Design 119 – Starting Design 119 – Starting research projectresearch project
Nigel MayNigel May
Academic Support ManagerAcademic Support Manager
Searching for informationSearching for information
• Where do you start?Where do you start?
• Using books rather than the webUsing books rather than the web
• Using the Library catalogue – VoyagerUsing the Library catalogue – Voyager
• Locating journal articlesLocating journal articles
• Using the webUsing the web
• The importance of citing and The importance of citing and referencing your workreferencing your work
Where to startWhere to start
• Clarify and understand what exactly Clarify and understand what exactly you have to do.you have to do.
• Deconstruct your essay/project titleDeconstruct your essay/project title• Select out the important keywords and Select out the important keywords and
conceptsconcepts• Think about related keywords Think about related keywords
(synonyms)(synonyms)• Think about using “more specific” or Think about using “more specific” or
“more general “keywords“more general “keywords
KeywordsKeywords
• Example:- Power GenerationExample:- Power Generation
• Related:-Related:-– Power supply; Energy supply; etc.Power supply; Energy supply; etc.
• More Specific:-More Specific:-– Electricity Supply; Electricity Supply;
• More General:-More General:-– Technology; TechnologicalTechnology; Technological
Why keywords are Why keywords are importantimportant• Do not search for the essay title aloneDo not search for the essay title alone
• If one set of keywords don’t deliver you If one set of keywords don’t deliver you with information, try a different setwith information, try a different set
• Remember to use plurals and be aware Remember to use plurals and be aware of US spellingof US spelling
• There is no excuse – “There was no There is no excuse – “There was no information”information”
Why books are as important as Why books are as important as the web.the web.
• All books will have been through an All books will have been through an editorial process and information validated.editorial process and information validated.
• Information is written within a Information is written within a much broader contextmuch broader context
• The author is clearly identifiableThe author is clearly identifiable
• Sources/references will be clearly identifiedSources/references will be clearly identified
• Date of Publication easily identifiedDate of Publication easily identified
• Information can never to changedInformation can never to changed
Using the Library Catalogue - Using the Library Catalogue - VoyagerVoyager
• Voyager terminals in the LibraryVoyager terminals in the Library• Student Portal – MyCourse – Library Student Portal – MyCourse – Library
pages – Electronic Resourcespages – Electronic Resources• When searching for particular books When searching for particular books
use :-use :-– Simple Search - KeywordSimple Search - Keyword
• When searching for books on a When searching for books on a subject use:-subject use:-– Advanced SearchAdvanced Search
Library Pages - via the Library Pages - via the PortalPortal
Voyager – Advanced SearchVoyager – Advanced Search
Note the use of related keywords
Use of the ? Wildcard – ethic, ethics, ethical
“Any of these” will ensure the search looks for one or other of the terms.
Voyager – Search resultsVoyager – Search results
Note Shelfmark – 3 letter suffix
Ordinary loan – 3 weeks
Status available – book is on the shelf
Journal articlesJournal articles
• One of the major ways that engineers One of the major ways that engineers communicate communicate
• Most journals require articles to peer-Most journals require articles to peer-reviewed before they are published.reviewed before they are published.
• Information in journals has been Information in journals has been verified and checkedverified and checked
• Sources of information are clearly Sources of information are clearly identifiedidentified
Locating Journals on Locating Journals on VoyagerVoyager
Remember that you are only searching words in the journal title – you will not find specific articles in Voyager
Journal Title keyword - Journal Title keyword - resultsresults
Journal titles that have “ Engineering design” in the title.
Shelfmark
Electronic copy available –MAY deliver full text of the articles – or only abstract
Finding journal articlesFinding journal articles
• You cannot find them using VoyagerYou cannot find them using Voyager
• You could identify a journal title of You could identify a journal title of interest and browse through past interest and browse through past copies.copies.
• The best way is to use “Electronic The best way is to use “Electronic databases” available via the Library E-databases” available via the Library E-Resources web pageResources web page
Finding Journal titles via Finding Journal titles via VoyagerVoyager
Journal title search on Voyager Journal title search on Voyager - results- results
Following the links to Full text Following the links to Full text articlesarticles
Link to full text articles
Note only available between 1995 – 2002
If Full text not delivered – check the E-Journals A-Z list for the journal title and follow the links.
(See next slides)
E-Resources via the Library E-Resources via the Library pagespages
Electronic ResourcesElectronic Resources
Range of E-Resources available
Try them out for yourself
Abstracts in New Technology Abstracts in New Technology and Engineeringand Engineering
• Covers literature Covers literature from from 1981 – to date1981 – to date
• Updated Updated monthlymonthly
• From 350 academic From 350 academic & & trade trade publicationspublications
• Includes Includes New CivilNew Civil EngineerEngineer, , Structural Structural EngineerEngineer & & New New Scientist etc…Scientist etc…
Abstracts in New Technology Abstracts in New Technology and Engineering plus othersand Engineering plus others
You can select other databases that might help identify related journal articles
e.g. BHI – Social , Political issues
DAAI – Design issues
Keyword search using ANTE, Keyword search using ANTE, BHI, DAAIBHI, DAAI
Use the Advanced Search option
Identify the related keywords
Use the wildcard to find similar words
ethic, ethics, ethical
ANTE, BHI – Search ResultsANTE, BHI – Search Results
Number search results
Newspaper – for full text of article – you will need to use the E-Newspapers
Full text Linking – if the link does not deliver Full text – go back to E-Journals A-Z List
Check any journal title against Voyager Journal Title search
Using the web - evaluatingUsing the web - evaluating
• Think about the:-Think about the:-– AccuracyAccuracy – who wrote it? Are they qualified? – who wrote it? Are they qualified?
• Check the Check the HOME PAGEHOME PAGE
– Authority Authority – where is the host sited? – where is the host sited? .edu.edu .gov .gov .org.org
– ObjectivityObjectivity – is there a bias? Are there adverts? – is there a bias? Are there adverts?– CurrencyCurrency – do the links still work? Is the site – do the links still work? Is the site
dated?dated?– Referencing Referencing – know how to reference websites/ – know how to reference websites/
webpageswebpages
Referencing your work – advice Referencing your work – advice on the PORTALon the PORTAL
Detail in the Referencing Detail in the Referencing GuideGuide
ConclusionsConclusions
• Think about the Think about the keywordskeywords you will be you will be using to search – word stems, synonyms, using to search – word stems, synonyms, broader and narrower terms.broader and narrower terms.
• Get to know how to use Voyager and how Get to know how to use Voyager and how to find books in the Library.to find books in the Library.
• Know how to find journal titles on VoyagerKnow how to find journal titles on Voyager• Use the E-journals, E-Newspapers and E-Use the E-journals, E-Newspapers and E-
Databases on the E-Resources pagesDatabases on the E-Resources pages• Know how to look for journal articles using Know how to look for journal articles using
E-databasesE-databases
Further ConclusionsFurther Conclusions
• Understand the purpose of evaluating Understand the purpose of evaluating all web resources used.all web resources used.
• Understand the important of the Understand the important of the HOME PAGEHOME PAGE
• Referencing your work - know where Referencing your work - know where to find advice on the PORTALto find advice on the PORTAL
• Remember that searching for Remember that searching for information needs planning and takes information needs planning and takes time.time.
FinallyFinally
• Help is available:-Help is available:-– This presentation will be available in the This presentation will be available in the
Module FolderModule Folder– The Library Enquiry desk staff will provide The Library Enquiry desk staff will provide
general guidance – Library LEVEL 1general guidance – Library LEVEL 1– Ask colleagues for help/adviceAsk colleagues for help/advice– You can contact me direct You can contact me direct
•nigel.may @plymouth.ac.uknigel.may @plymouth.ac.uk