Information skills session July 2007 Catherine Davies

Today we’re going to cover… Background research – why? Identifying resources Locating resources

Background research – why?

Identifying resources

Locating resources

By the end of this session… You will be able to Navigate around the library website and use the catalogue Run a search on Compendex Get materials not held in City University’s library

You will be able to

Navigate around the library website and use the catalogue

Run a search on Compendex

Get materials not held in City University’s library

Background reading…why bother? Literature review Shows you understand the subject Can place your work in context Support your arguments and theories

Literature review

Shows you understand the subject

Can place your work in context

Support your arguments and theories

Identify Some resources to get you started: Catalogue: http://library.city.ac.uk Databases – Compendex Internet – Google Scholar

Some resources to get you started:

Catalogue: http://library.city.ac.uk

Databases – Compendex

Internet – Google Scholar

Be a detective… Look at references of other articles Bibliographies in book chapters Citation searches Jot down any good key words or expressions Identify who the key authors are Have a look at the shelves – what else is there?

Look at references of other articles

Bibliographies in book chapters

Citation searches

Jot down any good key words or expressions

Identify who the key authors are

Have a look at the shelves – what else is there?

Caution! Where has the information come from? Who wrote it? When did they write it? Is it cited? Is it authoritative? Why was it written?

Where has the information come from?

Who wrote it?

When did they write it?

Is it cited?

Is it authoritative?

Why was it written?

It’s what you do with it that counts… Don’t just copy information – do something with it! Avoid plagiarism… Always reference your sources Quality, rather than quantity

Don’t just copy information – do something with it!

Avoid plagiarism…

Always reference your sources

Quality, rather than quantity

Locate Step 1 – Library catalogue Step 2 – E-journals list Step 3 – Search online Step 4 – Other libraries Step 5 – Inter library loan

Step 1 – Library catalogue

Step 2 – E-journals list

Step 3 – Search online

Step 4 – Other libraries

Step 5 – Inter library loan

Thanks! Catherine Davies Learning and Research Support Co-ordinator (Engineering and Maths) [email_address]