Doing a Literature Search in Sociology

Doing a Literature Search

in Sociology

SC2101 Methods of Social Research Tutorial Presented by Hayati Abdul [email_address]

Objectives of session

To help you:

Search Sociological databases effectively using various search strategies

Access resources and services via the Library portal

Search LINC, the Library catalogue

Today’s outline

What is a literature search?

Identify Sources in Sociology

Build your Search Strategy

Search Electronic Indexes & Abstracts in Sociology

Search LINC

Citing references

What is a Literature Search?

A comprehensive survey of publications and information on a specific topic

Identifies what has already been written on a topic

Increases your own knowledge of the subject

How to go about a literature search?

Which sources to search?

How to search them effectively?

Identify Sources in Sociology

Search for Sources

Encyclopaedias & Dictionaries

Journal articles

Indexes & Abstracts

Understanding references

Search for Sources Book chapters Conference papers Journal articles Books Journals Multimedia items Theses LINC E-Resources Types of sources Search Tools

Reference Books : Dictionaries & Encyclopedias

For background information, definitions, short bibliographies:

General

The Sage encyclopedia of Social Science research methods

International encyclopedia of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Specialised

Men and masculinities : a social, cultural and historical encyclopedia

Dictionary of race, ethnicity and culture

The encyclopedia of suicide

Location: CLREF2

Journals: Scholarly Journal Articles

Why are these sources important?

More specialized, research based

Purpose is to extend scholarly knowledge in the field

Represent most current research in a field

Written by researchers, scholars, experts

Are peer reviewed for research value, scholarly merit and accuracy

Electronic Journals

Electronic full-text of journal articles

Accessible via E- Resources

Select E-journals

Search by Title/Subject/Publisher

e.g. by Subject : Sociology & Social Work

e.g. by publisher: Jstor

Articles can be printed or downloaded

No Excessive downloading

Searching Journal Articles: Indexes & Abstracts

List journal articles (including book chapters, conference papers, reports) pertaining to current literature in a subject

Provide bibliographic citations, abstracts, summaries

Cover hundreds of journal titles

Electronic indexes & abstracts

More search options available

References can be e-mailed, downloaded or printed

Some databases provide links to full texts of articles

Electronic access via E-Resources For CD-ROMs, request at Loan Desk

Indexes & Abstracts in Sociology

Available in E-Resources

Sociological Abstracts

Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) via Web of Science

Social Sciences Abstracts

International Bibliography of Social Sciences

Perind

Expanded Academic ASAP Index

Pertaining to Spore, Malaysia, ASEAN & Brunei Most frequently used databases

Things to note when using Indexes & Abstracts

Determine most appropriate indexes

Select years to search on

Use Boolean operators to narrow, broaden or refocus search

Note citation details (author, title, source, vol., pp…)

Check LINC for availability of citations retrieved

Look for links to electronic full-text of articles

Understanding References

Neuman, William Lawrence. 2003.

Social research methods: qualitative and quantitative approaches . 5th ed. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

Sadasivan, Balaji. 2004. Challenges facing

Singapore: borderless threats, boundless

enemies. Singapore Institute of

International Affairs Reader 4(1) : 1-9.

Jeffreys, Elaine. 2004. Feminist prostitution debates: are there any sex workers in China? pp.83–108. In Chinese women, living and working , editor, Anne E. McLaren, London: Routledge Curzon.

References Material Type Book Journal article Book Chapter

Evaluating Search Results

Timeliness

Date

Period covered

Objectivity & Purpose

Biased

Scholarly

Suitability

Information required

Language

Accuracy

Factual

References

Review process

Peer reviewed

Frequently cited

Authority

Author

Publisher

Build your Search Strategy

Determining Search Terms

Keywords, Subject terms

Organizing search terms

Boolean operators, Truncation, Search statements

Determining Search Terms: Keyword vs. Subject Search Most databases allow different fields to be searched: Author Abstracts Title Keywords Subject terms References (when available)…

Subject terms

Created & pre- assigned

More precise

Must be entered correctly

Keywords

Can appear anywhere

Retrieve more results that may be appropriate or irrelevant

Determining Search Terms: Keywords & Concepts

Break down topic into main Keywords & Concepts

Topic: Who should take care of the elderly : the family or the government?

Care | Elderly | Family | Government

List synonyms, broader, narrower terms, variant spelling

Care -- Medical care, home care, caregiver*

Elderly -- Aged, older people, aging parents

Family -- Filial piety, family relationships

Government -- Policies, policy, planning

Determining Search terms: Subject Headings

Search using Subject Headings or Thesaurus terms when you are:

not sure what keywords to use

looking for current terms, definition, related terms

Subject search in:

LINC, use: Library of Congress Subject Headings

Sociological Abstracts, use: Sociological Thesaurus

Library of Congress Subject Headings Library of Congress Subject Headings

Determining Search Terms: Thesaurus Sociological Thesaurus Social Sciences Abstracts Thesaurus

Organizing Search Terms: Boolean Operators (OR)

OR is used to:

indicate that either terms may be present

broaden search

Elderly OR Aged Aged Elderly

Organizing Search Terms: Boolean Operators (AND)

AND is used to:

indicate that both terms must be present

narrow search when too many records retrieved

Aged AND Housing Aged Housing

Organizing Search Terms: Boolean Operators (NOT)

NOT is used to:

exclude terms

narrow search when too many records

are retrieved

Casino gambling NOT Internet gambling Internet gambling Casino gambling

A sterisk retrieves all terms with part of word specified

Right-hand truncation

polic * retrieves polic y , polic ies , polic e global * retrieves globali zation , globali sation , global ly

Internal truncation

Organi * ation retrieves organi z ation, organi s ation

Wom * n retrieves wom e n, wom a n

Organizing Search Terms: Truncation

Organizing Search Terms: Parentheses ( )

Round parentheses ( )

used to group words to be searched together

(aged OR elderly) AND (care)

Retrieves

care of aged

care of the elderly

(fertility OR birth) AND (policy OR planning)

Retrieves

fertility policy, fertility planning,

birth policy, birth planning

Organizing Search Terms: Search Statements 25 males and (body or masculinity) and magazines Representation of the male body in popular magazines (maids or domestics) and family Power of maids and their influence on the family Search statements (aged or elderly) and care and (policies or planning) Topic Policies for the care of the elderly

Search Electronic Indexes & Abstracts in Sociology

Social Sciences Citation Index (via Web of Science)

Perind

Search Topics

1. Aged in Singapore

(aged or elderly) and singapore

2. Representation of the male body in popular magazines

males and (body or masculinity) and magazines

3. Asian values in Singapore

“ asian values” and singapore

asian and values and singapore

4. Economic or social implications of gambling in casinos

(economic or social) and gambl* and casino*

5. Charitable institutions or charities or fund raising in Singapore

(charit* or fund raising) and singapore

6. Maids in Singapore

(maids or domestics) and singapore

Accessing Indexes & Abstracts through Library Portal

To access Indexes & Abstracts through:

E-Resources

Major Databases

To set my preference to:

Reference Databases

Sociology & Social Work

Library Portal Click LOGIN

Social Sciences Citation Index (via Web of Science)

PERIND

Search Books, Journals, Theses, Multimedia items, Conference proceedings…

Library Integrated Catalogue

Author/title

Table of contents

Subject

By Collection

Theses

Periodicals

Newspapers on microform

Audiovisuals

Music instruments

Music scores

Call number

Limit this search

Mark and Save

Setting Alerts for New Books

Truncation and Boolean

Use specific field prefixes to narrow search further:

a: for author t: for title s: for subject

Advanced Features

Citing References

Why Cite?

Citing Books, Journal Article, Book Chapter

Citing References: American Sociological Association

Guides

American Sociological Association. ASA style guide

Quick style guide for students writing Sociology papers

A guide to writing Sociology papers

Show research done Help readers verify your claims Back-up your arguments Acknowledge intellectual debt Why Cite?

Citing Book Author Title Edition Publication details Year Aby, Stephen H. 1997. 2nd ed. Sociology: a guide to reference to reference and information sources. Englewood, Colorado : Libraries Unlimited.

Citing Journal Article Page nos. Author of article Article title Source title Volume, issue no. Source year Ho, Kong Chong. (2000). “Mixed emotions: negative and positive consequences of our enthusiasm for the internet”. Innovations 1(1): 54-55.

Citing Book Chapter Source year Author Chapter title Publisher Parminder Bhachu. 2004. “It's hip to be Asian: the local and global networks of Asian fashion entrepreneurs in London.” Pp. 40-59 in Transnational spaces, edited by Peter Jackson, Philip Crang, and Claire Dwyer. London : Routledge. Page nos. Source Title