The document outlines strategies for effective research, emphasizing critical searching techniques using various online resources, including databases like Google Scholar and Compendex. It details methods for evaluating papers, understanding research relevance, and using tools like EndNote for referencing. Additionally, it provides resources for troubleshooting searches and accessing full texts, alongside links for further learning and support.

1. Searching critically
for ENFE602, 2012

2. Our mission...
 Google/Research/Find information
 Sift
 Put together evidence/data
 Draw conclusions
 Reference

3. Today
 Search for known articles in databases
 Find articles citing a known article
 Find related articles by keywords
 Find review articles on a given topic
 Find relevant standards

4. The Literature
You

5. Resources we’ve used...
 Google – not necessarily reliable
 Wikipedia – presearch
 Forums – work-internal, subscription forums –
get people’s opinions
 Magazines – SFPE
 Websites – DBH, NIST
 Books – handbooks, textbooks
 Primary sources – conference papers, journal
articles, theses

6. Getting Started
http://canterbury.libguides.com/enfe

7. Compendex

8. Scopus

9. Web of Science

10. Google Scholar

11. Finding similar articles
 Similar topics
 Keywords
 Same author
 Where published - eg same conference
 Similar references

12. Related by references

13. Related by keywords

14. More keywords

15. Yet more keywords

16. Review articles

17. We evaluate papers by...
 Which year published
 Author - well-known, professional
standing
 Check calculations and models
 Check references
 Have they limited their scope – for what
reasons
 Check their assumptions

18. Evaluating papers
Is it… and...
relevant?
Who is it written for?
basic/advanced?
What kind of research is it?
up-to-date? How far along is the research?
What questions haven’t they answered yet?
accurate?

19. Standards
 Online –
 AS/NZS
 ASTM
 IEEE
 NFPA fire codes
 or
 Print collection
 AS
 BS
 ISO
 Eurocodes

20. Other resources
 Books
 Theses
 Patents
 Interloans
 Consultations
 Endnote

21. Citing

22. Using Endnote

23. Using Endnote

24. Using Endnote

25. We’ve learned…
 The Engineering databases (such as
Compendex, Scopus) UoC can provide to assist our
research
 Google Scholar might be useful
 In theory, how to search for documents in the on-line
library – functions of databases and how to use them
 Online access to NFPA standards
 There are programs that assist with referencing
 Why Endnote is so useful
 Endnote vs free Zotero

26. We still want to learn…
Setting up preferences to access full texts online
 If you access databases via the library website or subject guide, you’ll
automatically get access where we have it.
 If you come via Google Scholar:
 Go to Scholar Preferences (http://scholar.google.com/scholar_preferences)
 Under Library Links search for and select “University of Canterbury”
 Save your preferences
 When you search, look for the “Full-Text @ UC Library” link
How to troubleshoot searches eg if you’re not finding what you want...
 Hmm – try looking at the results you are getting – what’s wrong and what’s
right? Can give you clues of different keywords/databases to try which may get
you closer.
 Or just come and see me. 

27. We still want to learn…
How to search photos or tables
 General photos: http://images.google.com
 Reusable photos: http://www.google.com/advanced_image_search and select
the appropriate option under “usage rights”. (Remember to give credit too.)
 Scientific/technical photos: http://www.springerimages.com/ - browse by
subject then in the “Refine” options tick “Only accessible images”
 Searching within other databases – I don’t know of any way but will keep an
eye out....
More about referencing
 Book a tutorial at:
http://webapps.libr.canterbury.ac.nz/webdb/course.php?course=215
 Or teach yourself at: http://wiki.canterbury.ac.nz/display/LIBRARY/EndNote
 Or try Zotero: http://www.zotero.org/

28. Slides and tips
http://canterbury.libguides.com/enfe

29. Contact me
 Chat
 Meet
 Email