This document provides an overview of the research process for dissertation projects, from defining a topic and identifying keywords, to searching for and evaluating relevant resources, and managing and referencing information found. It discusses searching databases and library catalogues, dealing with access issues, citation management software, and where to get additional research help. The goal is to equip students with the skills needed to conduct advanced academic research for their dissertation projects.

1. Library
Library & InformationTraining for
PIR:
Advanced Research Skills for
Projects and Dissertations
http://libguides.rhul.ac.uk/pir
Emma Burnett, Information Consultant

2. Library
My dissertation topic:
What do I want to find out?

3. Library
3

4. Library
Identifying key concepts & keywords
Alternative terms
e.g. governance / policy / regulation
Alternative spellings
e.g. decolonization/decolonisation
Acronyms
e.g. WMD (weapons of mass destruction)
Changing terminology
e.g. greenhouse effect / global warming / climate
change

5. Library
Analysing your query - an example
Finding information on: ‘politics and social media’
Main aspects Alternative terms
1. Politics Government, Governance,
Elections, Voting,
Democracy
2. Social Media Internet, Web Sites, Web
2.0, Social Networks, Blogs,
Facebook, Twitter, YouTube

6. Library
Activity
1. Spend a couple of minutes thinking about your
dissertation topic, noting down keywords.
2. Explain your topic to the person sitting next to you –
can they think of other keywords?

7. Library
Now that I know what I want to find out:
What resources would I use?

8. Library
Types of Resources
BooksJournals Statistics
Websites Databases Reports

9. Library
Selecting information sources
Access via the PIR subject guide: http://libguides.rhul.ac.uk/PIR
• Credo Reference, Encyclopedia Britannica (good starting
points)
• Online databases (e.g. JSTOR, Project Muse, Web of
Knowledge/Science)
• Specific resources: e.g. Hansard, Mass Observation Online,
Human Rights Studies Online, Statistica, BoB
• LibrarySearch
• Senate house library catalogue
• Other internet resources

10. Library
Activity
From the subject guide:
• access a resource you haven’t used
before
• try searching it
• think about what type of information
you could use it for
10

11. Library
Now that I know what I want to find out
& where to find the resources:
How do I search for information
on my topic?

12. Library
Combining Keywords
AND – narrows results by returning results
with both terms listed as keywords
e.g. civil war AND Syria
OR – broadens results by returning results
with either term listed as keywords
e.g. global OR international
NOT – narrows results by returning results
with only one term listed as a keyword
e.g. weapons NOT nuclear

13. Library
Reviewing your results – hints & tips
• Use quotation marks around phrases:
“human rights”, “climate change”
• Use truncation/wildcard characters ($ ? * -) to replace
letters in search terms:
Crim* = crime, criminal, criminology
Wom?n = woman, women

14. Library
Now that I’ve searched:
How do I access the
material I find?

15. Library
Accessing material via the Library
Books
• Check LibrarySearch to see if we have copies
Journal articles
• LibrarySearch default is full text only
• Some databases will provide some/all articles as full text (some will let you
refine your search to full text only)
• Some services will link you to LibrarySearch via “Find It @RHUL” – you may
find we don’t have full text access. If this is the case, don’t panic and never
pay for an article.

16. Library
Solutions to common issues with accessing resources
CampusAnywhere (VPN)
Senate House Library
Suggest a book!
Use other libraries Inter-Library Loans

17. Library
Now that I have found information on
my topic:
How do I know that it is what I
want and good quality
material?

18. Library
Evaluating Information
Authority
• Who is the author? Has the work been peer-reviewed or edited?
Accuracy
• Is there a reference list?
Objectivity
• Is the information biased? What is its purpose?Who is it aimed at?
Date
• When was the information created/updated? Is it well-maintained?
Coverage
• Is the information too basic or too advanced?
Presentation on evaluating information

19. Library
Now that I have the information (books,
chapters, journal articles, webpages
etc) that I need:
How do I manage & reference
them?

20. Library
Selecting & saving results & full text
Most databases allow you to:
• Select and save results to a ‘folder’
• Save, download or email results to yourself
• Save search ‘history’ & re-run them
Always make a note of your search queries and which
database you used.

21. Library
Citation and referencing
Acknowledge the author of the source
Enable the item to be traced
Evidence of scope and depth of your research
Reference style – the layout & format of your
bibliography

22. Library
RefWorks
• Reference management software
• Capture, save and organise references
• Access via the Online ResourcesA-Z lists
• Contains online self-help tutorials

23. Library
Any questions?
For more help & guidance on any of the topics explored in this course, or for
one to one training sessions, please contact the Library Information
Consultant for PIR:
Emma Burnett emma.burnett@royalholloway.ac.uk
and see the subject guide http://libguides.rhul.ac.uk/PIR
Further information can also be found on the Library website
www.royalholloway.ac.uk/library