This document provides an overview of resources and strategies for finding research evidence. It discusses developing search strategies, evaluating information quality, managing references, searching databases and journals, citation searching, and getting help from librarians. Key resources mentioned include Summon, journal databases, Web of Knowledge, library subject guides, reading lists, and bibliographic management software. Criteria for evaluating information include authority, relevance, objectivity, and currency.

1. CSD4040 Oct 2014
Finding research evidence
http:// unihub.mdx.ac.uk / study / library

2. In this workshop we will look at...
• How to find information
• Developing an effective search strategy
• Resources available and how to use them
• Evaluating information for quality and relevance
• Managing references

3. Thinking about resources

5. Find out more
MyUniHub > MyStudy > MyLibrary > Library Subject Guides
http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/EIS

6. Thinking about keywords
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rossjamesparker/89414788/

7. The real thing
Algorithmic Biology, Formal Methods and Quantum
Information Processing or Artificial Intelligence.
•Keywords
•Alternative keywords
•More specific keywords
•Related subjects

8. So far so good
So far we’ve looked at:
• The range of resources available
• Choosing the right resource
• Coming up with useful keywords
Next:
• Searching and evaluating information

9. Finding resources
myUniHub > My Study > My Library > Summon
Select Summon and
search for information for
your project

10. Refining your search

11. Journal Databases
myUniHub > My Study > My Library > Databases > Computing Science
Choose subjects for
a list of relevant
journal databases

12. Summon and journal databases provide:
• Access to quality information
• Information not available elsewhere
• Up-to-date
• Focussed/specific
• Full-text access
• Access on/off campus
• Personalize
• Citation and journal impact info

13. Citation searching
• Which articles have cited an earlier article
• Find articles on similar/related subject
• How many times an article has been cited
• Best journals in your field

14. Web of Knowledge
MyUniHub > MyStudy > MyLibrary > Databases > W > Web of Knowledge > Web of Science

15. Get online help using resources
MyUniHub > MyStudy > MyLibrary > Library Subject Guides > Computing
http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/EIS

16. Online Reading Lists
http://readinglists.mdx.ac.uk
PDE1300

17. Keeping up-to-date with your subject
• Zetoc Alert
• TicTOC
• Google Alerts
More information on Library Subject Guide:
http://bit.ly/CSkeepingcurrent

18. It’s not in the Library!
• Inter Library Loans http://bit.ly/InterLibraryLoans
• Sconul Access http://www.access.sconul.ac.uk/sconul-access
• Other libraries http://bit.ly/visitingotherlibraries

19. But is it any good?

21. Evaluating information
Imagine you are writing an essay on ‘Network Security’.
Have a look at the 4 items that you have been given and
consider the following:
• Which items are the most relevant to your essay?
• Which items would be no use?
• Which item has the most academic authority?
• Which items might have bias?
• Which item is the most current?

22. Evaluating information
• Authority
• Relevance
• Intent
• Objectivity
• Currency

23. Referencing and Plagiarism
myUniHub > My Study > My Library > Library Subject Guides >
Computing > Information Skills > Referencing and Citation
http://bit.ly/CSrefandcite

24. Managing your references
• Use bibliographic management software
• RefWorks and Flow
• http://bit.ly/BibManSoftwareMDX

25. Keeping in touch
• Blog http://satlibrarian.blogspot.com
• Twitter http://twitter.com/SATlibrarian
• Library Facebook Middlesex University Library
• Library Twitter http://twitter.com/MDXLibrary

26. Need further help?
Your Librarian is:
Vanessa Hill v.hill@mdx.ac.uk
http://unihub.mdx.ac.uk/support/unihelp/