GEOL 415: Utilizing science databases

Laksamee PutnamResearch & Instruction Librarian

lputnam@towson.edu09/22/2014

First…Laksamee Putnam lputnam@towson.edu Cook Library Reference:

410.704.2462. IM/email Phone: 410.704.3746. Twitter: @CookLibraryofTU Albert S. Cook facebook profile! Slides: http://bit.ly/geol415fall2014

AgendaInformation literacy in science – Discussion

Create a RefWorks Account

Investigating Databases

Steal my ideas!

Two ships passing in the nightWhat are you doing

to find the most recent science news?

How do you evaluate the information you find while researching?

What are the pros and cons of traditional science publishing?

Who’s afraid of peer review?

RefWorks

Subject Specific DatabasesWhich databases

are you currently familiar with?

There are more

Your access will vary

Small groups of 3-4Each group choose a different database to

analyze:ScopusScience DirectGeoRefUSGS PublicationsCook OneSearch

Topic: Urban farms and the environmentPlace any relevant citations in your RefWorks folder

Post the most useful journal you found and the URL for the RefWorks Folder here:

http://padlet.com/lputnam/GEOL415

Which words seemed to find the best results? Synonyms?

Is there an advanced search?Can you access full text?What features of the database were useful? (time

limit, peer reviewed option, citations etc.)Problems?

Present your databaseScopusScience DirectGeoRefUSGS PublicationsCook OneSearch

Features to rememberUse the database to find synonymsCheck the abstractLimitation tools – Time frame, Information

typeReferences Cited/Times CitedCitation creationCompose lists Import to RefWorksInterlibrary Loan - Illiad

Other places to searchGoogle Scholar

Advanced search featuresCan you access the full text?Where is the information coming from?

Remember to check the library Journal List

Keep SearchingStart looking for more articles on your topic

and putting them into RefWorks

Please provide feedback:http://bit.ly/2014techfeed

If there is time you can work on completing this plagiarism module:http://digitalworlds.ufl.edu/gap/

Questions?Laksamee Putnam lputnam@towson.edu