Information skills for research

http:// unihub.mdx.ac.uk / study / library

CMT3342 (Jan start) Feb 2014

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

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 Harvard style

Maximum of 10 marks for quality, style of writing and presentation

Thinking about resources

BooksWhat are they:

A written or printed work of fiction or fact.

May be electronic.

Good for:

Clear overview.

Not so good for:

Up to date information.

Web page

What are they:

An information resource which can be easily created by anyone on any topic.

Electronic.

Good for:

Very up to date information.

Not so good for:

Accurate and reliable information.

NewspaperWhat are they:

A regular publication containing current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising.

May be electronic.

Good for:

Daily information.

Not so good for:

Balanced and well researched information.

JournalWhat are they:

A regular publication containing articles on a particular academic subject. Presents new research.

Good for:

Latest research, critically reviewed by experts.

Not so good for:

Broad overview of a subject.

Popular (trade) journalWhat are they:

A regular publication containing new products plus information for a business sector.

Good for:

Latest product news.

Not so good for:

Detailed and objective reports.

Find out moreMyUniHub > MyStudy > MyLibrary > Library Subject Guides

http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/EIS

Thinking about keywords

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rossjamesparker/89414788/

The real thingCompare the concept and practice of risk management in traditional and agile project management approaches

• Keywords

• Alternative keywords

• More specific keywords

• Related subjects

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

Finding resourcesmyUniHub > My Study > My Library > Summon

Select Summon and search for information for your essay on risk management in traditional and agile project management approaches

Journal DatabasesmyUniHub > My Study > My Library > Databases

Choose ‘Computing Science’ for a list of relevant journal databases

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

Get online help using resourcesMyUniHub > MyStudy > MyLibrary > Library Subject Guides > Computing

http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/EIS

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

Evaluating information

Evaluating information

Imagine you are writing an essay on ‘Project Management’.

Have a look at the 4 items that you have been given and consider the following:

• Which items are the most relevant to your essay?

• Which items would be no use?

• Which item has the most academic authority?

• Which items might have bias?

• Which item is the most current?

• Authority

• Relevance

• Intent

• Objectivity

• Currency

Evaluating information

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 Harvard style

Maximum of 10 marks for quality, style of writing and presentation

Library Subject GuidesmyUniHub > My Study > My Library > Library Subject Guides

http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/plagiarismreferencing

http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/eis

Keeping in touch• Blog http://satlibrarian.blogspot.com

• Twitter http://twitter.com/SATlibrarian

• Library Facebook Middlesex University Library

• Library Twitter http://twitter.com/MDXLibrary

Need further help?

Your Librarian is:

Vanessa Hill v.hill@mdx.ac.uk

http://unihub.mdx.ac.uk/support/unihelp/