Literature searching for your dissertation

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

PRS3999 November 2013

Today we will cover…

• Searching for journal articles• Thinking about keywords• Searching databases for articles on a topic• Accessing full-text online• Referencing and RefWorks

Library subject guide for PRS

Reading Lists

What is a journal?

• Similar to magazines• Academic subjects• Current research• Peer reviewed• Published regularly• Well qualified authors• Unbiased, objective• Abstracts• References

What is in a journal database?

• Example from Medline.• Find these pieces of information in the record:

Journal Title, Issue, Article title, Volume,

Page Numbers, Date, Author/s

• Is there an Abstract?

Finding a specific articlemyUniHub > My Study > My Library

Select Library Catalogue, choose A-Z and then Journal Title

Finding a specific article

Choose A-Z Change to

Journal A-Z Search for journal title

Find the article pdf

Tombs, S. (1999) Death and work in Britain The Sociological Review Vol. 47 (2) pages 345-367

Almond, P. (2006) An inspector’s-eye view: the prospective enforcement of work-related fatality cases British Journal of Criminology Vol. 46 pages 893-916

Baldock, R., James, P., Smallbone, D., Vickers, I. (2006) Influences on small-firm compliance-related behaviour: the case of workplace health and safety Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy Vol.24 pages 827-846

Thinking about search terms

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

The real thing

• Search terms

• Alternative terms

• More specific terms

• Related subjects

• False positives

Your project - Have you thought about?

Searching for articles on a topic:

Google Scholar

Searching for articles on a topic:

Summon

Select Summon and try a search

Summon 2.0 results

Searching for articles on a topic:

Journal databases

• Peer reviewed articles• Information not available

elsewhere• Up-to-date• Your subjects• Full-text access• Access on/off campus• Personalize• Citation and journal impact info

A few search tips…

• Use specific keywords (not sentences)• Think of alternatives• Flood* = Flood or Floods or Flooding, etc• “Risk management” for set phrase• Try Advanced search to combine words

– e.g. flood AND policy– e.g. risk OR hazard

Accessing journal databases

MyUniHub

My Study

My Library

Library subject guide:Public health, Risk, Safety &

Environment

Resources tab

Finding journal articles/ Using databases

Try these databases…

Science Direct

• Full text online journals collection

Medline

• Biomedical references

Barbour

• Best practice, guidance, law for practitioners

Web of Science (Science Citation Index)

• Key science & technical journal references

Web of Science (Science Citation Index)

Choose only thedatabases thatare relevant:

Science Direct

To get full-text only:

Choose AdvancedSearch, then the Journals tab

Select Subscribed journals and Open Access articles

Select 2003 to present

Medline

Barbour estates and facilities management

But it’s not in the Library….

• Inter Library Loans

– myUniHub > My Study > My Library > Inter Library Loans

– Log in: Complete form

– PDF link to article via email

– Takes 2 days or so

– £3 charge

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

Is it reliable?

• Think about: – Authority– Relevance– Intent– Objectivity– Currency

Evaluating information

Referencing

Managing your references

• Use bibliographic management software

• RefWorks• myUniHub > MyStudy > MyLibrary >

Databases > R• How to guides:

– http://bit.ly/RefWorkshelp

Keeping in touch

• Library Facebook Middlesex University Library

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

• Writing help - Learner Development Unit

http://unihub.mdx.ac.uk/study/ldu/index.aspx

• Middlesex University app

Need help?

Librarians - Specialist Zone (1st floor) 11-3 Monday - Friday (on call 9-11, 3-5)

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

Library Subject Guide: Public Health, Risk, Safety & Environment

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