2. Learning Objectives
• Support you to assess your information needs
• Identify search tools available to support your
information seeking
• Understand the scope and value specific tools
so you can utilize relevant tools to meet your
needs
• Understand the value of planning your
searches and approach
• How to access further support
3. What are the task requirements?
Assess your information needs
Make a checklist of relevant source types
based on the task requirements
Content
from
the web
Books
Journal
articles
4. How many search tools
will you need to use?
How much has
been
published
about the
topic?
How much
information do
you need? A
defined
amount? Or a
comprehensive
review?
What are the
task
requirements?
5. Potential tools and approaches
Search the Library
catalogue
Search Discovery
Search a
Multi-disciplinary
Database
Search Google
Scholar
Search a subject
specific database
Search within a
journal or
website
Use cited
reference
searching
Use Google
Advanced Search
6. Overview of tools and approaches
There is usually more than one search tool suitable for retrieving the
same type of information source.
Become familiar with the different tools and then select an approach
which suits you and your topic.
A good starting point is within a multidisciplinary databases such as
Discovery.
Improve your results by searching both multidisciplinary and subject
specific databases.
Keep track of keywords, authors and journals in your field.
Recognised and become familiar with common database features such
as limit options, print options, how to save results and save search
strategies.
7. Search the Library Catalogue
You can confine your search to
ebooks by selecting the
Search for ebooks option.
Select the Search the entire
collection option to include all
material types and formats
Tip: Use a title search in the library
catalogue to establish if we own a
particular book, or subscribe to a
journal title, or have access to a
database.
8. Search Discovery
Discovery is a multidisciplinary tool, which can be an effective starting point
for any topic. It can retrieve a range of material types such as, journal
articles, and ebooks held in our collection.
Applying Limiters will allow you to
• limit the source types retrieved
• the publication date range
retrieved
• limit to peer review status
• Find only full-text results
Watch the following videos available on the Databases page of the library guide
An introduction to Discovery search
Accessing full-text
9. Search a Multi-disciplinary Database
Multi-disciplinary Databases
index material in the sciences,
medicine, humanities and the
social sciences.
• The cross-disciplinary
nature of program
evaluation means that
broad search tools will
useful
• If you are retrieving plenty
of relevant literature about
your topic, you may not
need to search in further
databases
10. How to access a database
STEP ONE: Access
the database
STEP TWO: Start
searching
11. Search a Subject Specific Database
Subject Specific Databases
Use these subject specific
tools to retrieve articles
about the application of
program evaluation within a
specific field, e.g. Education.
12. Search Google Scholar
Google Scholar is a powerful search tool, use it to supplement the results you
retrieve from databases or as an alternative search tool.
You need to set preferences in Google Scholar to activate access to full-text
paid for by the Library. Follow the steps outlined on the Databases Page of your
library guide to make the Source it @ Melbourne links visible, so you can access
the full-text content.
Access advanced search features
13. Use Cited Reference Searching
• A valid way to locate relevant
literature and to focus your
searching is to follow up on
the work of a relevant paper,
or an author, or investigate
who has cited the original
paper since it was published.
• Web of Science, Scopus and
Google Scholar are
recommended tools to
support this approach, as
they all offer a cited
reference search feature.
14. Use Google Advanced Search
• The structured search form
provided by Google Advanced
search will help you to locate
Grey literature, such as:
websites; reports; policy
statements and papers;
conference proceedings; and
government documents.
• View the Google Advanced
Search slides on the Websites
page of your library guide to
learn about effective search
techniques.
16. Search Within a Journal
Confining your search to a
particular journal title is
another useful technique to
target information.
If you identify a particular
journal may be highly relevant
to your topic, for example, a
sample search reveals strong
results for a particular title, it
can be useful to search within
this journal.
17. Planning your search methods will support you
to search efficiently and effectively
• Assess your information needs before you start searching –
make a check list of potentially relevant tools for the task
including, multidisciplinary and subject specific databases.
• Devise search statements, complete some sample searches.
• Reflect on your results and modify your approach by including
keywords and /or authors identified through your initial
searches.
• Consider options for focussing your search
Using a subject specific database
by using cited reference searching
searching within a journal
• Document your approach and track where you search.
• Save full-text and citations for referencing as you search.
18. Need Help?
Find the contact details for your
librarian on the Getting Started
page of your library guide
Contact your Graduate
Online Support Consultant
Refer to your library guide
