FindingResearchEvidence

Forum For The Future 2014Adam John Miller

© Middlesex University

Your Librarian is

• Subject specific enquiries

• Literature searching

• Referencing advice

• wbllibrarian@mdx.ac.uk

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Adam Millera.j.miller@mdx.ac.uk

© Middlesex University

In this session• How to find information for your project

• Developing an effective Search Strategy

• Resources available and how to use them

• Evaluating information

• Keeping up-to-date

• Managing references

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© Middlesex University

Why use the Library?

“…Graphs plotting logins to electronic resources and books borrowed with data from the student record system (ASIS) recording attainment, consistently illustrate across individual Schools and often in individual courses, a positive correlation between library usage and classification of final degree award…”

Goodall, Deborah and Pattern, David (2011) Academic library non/low use and undergraduate student achievement: a preliminary report of research in progress. Library Management, 32 (3). pp.159-170.

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© Middlesex University

Accessing resourcesmyUniHub > My Study > My Library

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© Middlesex University

Library Subject GuidesmyUniHub > My Study > My Library

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© Middlesex University

Referencing and PlagiarismmyUniHub > My Study > My Library > Library Subject Guides

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© Middlesex University

Thinking about resources

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© Middlesex University

Thinking about search terms

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

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Presentation Title© Middlesex University | 10

Thinking about your project

• Keywords

• Alternate Keywords / Synonyms

• More specific keywords

• Related subjects

© Middlesex University | 11

© Middlesex University

Evaluating Information

• Currency: How up-to-date is the information?

• Authority: Who is the author?

• Intent: What is the purpose of the information?

• Relevance: Is this what I need?

• Objectivity: Is it a balanced view?

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© Middlesex University

Journal databases provide

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• Access to quality information

• Information not available elsewhere

• Up-to-date

• Focused/specific

• Full text access

• Access on/off campus

• Personalise

• Citation & Journal impact info

© Middlesex University

Summon 2.0 Results

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Citation Indexes• Which articles have cited an earlier article

• Find articles on similar/related subject matter

• How many times an article has been cited

• Best Journals in your field

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© Middlesex University

Web of Science: A Citation IndexmyUniHub > My Study > My Library > Databases > W

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© Middlesex University

How to keep up-to-date with your subject

• Journal databases

• Table of contents alerts

• Google alerts

• Blogs

• More information in the Library Subject Guides

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© Middlesex University

Managing your references

• ProQuest Flow:

• More information: Library Subject Guides

• http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/flow

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© Middlesex University

If it is not available in the Library

• Inter-Library Loan

• Sconul Access

• Other Libraries

• Alumni rights

• More information:

http://unihub.mdx.ac.uk/study/library/services/libraries/index.aspx

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© Middlesex University

Keeping in touch

• Email: wbllibrarian@mdx.ac.uk

• Ask a Librarian: askalibrarian.mdx.ac.uk

• Blog: wbllibrarian.blogspot.co.uk

• Twitter: twitter.com/WBLLibrarian

• Facebook: Middlesex University Library

• MDX App: App Store: Middlesex University

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© Middlesex University

Any Questions?

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