1. Introduction to Research for
Mechanical Systems Engineering
Using the Library Resource Centre
Melanie Parlette-Stewart, BA, MLIS
Program Liaison
February 2013

2. I am . . .
Melanie Parlette-Stewart
LRC Program Liaison
School of Engineering and Information Technology
Email: mparlettestewart@conestogac.on.ca
Twitter: @ConestogaLib_MP

3. TODAY we will :
1. Improve your search skills through “pre-searching”
and “re-searching” to refine keyword strategies
2. Locate various types of resources to balance your
research with high quality information from the LRC’s
collections
3. Understand the criteria you can use to evaluate
resources to ensure they are of good quality.
4. Discover resources to assist you in creating proper
citations

4. Off-Campus Access Visit the LRC to
PIN NUMBERS - You can use your PIN to: get your PIN.
• Access resources from Off-Campus Don’t forget to bring
• Renew a book, place a hold your student card
• Review your account with the 2013
sticker on it!

5. LRC Homepage  Research Help  Engineering  Mechanical Systems Engineering
YOUR Research Guide
http://bit.ly/MechanicalSys
Key Tabs:
• Articles from Databases
• Books . . .
• Cite Your Sources
• Contact Us

6. Today’s Research Topic is….
• Is there a relationship
Facebook use and academic
performance?

7. Finding a source to answer your
question . . .
• Where do we begin?
• Google
• Wikipedia
• Other suggestions…

10. Balanced Research
 Effective research taps into a variety of sources
Encyclopedias
Websites Books
Technical Scholarly
Papers Journals
Conference
Newspapers
Papers
Professional
Magazine (aka
Trade
Journals)

11. Types of Sources
What‟s the Difference?
Scholarly Journals Popular Magazines Trade Journals
• Scholarly research or projects. • General interest articles, entertainment, or • Industry related information, news and
• Illustrations are usually charts and graphs. information aimed at the consumer. Usually trends. Some illustrations.
• Authors are authorities in their field. Often colour photographs and illustrations. • Authors are industry experts, professionals,
professors or researchers. • Articles are usually written by magazine or practitioners who are not always
• Peer review process is in place where the staff, freelance writers, or may be identified
content of an article is reviewed by one or anonymous. • Typically no peer review or refereeing
more experts in the field. • No peer review or refereeing process. process.
Examples: Examples: Examples:
IEEE/ASME transactions on mechatronics Wired, Popular Mechanics ASME Mechanical Engineering Magazine

12. Choosing Better Sources
• How can you tell trustworthy information (the “better” information) from
less-trustworthy information (“worse” information)?
The CARS Test
• C redibility Look for believable, well written information that is free
of bias. Locate information about the author(s) and their credentials. How
credible are the authors, what is their level of expertise on this particular
topic.
• A ccuracy The information should be up-to-date, clear. You can
confirm accuracy by locating information from a variety of sources. Look for
a last updated date.
• R easonableness Information should be present objective and
balanced arguments.
• S upport Other sources should support the information found.
Always look for a reference list, bibliography or citations demonstrating
where the information came from.

13. Pre-Searching:
Thinking About Your Search
• What are the keywords or phrases in the
question that you would use in your search?
• Also think of synonyms and related terms….

14. Pre-Searching:
Academic
Facebook
Performance
Related Terms or Synonyms (words Related Terms or Synonyms (words
that mean the same as the first that mean the same as the first
term, above) term, above)

15. Let’s Research :
 LRC Discover Tool
Facebook and Academic Performance
http://www.conestogac.on.ca/lrc/

16. Let’s Re/search:
Don‟t forget
to Re/Search:
 Full Text
 Date
 Source Type
 Subject

17. Let’s Re/search:
Don‟t forget to try using
other “PRE-SEARCHING”
terms:
Ex: Social Networks and
Media and Grades
. . . and
again: don‟t
forget to
Re/Search:
 Full Text
 Date
 Source Type
 Subject

18. Citing our Sources
It's important to cite sources you used in your research for several reasons:
 To show your reader you've done proper research by listing sources you
used to get your information
 To be a responsible scholar by giving credit to other researchers and
acknowledging their ideas
 To avoid plagiarism by quoting words and ideas used by other authors
 To allow your reader to track down the sources you used by citing them
accurately in your paper by way of footnotes, a bibliography or
reference list

19. Let’s Cite our Sources:
Don’t forget to check the
style guides to make
sure your citation is
correct (sometimes there
are mistakes!)

20. Need more sources?
Explore the “Mechanical
Systems Engineering”
Research Help Guide to
discover Databases focused on
Mechanical Engineering.
 These database have:
 Advanced Search Tools
 Subject Specific Material
http://exploreguides.conestogac.on.ca/MSE

21. Summary
Researching using the LRC
 Use Discovery Search first
 www.conestogac.on.ca/lrc
 After that, try a relevant Research Help guide for links to even
more resources to search
 http://exploreguides.conestogac.on.ca/MSE
 Use the “Cite” feature in each database
 Remember no „citation generator‟ is ever perfect
 Check it manually using the Writing Centre’s resources for your Citations Style.
 www.conestogac.on.ca/learningcommons/resources/writing.jsp

22. HELP AT THE A1109
LIBRARY
 Visit the Service Desk
 Email or Phone
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