The document provides an overview of a literature searching session at Middlesex University. It discusses searching databases like Summon, Google Scholar, PsycINFO, and Web of Science. It covers using search terms and Boolean operators to conduct effective searches. Students participate in activities to practice searching skills and using different databases. They are instructed to manage their references using referencing software and directed to resources for help with searching and referencing.

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Literature Searching
http:// unihub.mdx.ac.uk / study / library
PSY2004 November 2015

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Please login
PLEASE USE CHROME OR FIREFOX

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We will cover
• Simple searches: Summon vs Google
• Search terms
• Boolean and search operators (AND OR NOT * “ ” etc)
• Advanced searches: WOS and PsycINFO
• Where you can get help
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During the session we’ll complete a workbook you
need to finish at home and hand in – keep a record
of your working
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Hand in – turnitin module area.
By 20th November 2015

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Example of coursework marking criteria
10% Introduction
15% Overview
30% Critical analysis
15% Discussion
10% Conclusion
10% Referencing
10% Quality etc
Maximum marks for a well
referenced and accurate
description of [subject]
using suitable references
Maximum of 10 marks for a list of
references which is both relevant,
and correctly given in APA style
Maximum of 10 marks for quality,
style of writing and presentation

7. MyUnihub: gateway to library resources
myUniHub > My Study > My Library

8. My Library – most
of the links you
will ever need

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Summon
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Simple searches
Google Scholar
• Simple search function
• Searches many journal
websites
• Not all full text
(but can set up to access
MDX journals through Unihub)
• Up to date articles from the
big publishers – not so good
coverage of small journals
• Hard to filter
• Searching all subject areas
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Summon vs Google
Summon
• Simple search function
• Google for the University
resources
• Searches many journal
databases and
subscriptions
• A lot of full text
• Up to date – largest
databases are paid for and
updated daily/weekly and
include prepubs
• Easy to filter to Psychology
only journals

12. Google Scholar – make sure you access
what you’ve paid for!
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13. Search for and select Middlesex University
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Simple searches
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What will:
• CBT AND depression
• CBT OR depression
• CBT NOT depression
find when I search for them?
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AND OR NOT – what do they do?

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Half of you will search Google Scholar and half Summon.
Using Google Scholar or Summon do some searches on:
coaching AND another topic
Get familiar with the search function, and how to limit your results.
• Pro – what do you like about it?
• Con – what do you not like?
• How did you search it?
• How did you access it?
• How relevant was what you found? Why?
You must be prepared to feed this back to the other half of the
class. 15-20 minutes.
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Activity 1 – Summon Vs Google

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To access the Library Subject Guide

18. Library Subject Guide

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Activity 2 – Search terms
• Work in groups
• Each group has an image and a worksheet
• Post your ideas and answers to the questions on the Padlet link
for your class.
• 15 minutes
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Thinking about coaching, what you’ve learned,
techniques and what it might be used for:
• Come up with a topic / question from your image
• What are the key ideas in that question?
• What are synonyms for some of the words?
• What are narrower/wider terms for some of these
things?
• Within your topic how could you be more specific?
Put these answers on the Padlet wall for your class (link
on library subject guide)
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Activity 2 – Search terms

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Advanced Searching – DINOSAURS!
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http://sydney.edu.au/library/skills/elearning/learn/topic/gamenesting/index.php

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This is the format for all advanced searches
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Reminder truncation etc.
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AND = combines two concepts
(this narrows/increases your results)delete as appropriate
OR = searches for either or concept
(this narrow/increases your results)delete as appropriate
NOT = won’t show you anything including this word
* = truncation.
Searches for everything which contains the same bit of a word for
example
Offend* = will find offending, offender, offenders
Counsel* = will find counselling, counsellor, counsellors
Remember to use it for things with both UK/US spelling:
Behaviour and behavior search = behav*
“ ” = speech marks allow you to search for a phrase only when
the words are together for example “domestic abuse” will find everything
with those words together. Domestic abuse on its own will find things with
the words appearing paragraphs apart or only one word appearing.

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Looks kind of like this...
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Looks kind of like this...
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Databases for research articles
myUniHub > My Study > My Library > Databases
Search for database by
letter, then name

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Web of Science

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Web of Science
MyUniHub > MyStudy > MyLibrary > Databases > W > Web of Science
Gives you a
hyperlinked
list of articles
which cite
this article

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Citation searching
• Which articles have cited an earlier article
• Updates to the research study you’ve been looking at
• Find articles on similar/related subject
• How many times an article has been cited
• Best journals in your field

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PsycINFO – Access via Unihub > Databases

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PsycINFO – options and limits

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limits Full text

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Using either PsycINFO or Web of Science do some searches on
your topic from the keywords activity.
Get familiar with the search function, and how to limit your results.
• Pro – what do you like about it?
• Con – what do you not like?
• How did you search it?
• How did you access it?
• How relevant was what you found? Why?
You must be prepared to feed this back to the other half of
the class. 20 minutes.
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Activity 3 – Advanced Searching

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Cite them right
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examples
Gives you a formatted
example to type over

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Managing your references
• 2 choices of referencing software at MDX
• Flow – simple to use, limited functionality, fine for essays
• Refworks – slightly more complex to use but more functional
• Both will allow you to import citations from databases and
both will format your reference list for you.
• Go to Psychology Library Subject Guide and find the section
on referencing
libguides.mdx.ac.uk/psy/referencing

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Need help?
• Librarians in the StudyHub (1st floor) Monday – Friday 9-5
• Psychology Library Subject Guide
http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/psy
• Viv – your librarian v.eades@mdx.ac.uk