https://unihub.mdx.ac.uk/study/library
PDE2440 Nov 2021
Better than Google

In this workshop we will look at..
• Resources
• Keywords
• Searching
• Referencing
• Evaluating
http://www.powerfulinformation.org/objects/pi/OverloadCartoon2.jpg

Ideas
Facts
Figures
Theories
Imagination
Inspiration

Assignment Marking Criteria
'Writing clarity and correctness; organisation and formatting'
‘Use third person when writing‘
'At least 40 references’
'IEEE format‘
‘Excellent and well informed understanding of theories and
concepts’
‘Broad and relevant readings’
‘Very well expressed…with limited spelling or grammatical errors’.
https://unihub.mdx.ac.uk/study/writing-numeracy

Thinking about keywords

Footballer
Food
Manchester
Poverty
Campaigner
Guess who?

Have a go:
• In your groups choose a famous person
• Think of 5 words (not phrases) to describe them
• Nominate a spokesperson to report back

Developing a search strategy
• Topic
• What?
• Where?
• Keywords
Improving your search: https://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/pdde/Help

Streamlining your search
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mike_miley/2614472057/
Robot*
“Speech recognition”
http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/pdde/SearchTips

Too many search results
• Add more keywords to narrow down your
search results
• Be more specific
• Search for an "exact phrase"
• Add limits

Not enough results
• Use alternative keywords
• Be less specific
• Split the question into individual concepts
• Use an asterisk to search for variations of the
same word

Access Library Resources
MyUniHub > MyStudy > MyLibrary

MyLibrary
Library Search
Databases
MySubject Library Guides

Library Search
Sign-in to check your library
record, request items, create
lists, save searches and create
alerts..
Click on ‘Sign-in’,
choose
‘Middlesex
University’ and
use your
university email
address.

Library Search: Finding information
….type your search terms
(keywords) into the
search box e.g. Project
Management and click on
the ‘search icon’.
Library Search automatically searches for ‘All resources’ (print and
electronic) i.e. books, journal titles, journal articles etc. Use the
drop-down menu to focus your search or select ‘Available online’
only.

Library Search: Other features
https://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/pdde/LibrarySearch

Databases
myUniHub > My Study > My Library > Databases
https://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/pdde/SpecialistDatabases

More to life than Google
• Go to: https://padlet.com/HendonMDX/2440
• Have a look at the resources
• Vote for favourites
• Add a comment:
• What you like about it
• How it might be useful etc.

Google vs Library Search
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ennuiislife/3450743002/
Google
• Easy to use
• Information bubble
• Search results sponsored
• Any source
• Pay for access
Library Search
• Easy to use
• Finds information
• Search results by relevance
• Quality sources
• Free access

Journal Databases
myUniHub > My Study > My Library > Databases
https://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/pdde/SpecialistDatabases

British Standards Online
myUniHub > My Study > My Library > Databases
https://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/computing/SpecialistDatabases

Google Scholar
You may be able to
access the full-text here
e.g. this is available on
open access.
Refine your
search
results here.
Create an alert for your search,
so you can keep up-to-date
with new publications.
Link to MDX resources: > Settings > Library Links > Search for MDX and save.
http://scholar.google.co.uk/

Google Scholar: Useful features
Full text available
from Middlesex
Uni and/or other
sources.
Click on author’s name (if underlined)
to view profile and check for more
research by the author on the same
topic.
Click on ‘Cited by’
to see other articles
that have cited this
article.
‘All versions’: The same article
on other websites – sometimes
useful for getting full text if not
available from MDX.
Create a Harvard
reference or
export to
RefWorks.

It’s not in the Library!
MyUniHub > MyStudy > MyLibrary > Inter Library Loans
https://unihub.mdx.ac.uk/study/library/study-and-research-resources/inter-library-loans

Why reference?
• Highlight and back-up relevant points and facts
• Demonstrate that you have read widely
• Give credit to the author/creator
• Achieve a better mark or grade
• Reader can locate original source used
• Avoid plagiarism.
Adapted from: https://www.citethemrightonline.com/Basics/what-is-referencing

Cite Them Right Online
myUniHub > My Study > My Library > Databases > C
IEEE Referencing Guidelines:
https://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/pdde/Skills

IEEE Referencing Guidelines:
https://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/pdde/Skills

[1] P. Wright, “Rapid prototyping in consumer
product design,” Communications of the ACM,
vol. 48, no. 6, pp.36–41, June 2005.
Library Search IEEE reference
Cite Then Right IEEE reference
[1] Wright, Paul, “Rapid prototyping in consumer
product design,” Communications of the ACM,
vol. 48, no. 6, pp. 36–41, Jun. 2005.
Using Cite Them Right Online: Article

Referencing top tips
• Create references using Library Search
• Use Cite Them Right Online
• Be consistent
A ‘Referencing basics’ guide is available to download
from: https://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/pdde/skills

https://padlet.com/HendonMDX/Evaluating2440

• Authority
• Relevance
• Intent
• Objectivity
• Currency
Evaluating information: Summary

https://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/linkedinlearning
LinkedIn Learning
myUniHub > MyStudy > MyLibrary > Databases > L
https://youtu.be/6ldMgi8bl4k

Find out more
MyUniHub > MyStudy > MyLibrary > MySubject Library Guides > Computing, Maths & Engineering
https://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/computing

Your Librarian is:
https://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/pdde/Help
Vanessa Hill
v.hill@mdx.ac.uk
Need further help?