This document provides information on how to effectively conduct research for academic projects. It discusses developing search strategies, evaluating information sources, and referencing styles. The document recommends students search databases and use library subject guides to find quality, up-to-date sources on their topic. Students are also encouraged to consider keywords, alternative terms, and related subjects to improve their searches. Contacting a librarian is suggested for any additional research help.
2. In this workshop we will look at...
• Developing an effective search strategy
• Resources available and how to use them…..now
and in the future
• Evaluating information for quality and relevance
3. Example of coursework marking criteria
10% Introduction
15% Overview
30% Critical analysis
Maximum marks for a well
referenced and accurate
description of [subject]
using suitable references
15% Discussion
10% Conclusion
10% Referencing
10% Quality etc
Maximum of 10 marks for a list of
references which is both
relevant, and correctly given in
Harvard style
Maximum of 10 marks for
quality, style of writing and
presentation
9. So far so good
So far we’ve looked at:
• Choosing the right resource
• Developing a search strategy
• Coming up with useful keywords
Next:
• Searching, evaluation, and looking to the future
10. Finding resources
myUniHub > My Study > My Library > Summon
Select Summon and
search for information for
your project.
11. Journal Databases
myUniHub > My Study > My Library > Databases
Choose ‘Computing
Science’ for a list of
relevant journal
databases
12. Summon and journal databases provide:
• Access to quality information
• Information not available elsewhere
• Up-to-date
• Focussed/specific
• Full-text access
• Access on/off campus
• Personalize
• Citation and journal impact info
13. Get online help using resources
MyUniHub > MyStudy > MyLibrary > Library Subject Guides > Computing
http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/EIS
14. It’s not in the Library!
• Inter Library Loans http://bit.ly/InterLibraryLoans
• Sconul Access http://www.access.sconul.ac.uk/sconul-access
• Other libraries http://bit.ly/visitingotherlibraries
18. Example of coursework marking criteria
10% Introduction
15% Overview
30% Critical analysis
Maximum marks for a well
referenced and accurate
description of [subject]
using suitable references
15% Discussion
10% Conclusion
10% Referencing
10% Quality etc
Maximum of 10 marks for a list of
references which is both
relevant, and correctly given in
Harvard style
Maximum of 10 marks for
quality, style of writing and
presentation
19. Library Subject Guides
myUniHub > My Study > My Library > Library Subject Guides
http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/eis
http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/plagiarismreferencing
20. Keeping in touch
• Blog http://satlibrarian.blogspot.com
• Twitter http://twitter.com/SATlibrarian
• Library Facebook Middlesex University Library
• Library Twitter http://twitter.com/MDXLibrary
21. Need further help?
Your Librarian is:
Vanessa Hill v.hill@mdx.ac.uk
http://unihub.mdx.ac.uk/support/unihelp/
Notas del editor
Welcome and intros.
How to develop an effective search strategy when you need to find information for an essay or projectThe range of resources available and how to use them to find good quality and relevant information for your essay/project……now and in the future once you leave MDXEvaluating information for quality and relevanceResearch from Uni of Huddersfield shows that correlation between library usage and good grades.
Example marking criteria for this project.In this session we are going to show you how to improve your marks.Worth considering this:Max points awarded to work which is based on good research and well referencedMax marks awarded if refs used are relevant and correctly written ie. Harvard styleLDU can help with style of writing and presentation
Hand out Reference game:Imagine that you are a lecturer teaching on a computer security module. You have asked your students to write a report on Computer Security and Malware. You will award 10% of the total marks for a list of quality references, which are both relevant and correctly given using the Harvard Referencing System. (The other marks will be awarded for content and style). Look at the 3 reference lists that you have been given, and award a mark out of 10 for each list under the 3 headings (marking criteria): 1 = low mark 10= high mark.
List 1All itemsrelevantGood range of resources: British Standards, encyclopaedia, conference proceedings, academic journals, booksAcademic quality: reputable sources eg. BSI, Britannica, IEEE....peer reviewed etcUp-to-dateCorrectly referenced: a couple of mistakesList 2Some itemsrelevant, some not eg. newspaper articleLimited range of resources: mainly websitesAcademic quality: poor academic quality- local newspapers, wikipedia, webopedia etcNot Up-to-date eg. book 1985Correctly referenced: Badly referenced eg. don’t know when accessed electronic resources, no publisher details for the bookList 3All itemsrelevantGood range of resources: reasonable range of academic resources eg. academic journal, books, conference proceedingAcademic quality: reputable sources eg. IEEEUp-to-date: older edition of Gollman book, article 2004, other books quite oldCorrectly referenced: a couple of mistakes ie. don’t know when eresources accessed
More information about the range of resources available on the Library Subject Guide plus useful online guides eg. how to find information for your project.
Whole group exercise:What can you see in the picture…fruitIf type ‘fruit’ into database will get millions of hits, how can you break it down ie. search for something more specific to get more manageable resultsCan you be more specific ie. Type of fruit: apples, oranges, bananas etcLocation: Stall, market, outdoor market, fruit market, BritainDetail: boxes, signs, astroturf, prices, colour of fruit, lights, pound £ signs, special offer etcPeople in background: old, young, male, female > stall holder, customers, browsers etcThink of related subjects eg. retail, commercial, financial, point-of-saleShopping, shops, fish/meat/clothes market, shopping centres, high streetTown, city, centre, British townNutrition: vits and minsAlso: Orange or Blackberry: fruit NOT telephoneApple: fruit NOT computerThinking beyond the obvious, looking for the detail that might make a difference.
Hand out worksheet.5 mins.Feedback.
Next……….. Searching, evaluation, and looking to the future
Need to carry out a literature search:Finding the information available on a subjectFinding information to inform, underpin and shape your researchFinding what has already been written on a subjectAnalyzing, evaluating and making judgements about the info foundIdentifying the main trendsFinding appropriate information: the information needs to be suitable for your needie. right level, current if important, sufficient breadth or detail etc
Students can also search individual databases.Select ‘Computing science’ for a list of subject specific resources.
CS £1397 IEEE Xplore £61,000 Summon £16kAccess to quality academic information eg. Peer reviewed journal articles, conference proceedings , research etcInformation not available elsewhereUp-to-dateFocussed/specific....not designed to sell you things, search results not sponsoredFull-text accessAccess on/off campusPersonalizeeg. In MyEBSCO, once signerd up you can:Save preferencesOrganise research within foldersShare foldersSave search historyCreate email alerts/Rss feeds for searches and subjectsCan provide citation and journal impact info > more info on next slide
Lots of useful online guides eg.How to find booksHow to find information for your projectAccessing journal databases etc
Inter Library Loan service: request copies of books and journals not held by MDX. £3 charge. Register as DL first. More info on our website.SCONUL Access http://www.access.sconul.ac.uk/The SCONUL Access Scheme provides reciprocal access and borrowing rights for staff and students to approximately 170 member institutions in the UK. Apply online.Other libraries (specialist, catalogues etc):British Library http://www.bl.uk/COPAChttp://copac.ac.uk/COPAC is a union catalogue that gives access to the merged online catalogues of members of the Consortium of University Research Libraries (CURL). Twenty major university libraries currently contribute to COPAC.Search25 http://www.search25.ac.uk/:helps you discover library resources across London and the South East. You can also see where the libraries are and find out how to visit them.SUNCAThttp://www.suncat.ac.uk/SUNCAT, a union catalogue of serials (periodicals) for the UK, is a tool for locating serials held in UK libraries.
Lee Harvey Oswald shot be Jack Ruby Nov 1963Information can be manipulated....need to make sure it is reliable.How do you decide if the information is reliable....what criteria?Hand out Criteria Game.
Hand out ‘Evaluation criteria’ game.Imagine you have searched for information for your current project. Decide what criteria you think are important, not important or very important.
Take feedback and discuss.Authority : Who is the author? What is their knowledge base/qualifications? How have they carried out their research? Relevance : Is this what I need? Will it answer my question? Is it at the right level?Intent : What is the purpose of information e.g. financial gain, propaganda, academic etc?Objectivity : Balanced view? Opposing views represented? Links to supporting information?Currency: How old is this information? When was it last updated and by whom?
Example marking criteria for this project.In this session we are going to show you how to improve your marks.Worth considering this:Max points awarded to work which is based on good research and well referencedMax marks awarded if refs used are relevant and correctly written ie. Harvard styleLDU can help with style of writing and presentation
Referencing and Plagiarism libguide includes information on how to reference material correctly.Also information about Plato, LDU support and links to helpsheets.Don’t forget: Computing LibGuide bring together all the resources for your subject area.
