisal of primary research sources demonstrates understanding of the methodology and/or theory

Referencing and Citation

• Evidence of a comprehensive literature search which draws on relevant and up to date references

• Correctly formatted and accurate citation style throughout the text and in the Bibliography

What do you need to find? Where will you find it?

What keywords will you use?

Range and quality of references, evidence that authoritative sources used

In-text referencing and use of standard referencing style

Planning your search

Think about:

• Areas of interest

• Keywords

• Scope of subject

Keywords

• Define your question – what do you want to know? What are the main concepts?

• Identify significant keywords

• Identify related terms

• Identify broader and narrower concepts

• Watch out for spelling & terminology, e.g. UK/US, abbreviations

For example...

• A topic from last year:

“Chances of congenital malformation with the exposure of pregnant women to phenobarbital”

• Synonyms: birth defects, congenital abnormalities,

phenobarbitone

• Related terms: pregnancy complications, risks

• Broader terms: Anti-epileptic drugs

• US/UK – fetal/foetal outcome

A literature search• Start off with a broad review of the literature - should help

to develop your ideas and your search strategy.

• Having defined / narrowed your search topic, you can then focus on the research / literature that can contribute to your work.

• Searching the literature can help you to piece together a picture of the network of citations and then identify the core works to review.

• You may need to “kiss a lot of frogs”!

The PICO model

• Patient / population / problem

• Intervention

• Comparison

• Outcome

Brainstorm

Planning your search

Sources to search

• Databases

• Summon

• Google Scholar

• Individual journals specific to your topic

Key databases for BMS literature

• Medline Database of international

biomedical literature

• PubMed … + Some full text

• Science Citation The leading scienceIndex and technical journals

• Science Direct Full-text science journals

Summon

• Simple database useful as a starting point

• Will cross search library resources: books, journal databases, newspaper articles

• Remember - NOT subject specific

Google vs Summon

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ennuiislife/3450743002/

Google • Familiar and easy to use

• Finds too much information

• Fast results

• Access from any computer

• Access to some books and journals

• Designed to sell you things

• Search results sponsored

• Searches for info from any source

• Pay for academic information

Summon• Easy to use

• Finds lots of academic info

• Fast results

• Access from any computer

• Access to lots of books and journals

• Designed to find you information

• Search results by relevance

• Searches quality resources

• Free access to full text

Better...Google Scholar

From Settings, set up your Library Links

Ensure you are logged into UniHub to access Full Text @ Middlesex

Finding resourcesmyUniHub > My Study > My Library > Summon

Use these links to access resources

A few search tips...

• Search for phrases: (“”)

e.g. “polycystic ovarian syndrome”

• Broaden your search: (*)

e.g. vaccin* (finds vaccine, vaccination, vaccinated)

A few search tips...

• Widen your search

e.g. vaccination OR immunization

• Narrow your search

e.g. tetanus AND vaccine

Limiting your search

• Date

• Population studied – age, gender?

• Type of article / study

• Human/animal

Keeping track of your searches

Citation searching

• Allows you to move forwards and backwards in the literature

• Use Google Scholar, Summon or Science Citation Index

Accessing full text

• If using Summon or Science Direct, make sure you have ticked / selected the appropriate limits.

• Check the library catalogue – Journal A-Z for Journal title

• In MEDLINE, ‘Check library holdings’ will do this for you

• Check Google Scholar for links to open access papers

Access troubleshooting

• For best results, set the Middlesex cookie

• myUniHub > My Study > My Library

• Athens login = UniHub login

• N.B. If Middlesex isn’t mentioned on the screen, choose Alternative login

• Troubleshooting guide on library subject pages: http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/accessingelectronicresources

But it’s not in the Library!

• Inter Library Loans

• Sconul Access

• British Library

• Institutional repositories

• http://www.opendoar.org/find.php

• More information: http://tinyurl.com/bmsotherlibs

http://bit.ly/visitingotherlibraries

Library Subject GuidesmyUniHub > My Study > My Library > Library Subject Guides

http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/plagiarismreferencing

http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/biomedicallsciences

Previous dissertations• Available to consult in the library

• Search the library catalogue for “Biomedical dissertation” to see the full list

• Request and collect from the UniHelp desk

Referencing

• It is vital that your work is properly referenced and you have full bibliographic details of all resources used.

• Keep a note of the details as you go along!

• RefWorks reference management software available

Be an early bird

• 1:1 appointments available with your Liaison Librarian here:

• http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/profile/alisonrandall#

Need further help?

Your Librarians are :

Alison Randall a.randall@mdx.ac.uk

Adam Edwards a.edwards@mdx.ac.uk

Ask a Librarian http://askalibrarian.mdx.ac.uk/