2. 2La Trobe University
Example Topic
“How has the emergence of reflexive anthropology changed the practice of
anthropological fieldwork? How have these changes been reflected in the
global context?”
Each topic has 2 or 3 main concepts/ideas- these are:
E.g. “reflexive anthropology” fieldwork global
Determine the key concepts or ideas of the topic:
3. 3La Trobe University
Think of synonyms and alternate spellings:
Concept 1 Concept 2 Concept 3
“reflexive
anthropology”
OR
AND fieldwork
OR
AND global
OR
“reflexive
anthropologist”
“field work”
OR
“world wide”
OR
“field-work” “world-wide”
Define your search terms:
4. 4La Trobe University
Search tips
Truncation: A truncation symbol added to the end of a term allows you to find word
variations or alternative spellings.
• anthropolog* = anthropology, anthropologist, anthropological
Wildcards (use for alternative spellings) are used to substitute a symbol for a single
letter (character) of a word
• “field?work” = field-work or field work
Phrase searching: This requires terms be searched in the exact order specified within
the “quotation marks”.
• “field work”
5. 5La Trobe University
Databases!
1
2
You can access a wide range of databases
in your subject area from the library
homepage. This is how you can find
‘Anthropology’ databases.
1. From the library homepage, select
‘Databases’
2. From the next page, click on the
down arrow next to the ‘Subject
area’ box
7. 7La Trobe University
Databases!
Here is the list of databases relevant to
Anthropology. If you want to know more
information about each database, click on
the blue button.
5. For this example, use ‘AnthroSource’
which is the produced by the
American Anthropological Association
i
5
8. 8La Trobe University
Searching the databases: Using AnthroSource
Using AnthroSource - searching for articles
6. Look at the original search question and add the search terms into the search box.
Where you are using alternative words for the same concept (such as field work or
fieldwork) put them together in brackets, separated by OR
Once you have added terms for each concept, combine each concept with AND then
click on ‘search’
9. 9La Trobe University
Searching the databases: Using AnthroSource
Using AnthroSource – finding the full text
7. You can get the full text from here
10. 10La Trobe University
Searching the databases: Using AnthroSource
8. Here is the article. Where a pdf version of the article is available, use this, as it will
be presented exactly as it looks in print. This will make referencing easier when
you are referring to specific page numbers
98
11. Thank you
latrobe.edu.au CRICOS Provider 00115M
Where to go for help:
• In person: Library Help Desk at your campus library
• Phone Ask La Trobe: 1300 La Trobe (1300 52 87623)
• Assignment support http://www.latrobe.edu.au/library/assignment-thesis-support
• Online Chat: latrobe.edu.au/chat/ 11:00 – 14:00 during semester
• Search help: latrobe.edu.au/library/assignment-thesis-support/search-tools/search
• Video guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1vbVc80ZY0
• Anthropology expert help guide: http://latrobe.libguides.com/anthsoc
• Your on-line library: http://www.latrobe.edu.au/library
Bernadette Gargan
Coordinator Learning & Teaching-
Library
ASSC – Anthropology
B.Gargan@latrobe.edu.au
9479 1915