Learning Points for Today Learn Boolean search logic and
operators AND, OR, NOT, Truncation Phrase Search Parentheses Learn
how to search databases & locate fulltexts Proxy bookmarklet
& Google Scholar Getting help 2
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3 Exploring a Topic
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Search engines Library catalogue Newspaper databases Factiva,
LexisNexis Different media YouTube, Google Image search 4
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Selecting a Topic Scan newspapers, textbooks & module
readings for ideas and suggestions. Think of what you have read or
seen recently that may be of interest to you. Draw on your personal
experiences, friends, other modules, etc. for inspiration. Ensure
that your topic has sufficient resources. Avoid topics that are too
broad or too narrow.
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The Research Process Explore Identify main keywords List
synonyms, related words & variant spellings Create search
statement Search for sources using LINC+/LINC & databases Get
more sources by checking references Are there enough? Evaluate
quality, currency, relevance, etc. yes no Complete your assignment
Topic
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Information Sources SourceUseful forHow to Access BooksOverview
of topicsLINC+, LINC Journal articles In-depth treatment of topics,
usually current and scholarly. Some journals may be peer- reviewed
Citations: databases Full-text: LINC+, LINC Newspapers Recent
events, anecdotes, book reviews, interviews, biographical
information, data Factiva, LexisNexis, microfilms Theses &
dissertationsStudents exploration of topics LINC+, LINC, Proquest
Dissertations & Theses Websites (.edu,.gov,.org ) Exploring the
topicSearch engines
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Evaluate Information Sources (CRAP Test) Currency: How recent
is the information? Reliability: Is the information
balanced/biased? How often has it been cited by others
(peer-reviewed)? Accuracy: Are there means to verify data? Purpose:
What is the intent of the article? More info at:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/553/03/
http://www.usg.edu/galileo/skills/unit09/
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Evaluate sources 9 Watch this video courtesy of Western
University Libraries, Canada Watch this video courtesy of Western
University Libraries, Canada
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Scholarly vs. Popular Articles 10 Watch this video, courtesy of
Wayne State LibrariesWatch this video, courtesy of Wayne State
Libraries
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11 Boolean Search Techniques WATCH this video! WATCH this
video! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAJH5XNZ-h0%20
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAJH5XNZ-h0%20
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AB Boolean Operators: AND, OR, NOT 1. AND: both terms must be
present fewer results 2. OR: either terms may be present more
results 2. NOT/AND NOT: exclude a term use with caution AB NOT AB
ANDAND OR
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Quotation Marks Use quotation marks for phrase searching
Examples: Nobel Peace Prize: 7,113 results Nobel Peace Prize: 2,700
results Reality television: 620 results Reality television: 110
results Note: Some databases treat adjacent words as separate words
(AND), while others treat them as phrase ( )
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Asterisk * Use asterisk * for variant forms of a word &
variant spelling Examples: cinem*: cinemas, cinematic,
cinematography politic*: politics, political, politician,
politicize colo*r = color, colour Note: Some databases use other
symbols, e.g.: $, ?, !
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Parentheses ( ) Use parentheses ( ) for grouping similar or
related words Example: (American Idol or Britains Got Talent) AND
judging American Idol and judging Britains Got Talent and
judging
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16 Create Search Statement
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Step 1: Identify Keywords What do awards tell us about film
cinematic achievements? #3: achievements #1: awards #2: cinematic
Topic
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Step 2: List Synonyms & Related Words filmmaking
moviemaking prizes Oscars #1: awards #2: cinematic success quality
accomplishment #3: achievements
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Step 3: Create Search Statement Search statement: (awards OR
prizes OR Oscars) AND (cinema* OR filmmaking OR moviemaking) AND
(quality OR achiev* OR success*) What do awards tell us about film
cinematic achievements? Topic
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Searching for the perfect Queen: judging beauty, race and
identities in beauty pageants? Topic #3#1#2
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21 Databases
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Multi-Disciplinary Databases Expanded Academic ASAPExpanded
Academic ASAP* International Bibliography of Social
SciencesInternational Bibliography of Social Sciences* JSTOR
ScopusScopus* Web of Science Newspaper Databases FactivaFactiva*
LexisNexis Academic NewspaperSGNewspaperSG (1831-2006, watermarked)
Subject-Specific Databases International Index to Performing
ArtsInternational Index to Performing Arts* Communications &
Mass Media Complete Communications & Mass Media Complete
PsycINFO Sociological AbstractsSociological Abstracts* Worldwide
Political Science AbstractsWorldwide Political Science Abstracts*
Other Sources Google Scholar For other subjects:
http://bit.ly/mODiUQhttp://bit.ly/mODiUQ
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Multidisciplinary Indexing database (no full text) Usually
offers links to full text Good design and easy to use DB (Database)
#1: Scopus
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Access databases from Library portal
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Search Scopus And the best picture goes to. What do awards tell
us about film cinematic achievements? Topic 25 Search statement:
(awards OR prizes OR Oscars) AND (cinema* OR filmmaking OR
moviemaking) AND (quality OR achiev* OR success*)
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26 search statement add or remove fields search within limit by
year
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Scopus QuickBib 27
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DB#2 Sociological Abstracts DB#3 Worldwide Pol Sci Abstracts
Sociological abstracts (1979- ) culture, social structure, social
differentiation, social psychology, sociology of the arts,
business, education, studies in violence and power Worldwide
Political Science Abstracts (1975- ) political science, political
theory, international relations, public administration/policy
Access from Library portal
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Search Sociological Abstracts & WPSA The politics and
controversies of the Nobel Peace Prize conferred to Barack Obama
Search statement: (Nobel Peace Prize) AND (politic* OR controvers*
OR disagree*) AND Obama Topic
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30
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31 mark records
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More relevant databases on ProQuest: Int Index to Performing
Arts, Int Bibliog Soc Sc, ProQuest Sociology 32
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DB#4 : Expanded Academic ASAP Multidisciplinary database
Contains popular and scholarly articles including book reviews Many
articles in full-text 33
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So you think you can dance? Reality dance shows and the road to
fame 34 Topic #3 #1 #2 Search Expanded Academic Asap
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37 E-Newspapers
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Factiva To search/browse: Local, international or global news
stories on a daily basis, or by selecting particular dates New York
Times, Asian Wall Street Journal.. Stories from a specific news
source e.g. Straits Times, Bangkok Post News stories by subjects
e.g. equity markets, airlines, investment analysis Latest headlines
from a selected countrys newspapers. 38
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Search Factiva Judging of the controversial Booker Prize
Topic
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Enter search terms search in headline and lead paragraph sort
by relevance major news and business publications (also possible to
search by specific newspaper) E-Newspaper: Factiva
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mark to view on single page, email, print or save
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E-Newspaper: LexisNexis Academic News English and non-English
language newspapers and news magazines, TV and radio program
transcripts, wire services, blogs, trade publications, and public
opinion research. Legal information Law reviews, case law,
international legal materials Business information Directories,
trade publications, industry research reports Country information
Country risk reports, BBC news summaries, Global Insight.
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44 Google Scholar
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Google Scholar + Proxy Bookmarklet Google Scholar Aim: single
search engine for scholarly literature May include links to free
PDF articles But: Not all results come from scholarly sources Link
to websites which require payment to view fulltext Solution: Proxy
Bookmarklet Install & use the proxy bookmarklet to access
full-textsproxy bookmarklet Note: only for resources subscribed by
NUS Libraries. More info at:
http://bit.ly/q4igHMhttp://bit.ly/q4igHM
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46 Recap
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Searching Databases: A Recap use synonyms and related words
create search statement using keywords plus AND, OR, NOT, ( ), *,
select fields e.g. article title, abstract limit/refine search by
type (article, books, reviews), date, peer-reviewed, etc. sort
results by relevance Remember: Quality (Relevance) vs.
Quantity
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Troubleshooting Search Results To get more results: Remove
irrelevant keywords Add synonyms/more general keywords using OR Use
asterisk * To get fewer but more relevant results: Add more
relevant keywords using OR Keep search statements short but do
multiple searches Use quotation marks for phrase searching Limit
results by date, subject, type of document, etc. If you need help,
ask a librarian! ask a librarian
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Evaluating Your Research Process Build on your research skills
by considering these questions: What did you do well? Which was the
hardest part? What skills did you learn? What do you need to
develop? What would you do differently next time?
Why Cite? Provides evidence for your arguments and adds
credibility to your work. To help readers find your sources &
go through some of the steps you took to reach your conclusions. To
show your teachers the work that you have done Helps avoid charges
of plagiarism.plagiarism. 51
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The kinds of sources you need to cite Direct quotations from a
book, article, letter, email, lecture, etc. Ideas you draw from a
source but present entirely in your own words. Paraphrases and
summaries of books, journal articles, pamphlets Statistics,
illustrations, charts Single words, short phrases, sentences &
passages quoted from books or articles used. 52
Appropriate Use Resources are for your research and study. Use
them responsibly No excessive photocopying or downloading Copyright
violations may have serious consequences photocopying and printing:
10% or 1 chapter of book 1 article in a journal issue
EndNote For more info:
http://libguides.nus.edu.sg/endnotehttp://libguides.nus.edu.sg/endnote
A software that: stores and organizes citations inserts citations
into a Word document format references in a predefined citation
style Technical queries (e.g. installation): call IT Care at 6516
2080 or email [email protected] video
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Getting Help Phone:6516-2029/30
Email:[email protected]@nus.edu.sg (general queries) Walk
in:information desk (CL, level 5) Others:FAQs Library Instruction
ONline (LION) Subject Guides
