1. 2015 Pre-sessional Programme
Independent Learning
Week 4: Research
Skills and Critically
Assessing Resources

2. Discussion
§ What types of resources are available to us
at the University of Southampton?

3. University of Southampton
Research Tools
§ DelphiS
– General search engine for most resources
§ WebCat
– The university’s library online catalog
– Can be used to renew library loans
§ TDNet
– The university’s journal catalog

4. Tips for Effective Researching
§ Using multiple keywords
§ Focusing on keywords supplied by authors
§ Finding exact phrases “”
§ Eliminating keywords –
§ Adding keywords +
§ Limiting publication dates
§ Searching for file types: .doc, .ppt, .pdf

5. Keyword Search Carrot
Broad
Search
Narrow Search
Impact
of
Immigra-on
Impact
of
Immigra-on
in
the
UK
Impact
of
Immigra-on
in
the
UK
+2015
Immigra-on
Impact
of
Immigra-on
in
the
UK
+2015
and
“social
policy”

6. University of Southampton Subject
Guides
§ http://library.soton.ac.uk/home/subjects
§ Specialised resources for each subject area
§ May contain resources that you cannot find
on Google or DelphiS

7. Homework
§ Re-watch the vidcast and focus on the
section about critical assessment of
resources

8. Any Questions?

9. Extra Support
• Extra one-to-one support sessions are
available. Sign up in the LRC on Avenue
Campus
• Support groups are running on a number of
useful topics. Sign up with me!
• Conversation cafes are taking place in the
Avenue courtyard at lunchtimes. Just go
along!