This document provides an overview of a library training session on distinguishing between different source types, finding credible academic sources, search techniques, and plagiarism. It discusses the key differences between books, book chapters, academic journals, academic articles, and reports. It also covers how to search databases effectively using keywords, boolean operators, and other search techniques. The document provides examples of different source types and gives guidance on evaluating source credibility. It defines plagiarism and provides examples. Finally, it discusses referencing styles and getting research help.

1. Library Training:
School of Accountancy
PeplerHead
FacultyLibrarian:EconomicandManagementSciences
peplerh@sun.ac.za

2. In this session we’ll be looking at
Distinguishing between sources
Distinguishing between trustworthy & untrustworthy
information
Search techniques (Identify Keywords & use Boolean;
Quick& Easy Search Technique; Pearl Growing Search
Technique)
Finding credible academic sources
Plagiarism
2

3. Library Guides
3
Find appropriate databases
on your specific library guide

4. 4
Distinguishing between sources
Book Journal Article
Report

5. 5
Book
A published work on a specific topic,
usually contains chapters. Can be
hardcopy or electronic. Written by a
specific person (author), or under an
editor. It will have:
• Publisher
• Place of publication
• Year
• ISBN

6. 6
Book - Example
Search the library Catalogue for book on
Management Accounting

7. 7
Book Chapter
Be careful of chapter in books that you
find electronically
Example:
Reflexivity and Development Economics
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057/9780230250598_
4

8. 8
Academic Journal
A periodical or serial publication in
which information on a specific topic
is published in article format. It can
be electronic or hard copy. It will
have:
• Title
• Publisher
• Year
• Volume number
• Issue number
• ISSN

9. 9
Journal - Example
Search Meditari Accountancy Research

10. 10
Academic Article
Topic specific information within an
academic discipline, published in a
Journal. It can be electronic or hard
copy. It will have:
• Source Title References
• Article title
• Abstract (summary)
• Year
• Volume number
• Issue number
• Page number

11. 11
Article - Example
Cashel-Cordo, P., & Craig, S.G. 1990. The
public sector impact of international
resource transfers. Journal of Development
Economics, 32(1), pp.17-42.
Authors Journal title
Year Volume and issue
Article title pages

12. 12
Report
A document that presents
information in an organized format
for a specific audience and purpose,
reporting something that has been
observed, done or investigated. Can
be annual or once off. It will have
• Report title
• Author
• Corporate body/Company
• Year

13. 13
Report - Example
World Health Statistics 2018:
Monitoring Health For the SDG’s

14. 14
Databases – what is it?
A database is an electronic index (list) to journal or
magazine articles, containing citations, abstracts
and often either the full text of the articles, or links
to the full text.
It allows you to search for information using:
Keywords
Titles
Authors
Subjects

15. 15
Searching for sources
How to search effectively

16. Step 1: Identify your keywords
16
Write down your topic:
The influence of the internet on real estate agencies
Main Concepts:
internet
Real estate agencies

17. Step 2: Identify Synonyms
17
Internet Web
Real Estate Agencies Property agencies
The influence of the internet on real estate agencies

18. Step 3: Combine Keywords
18
Boolean Operators - AND / OR / NOT
AND – returns results with both keywords
OR – returns results with one or the other keyword
NOT – returns results excluding specific keywords

19. Step 3: Combine Keywords
19
Boolean Operators - AND / OR / NOT

20. Step 3: Combine Keywords
20
Boolean Operators - AND / OR / NOT
Quotation Marks “ ” – keep keywords together, for
exact phrase searching
Brackets ( ) – keep concepts together, used for
synonyms

21. Step 3: Combine Keywords
21
Search phrase:
Internet AND “real estate agencies”

22. Finding credible academic sources
Reliability:
From a reputable source/institution- publisher, University, Research Unit,
Company
Authority:
Creator is an expert in their field, and affiliated with a reputable institution
Validity :
The research was conducted in a manner that is commonly accepted in the
field, and is evident in the article
Accuracy:
The information can be verified
22

23. Reliable internet sources
Any Website ending in:
.org; .gov; .edu; .ac
Official News sites like :
Moneyweb Business Day;
SA Statistics ; FNB; ABSA; Investec; SA Reserve
Bank; Finforum; Bankmonitor ; Eskom
23

24. Good news
Using Academic Databases provided by the library will
assist you in finding relevant, credible information for your
assignments. Examples:
Google Scholar
Science Direct
SUN Search (Library Catalogue)
Emerald
24

25. Scopus
25

26. Scopus
26
Select S from the A-Z
list and click Scopus

27. Scopus
27
Search with
keywords
Select field
to search

28. Scopus
28
Filter results
on the left
Expand the article
record by clicking
the title

29. Snowball searching
29
Finding one article, and using it to find
other, similar articles.

30. Snowball searching
30
Can be done in Databases like Scopus,
Web of Science & Google Scholar

31. Journals/Magazines
31

32. Journals/Magazines
32
Search
Journal/Magazine

33. Journals/Magazines
33
See access details

34. Journals/Magazines
34
Select specific database

35. Journals/Magazines
35
Search within journal
Search
through
journal
issues

36. Journals/Magazines
36
Search within journal
using keywords

37. Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the theft and use of the ideas, material and
other intellectual property of others that are passed off as
one’s own
This can take multiple forms
37
OBVIOUS FORMS:
Buying / borrowing a paper and
copying it
Hiring somebody to write for you
Cutting and pasting text
Direct translations
Citing sources you didn’t use
LESS OBVIOUS FORMS:
Not giving proper credit
Not referencing images, etc.
Improper paraphrasing
Failing to give a proper reference
Not acknowledging outsourcing (eg.
Data)

38. Plagiarism - Examples
38
In 2016, Melania
Trump used
parts of a 2008
speech by
Michelle Obama
at her
Republican
National
Convention
speech

39. Plagiarism - Examples
39
JK Rowling has also been
accused of stealing
plotlines from various
stories to write Harry
Potter

40. Spot the plagiarism
40
Is this plagiarism?
Timmer asserts that the fundamental role of prices in
a market economy is to serve as signals for
allocating both consumption and investment
resources (Timmer, 2002: 1507). This is important,
because of the…

41. Spot the plagiarism
41
Is this plagiarism?
Timmer asserts that the fundamental role of prices
in a market economy is to serve as signals for
allocating both consumption and investment
resources (Timmer, 2002: 1507). This is important,
because of the…
Different font, so copied and pasted
No quotation marks
Reference in wrong place

42. Spot the plagiarism
42
Is this plagiarism?
Dorward comments that even the impoverished are not likely
to gain much directly as self-employed producers of trade
agricultural assets, with restricted access to land and capital
and relatively low farm earnings (2004: 4).
Even here the poor are unlikely to gain much directly as self-
employed producers of tradable agricultural commodities,
with limited access to land and capital and relatively low on-
farm incomes – original text

43. Spot the plagiarism
43
Is this plagiarism?
Dorward comments that even the impoverished are not likely
to gain much directly as self-employed producers of trade
agricultural assets, with restricted access to land and capital
and relatively low farm earnings (2004: 4).
Even here the poor are unlikely to gain much directly as self-
employed producers of tradable agricultural commodities,
with limited access to land and capital and relatively low on-
farm incomes – original text

44. Spot the plagiarism
44
Is this plagiarism?
“In his 1991 review, Sherman Robinson highlights the
theoretical tension between the neoclassical paradigm and
AGE models with financial behaviour” (Hertel, 2002: 1376).

45. Referencing
45
Know the Referencing Style that you are using
Make sure what you are referencing, different material types
are displayed differently in the bibliography
Makes sure that your in-text citations match your bibliography
Most important, be CONSISTENT

46. Referencing - Help
46

47. Referencing - Help
47

48. Referencing - Help
48

49. Research help
49

50. 50
Thank you – Any Questions?