This document provides an overview of advanced search techniques and reference management. It begins by outlining the learning objectives, which are to develop effective search strategies, use a variety of search techniques and databases, and manage references using RefWorks. It then discusses developing keywords and search terms, using subject headings to identify keywords, combining search terms effectively, and constructing comprehensive search strategies. Finally, it provides information on where to find relevant sources and an overview of what RefWorks can do to manage references.

1. Department
Advanced SearchTechniques
and Reference Management
libguides.rhul.ac.uk/Drama
Tuesday 27 January
Kim Coles
@RHUL_Library

2. Department
At the end of this session you should be able to:
 develop a search strategy to research your dissertation topic
 use a range of search techniques to narrow and broaden your
searches
 identify and use a range of databases and resources
 manage your references using RefWorks
 know where to go to get help/personalised training on finding
information
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3. Department
Search strategy 101
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 What is your research question?
 What information do you need to answer that question?
 Where will you find that information?
Chess by Romain Guy CC BY NC SA. Flickr.

4. Department
Thinking about keywords
Think about the ways in which the words you are searching for might
be interpreted.
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Search engines and databases organise information using a controlled
vocabulary e.g. assigning certain words to certain concepts.

5. Department
How to identify keywords
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 synonyms - these are different words with the same meaning
 acronyms - this is where your keywords can be condensed
into a set of capital letters
 alternative spellings - remember to try UK and US spellings
 alternative and related terms
 broader and narrower terms

6. Department
Discuss the role played by women in Japanese theatre, with
reference to a particular adaptation.
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What are the main concepts?
Role, women, Japanese theatre – specific title/production
Are there any synonyms/alternative terms I could use?
Concept One ConceptTwo ConceptThree Concept Four
Role Women/woman Japan Specific
production/play
Part Actress/performer/
playwright
Japanese Specific playwright
Function Character/type drama
purpose Specific forms of
theatre e.g. Noh,
Kyogen, Kabuki

7. Department
How to find good information
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So you know the topic you’re searching for…
1. What are the main concepts or keywords for your topic?
2. Are there are alternative terms for these concept?
3. How might you combine these keywords to search effectively?
Lego bicycle by Do-Hyun Kim CC BY-ND. Flickr.

8. Department
Using subject headings to identify keywords
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In LibrarySearch
In a subject-specific database

9. Department
Combining keywords
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http://youtu.be/0OF5DevLHhE

10. Department
Constructing a search strategy
AND - narrows your search by combining words.The results found must contain all the
words which you have joined by usingAND. e.g. women AND film
OR - broadens your search to include resources which contain any or all of the terms
connected by OR. e.g. film OR movie
NOT - narrows your search by excluding a term. e.g. Ireland NOT Great Britain
Use “quotation marks” to search for a phrase e.g. “gone with the wind”
Use * to search for variations on words using the stem
e.g. procrastin* searches for procrastination, procrastinating…
Use ? to search for variations on words
e.g. wom?n searches for woman, women
Use brackets ( ) to link terms
e.g. (women OR gender) AND (film OR movie)
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11. Department
Discuss the role played by women in Japanese theatre, with
reference to a particular adaptation.
11
What are the main concepts?
Role, women, Japanese theatre – specific title/production
Are there any synonyms/alternative terms I could use?
Role, purpose, woman, women, japan, japanese, etc.
How can these terms be combined?
Role AND wom?n AND (Japan OR Japanese) AND “specific production”

12. Department
Where to find good information?
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 LibrarySearch
 Drama Subject Guide
 Nexis UK newspaper database
 Reports and official publications
 Blogs, websites,Twitter…
 Other libraries, archives
 Original research
Map Cake by Shawn Allen CC BY. Flickr.

13. Department
Managing references
13 Map Cake by Shawn Allen CC BY NC ND. Flickr.

14. Department
What does RefWorks do?
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 Capture and save references generated form online databases
 Automatically generate a bibliography in your document
 Access a range of citation styles
 Insert citations directly into your research (i.e. word document)

15. Department
Questions?
Kim Coles
Information Consultant
2-07 Bedford Library
Royal Holloway University of London
k.coles@rhul.ac.uk
01784 414017
libguides.rhul.ac.uk/Drama
15 Leo Reynolds. Flickr. CC-BY-NA