Literature Searching for researchSearching, retrieving information and locating materials for researchLesley Curtis-Brown

Aims of the SessionOverview of the range and types of literature/other available informationLiterature searching - how to find out what has been published in journals through the use of bibliographic databasesAccess to these materials

Plan your time carefully It may take you some time to decide on your research topic/focusIt may take you longer to do your literature search than anticipatedYou may need to visit other libraries or order items through inter-library loanNot everything is freely available on the internet!

Principles of Literature SearchingPrepare a search strategyFind general background information before using more specific and recent resourcesIdentify significant keywordsIdentify related termsIdentify broader and narrower termsSpelling and terminology - alternative spellings/terms e.g American?

Where to start searching LR Website http://www.lr.mdx.ac.uk forLibrary Catalogue to identify what’s at MiddlesexSubject Webpages - useful links to Subject Gateways and other resourcesElectronic Resources - Bibliographic Databases for searching for journal articles in a given topic

Some Useful Databases Social Science Citation IndexInternational Bibliography of the Social Sciences – links to full text where availableProquest - full text UK newspaper articlesPsycINFO - Psychology databaseLexis Library and Westlaw legal databasesEconomic and Social Data Service International(ESDS)

How do I Log into Databases?Most databases are subscription services and require you to log in as a member of a subscribing institutionThis gives you access to the databases from home provided you have internet accessYour username and password will be the same ones you use to login to the Middlesex University Computer network

Saving a Cookie on your PCClick here to save institutional cookie

Saving a Cookie on your PCOr click here before you log into a resource

Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) Search Screen

Combining Searches in SSCI

SSCI Results Screen

SSCI results do not provide full text...

...So you need to conduct a Library Catalogue Search...

...or an E Journals List Search

International Bibliography of the Social Sciences (IBSS)

Results Screen IBSS

Combining Searches on IBSS

Combining Searches reduces the number of results

Links to Full Text appear as PDF Full Text or Linked Full Text

Useful online Guides/Tutorials for IBSS atwww.lse.ac.uk/collections/IBSS/support/supp_training_UKHE.htm#Online_tutorials

Some Useful Full Text ResourcesEBSCO EJS - access thousands of e-journals at one web site covering a wide range of subjects Sage Premier – access to full text articles from 1999 onwards for all titles and access predating this for 23 criminology titlesEmerald - a range of management, library information science, engineering and applied science and technology journals. Check the LR Website for other electronic resources

Sage Premier – Advanced Search Screen

Sage Premier Results

Sage Premier Full Text

How to find materials you needCheck the library catalogue/e-journals for availability at Middlesex University. Reserve items if they are at other campusesMake use of other libraries you have access to - some organisations have useful specialist libraries/you may use the SCONUL Access schemeItems may be ordered through Inter Library Loan at a cost of £3 per requestStudents may apply for a British Library Reader’s Pass

SCONUL Access Scheme SCONUL Access Scheme provides access to other academic librariesFor more information on the scheme visit the websiteTo apply ask at the enquiry desk http://www.sconul.ac.uk/using_other_libraries/access/

British Library WebsiteThe British Library website has a link to its catalogueYou can use this to check if material you require is held at St Pancras Reading RoomsInformation on applying for a reader’s pass and the forms of ID required are on the websitehttp://www.bl.uk

ReferencingYou must reference your dissertation properly and have full bibliographic details of all resources used, including books, journal articles, videos and websitesKeep a record of what you are using from the beginning of your literature searchingFor info on how to reference your work using the Harvard Reference System go to http://www.lr.mdx.ac.ukClick on Guides and HelpsheetsClick on Study SkillsClick on the blue link to Referencing and Citation Style: Health and Social Sciences

Additional Guides and Helpsheetshttp://www.lr.mdx.ac.ukClick on Guides and HelpsheetsGetting Started has a number of sheets on using the library catalogue to search for materials, request and renew itemsGuides on using the network and software, database and subject guides are also here.

Liaison Librarian’s Contact DetailsLesley Curtis-Brown - Sociology, Social Policy, Criminology and Housing l.curtis-brown@mdx.ac.uk 0208 411 5991