Finding research evidencehttp:// unihub.mdx.ac.uk / study / library

CCM4901 Feb 2014

In this workshop we will look at...• How to find information

• Developing an effective search strategy

• Resources available and how to use them

• Evaluating information for quality and relevance

• Managing references

Thinking about resources

Find out moreMyUniHub > MyStudy > MyLibrary > Library Subject Guides

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

Thinking about keywords

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rossjamesparker/89414788/

The real thing

• Keywords

• Alternative keywords

• More specific keywords

• Related subjects

• Other ideas

• Useful Resources

So far so good

So far we’ve looked at:

• The range of resources available

• Choosing the right resource

• Coming up with useful keywords

Next:

• Searching and evaluating information

Finding resourcesmyUniHub > My Study > My Library > Summon

Select Summon and search for information for your project

Refining your search

Journal DatabasesmyUniHub > My Study > My Library > Databases > Computing Science

Choose subjects for a list of relevant journal databases

Summon and journal databases provide:

• Access to quality information

• Information not available elsewhere

• Up-to-date

• Focussed/specific

• Full-text access

• Access on/off campus

• Personalize

• Citation and journal impact info

Citation searching• Which articles have cited an earlier article

• Find articles on similar/related subject

• How many times an article has been cited

• Best journals in your field

Web of KnowledgeMyUniHub > MyStudy > MyLibrary > Databases > W > Web of Knowledge > Web of Science

Get online help using resourcesMyUniHub > MyStudy > MyLibrary > Library Subject Guides > Computing

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

Keeping up-to-date with your subject

• Zetoc Alert

• CiteuLike

• TicTOC

• Google Alerts

More information on Library Subject Guide: http://bit.ly/CSkeepingcurrent

It’s not in the Library!• Inter Library Loans http://bit.ly/InterLibraryLoans

• Sconul Access http://www.access.sconul.ac.uk/sconul-access

• Other libraries http://bit.ly/visitingotherlibraries

But is it any good?

Evaluating informationImagine you are writing an essay on ‘Network Security’.

Have a look at the 4 items that you have been given and consider the following:

• Which items are the most relevant to your essay?• Which items would be no use?• Which item has the most academic authority?• Which items might have bias?• Which item is the most current?

• Authority• Relevance• Intent• Objectivity• Currency

Evaluating information

Referencing and PlagiarismmyUniHub > My Study > My Library > Library Subject Guides >

Computing > Information Skills > Referencing and Citation

http://bit.ly/CSrefandcite

Managing your references• Use bibliographic management software

• RefWorks

• myUniHub > MyStudy > MyLibrary > Databases > R

• More information http://bit.ly/RefWorkshelp

Keeping in touch• Blog http://satlibrarian.blogspot.com

• Twitter http://twitter.com/SATlibrarian

• Library Facebook Middlesex University Library

• Library Twitter http://twitter.com/MDXLibrary

Need further help?

Your Librarian is:Vanessa Hill v.hill@mdx.ac.uk

http://unihub.mdx.ac.uk/support/unihelp/