This document provides an overview of resources and information for research, including search strategies, evaluating sources, and referencing. It discusses library databases for research, such as IEEE Xplore and Web of Science, and summarizes tips for effective searching. Guidelines are presented for literature reviews, managing references using RefWorks, and evaluating information quality. Contact information is included for librarian assistance.

1. CST4599 Nov 2021
Resources and information skills for research
https://unihub.mdx.ac.uk/study/library

2. In this workshop we will look at...
• Search strategy
• Obtaining information
• Evaluating
• Referencing

3. Ideas
Facts
Figures
Theories
Imagination
Inspiration

4. • Problem area, rationale and objectives 10
• Literature Review 10
• Research investigative method 10
• Results 20
• Interpretation of results 20
• Evaluation and Conclusions 10
• Referencing, bibliography and appendices 10
• Organisation and presentation of report 15
PG Project Marking Scheme

5. What is a literature review?
Sets the scene:
• Overview
• Survey
• Describe, compare, synthesise
Critical:
• Strengths and weaknesses
• Consensus and disagreement
• Gaps
https://bit.ly/workshopsLET
https://unihub.mdx.ac.uk/study/writing-numeracy/Resources-for-AWL

6. Getting started: Search Strategy
• Topic
• Main concepts
• Alternative words
• Inclusion/Exclusion
• Sources and resources
• Refine
Improving your search:
https://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/computing/Help

7. https://padlet.com/HendonMDX/keywords4599
Keywords

8. Too many search results
• Add more keywords to narrow down your search
results
• Be more specific
• Search for an "exact phrase" e.g. “network security”
• Add limits

9. Not enough results
• Use alternative keywords
• Be less specific
• Split the question into individual concepts
• Use an asterisk to search for variations of the
same word e.g. comput*

10. MyUniHub > MyStudy >MyLibrary
Access library resources and services

11. MyLibrary
Library Search
MySubject Library Guides
Databases
Inter Library Loans

12. Library Search
Click on ‘Sign-in’,
choose
‘Middlesex
University’ and
use your
university email
address.
Signing-in enables you to access
full text material, check your
library record, create lists, save
searches and create alerts and
export references to RefWorks.

13. Library Search: Finding information
Type your search terms
(keywords) into the
search box e.g. Project
Management and click on
the ‘search icon’.
Library Search automatically searches for ‘All resources’ (print and
electronic) i.e. books, journal titles, journal articles etc. Use the
drop-down menu to focus your search or select ‘Available online’
only.

14. Library Search: Other features
http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/computing/LibrarySearch

15. https://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/computing/SpecialistDatabases
Specialist Databases
myUniHub > My Study > My Library > Databases

16. Journal Databases
myUniHub > My Study > My Library > Databases
https://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/computing/SpecialistDatabases
• ACM Digital Library
• Computer Source
• IEEE Xplore
• Science Direct
• Web of Science

17. IEEE Xplore: Advanced search
Choose search field e.g.
Abstract, document title,
author etc.
Boolean Operators:
AND, OR, NOT
Refine by date.
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/Xplorehelp/searching-ieee-xplore/search-tips

18. Web of Science - 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
MyUniHub > MyStudy > MyLibrary > Databases > W > Web of Science

19. Web of Science
Check ‘Links’ to
see if full text
article is available
See how many times
article has been
cited.
Click on title
for more
information
https://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/computing/wos
Click number
of times cited
to see list of
citing articles

20. • Library Search
• Journal Databases
• ACM Digital Library
• Computer Source
• IEEE Xplore
• Science Direct
• Web of Science
Have a go
MyUniHub > MyStudy > MyLibrary

21. Library Search and journal databases provide:
• Access to quality information
• Citation and journal impact information
• Information not available elsewhere
• Up-to-date
• Focussed/specific
• Full-text access
• Access on/off campus
• Personalise

22. Google Scholar
You may be able to
access the full-text here
e.g. this is available on
open access.
Refine your
search
results here.
Create an alert for your search,
so you can keep up-to-date
with new publications.
Link to MDX resources: > Settings > Library Links > Search for MDX and save.
http://scholar.google.co.uk/

23. Google Scholar: Useful features
Full text available
from Middlesex
Uni and/or other
sources.
Click on author’s name (if underlined)
to view profile and check for more
research by the author on the same
topic.
Click on ‘Cited by’
to see other articles
that have cited this
article.
‘All versions’: The same article
on other websites – sometimes
useful for getting full text if not
available from MDX.
Create a Harvard
reference or
export to
RefWorks.

24. Zetoc (Alert service)
Set-up an alert for
a journal or subject.
Search for journal
articles.
Set-up an RSS
feed for a journal.
MyUniHub > MyStudy > MyLibrary > Databases > Z > Zetoc

25. MyUniHub > MyStudy > MyLibrary > Databases > B
http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/computing/Standards
If you require
access to a
Standard email
v.hill@mdx.ac.uk

26. It’s not in the Library!
MyUniHub > MyStudy > MyLibrary > Inter Library Loans
https://unihub.mdx.ac.uk/study/library/study-and-research-resources/inter-library-loans

27. Why reference?
• Highlight and back-up relevant points and facts
• Demonstrate that you have read widely
• Give credit to the author/creator
• Achieve a better mark or grade
• Reader can locate original source used
• Avoid plagiarism.
Adapted from: https://www.citethemrightonline.com/Basics/what-is-referencing

28. Cite Them Right Online
myUniHub > My Study > My Library > Databases > C
http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/plagiarismreferencing

29. Moller, V. and Waddington, I. (2015) Routledge
handbook of computers. 2nd edn. London:
Routledge.
‘Library Search’ reference
‘Cite Then Right’ reference
Moller, Verner. & Waddington, Ivan., 2015
Routledge handbook of computers. 2nd ed.,
London: Routledge
Using Cite Them Right Online: Books

30. Referencing: The Basics guide
https://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/computing/skills

31. Managing references: RefWorks
http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/plagiarismreferencing/NewRW
My Study > MyLibrary > Databases > R > RefWorks
RefWorks Guides https://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/computing/RefWorks

32. Evaluating information
• Imagine you are researching ‘The right to be forgotten’
• Go to https://padlet.com/HendonMDX/Evaluating4599
• Have a look at the 5 items
• Which ones would you use, not use and why?

33. • Relevance
• Expertise
• Viewpoint
• Intended audience
• Evidence
• When Published
REVIEW your information

34. More info and help
MyUniHub > MyStudy > MyLibrary > My Subject Library Guides> Computing, Maths and Engineering
https://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/computing
Online help
guides
Academic
writing
support
Library
support
Resources

35. myUniHub > MyStudy > MyLibrary > Databases > L
LinkedIn Learning
https://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/linkedinlearning

36. http://unihub.mdx.ac.uk/your-support-services/unihelp
UniHelp
Telephone and Chat:
Mon-Fri
8.30am-9.30pm
Sat, Sun and Bank hols
11.00am-6.00pm
Tel. +44 (0)20 8411 6060

37. Need further help
Your Librarian is:
Vanessa Hill
v.hill@mdx.ac.uk
More info: https://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/computing