Finding research evidence

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

MSc DEMM Oct 2013

In this workshop we will look at...• How to find information

• Developing an effective search strategy

• Resources available and how to use them

• Evaluating information for quality and relevance

Thinking about resources

BooksWhat are they:

A written or printed work of fiction or fact.

May be electronic.

Good for:

Background information and inspiration

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 and diverse articles and advertising.

May be electronic.

Good for:

Daily information

Not so good for:

Balanced and well researched information

Academic JournalWhat are they:

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

Maybe electronic.

Good for:

Latest research, critically reviewed by experts

Not so good for:

Broad overview of a subject

Trade Journal or MagazineWhat are they:

A regular publication containing news, jobs, products, events and advertising.

Aimed at a profession, business sector or interest.

Good for:

Focussed up-to-date information

Not so good for:

Detailed and objective reports

ObjectsWhat are they:

A material thing that can be seen and handled.

Good for:

Inspiration, ideas and sensory experience.

Not so good for:

Detailed information, context and facts.

Find out moreMyUniHub > MyStudy > MyLibrary > Library Subject Guides

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

Thinking about keywords

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

The real thing: Redesigning the glass elevator in the Quad

• Keywords

• Alternative keywords

• More specific keywords

• Related subjects

So far so good

So far we’ve looked at:

• The range of resources available

• Choosing the right resource

• Coming up with useful keywords

Next:

• Searching and evaluating information

Finding resourcesmyUniHub > My Study > My Library > Summon

Select Summon and search for information for your project

Google vs Summon

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ennuiislife/3450743002/

Google

• Familiar and easy to use

• Finds too much information

• Fast results

• Access from any computer

• Access to some books and journals

• Designed to sell you things

• Search results sponsored

• Searches for info from any source

• Pay for academic information

Summon

• Easy to use

• Finds lots of academic info

• Fast results

• Access from any computer

• Access to lots of books and journals

• Designed to find you information

• Search results by relevance

• Searches quality resources

• Free access to full text

product AND design

USA OR America

design*

cork NOT Ireland

-Amazon

“Festival of Britain”

+Ideo or “IDEO”

Define: “paper prototyping”

James Dyson invented *

Scandinavian site: design OR Scandinavian site: ac

Related:www.designcouncil.org.uk

Streamlining your search

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mike_miley/2614472057/

Images and inspiration

• WGSN HomeBuildLife

• Special Collections

• Google Images

• http://www.flickr.com/

• http://www.pinterest.com/

• http://www.dreamstime.com

More info: http://unihub.mdx.ac.uk/study/copyright/index.aspx

Library Subject GuidesMyUniHub > MyStudy > MyLibrary > Library Subject Guides

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

Keeping up-to-date with your subject

• Zetoc Alert

• CiteuLike

• TicTOC

• Google Alerts

More information on Library Subject Guide:

http://bit.ly/KeepingCurrentPDE

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

But is it any good?

Evaluating informationImagine you are writing an essay on Robots

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

German Defence Minister Guttenberg resigns over thesis

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12608083

How to avoid Plagiarism

• Always acknowledge someone else’s work

• Quote and paraphrase

• Use references and citations

Reasons to get it right

• Evidence of reading around your subject

• Supports your discussion and arguments 

• Paraphrasing shows you understand the subject

• Demonstrates that you can analyse and evaluate

• Enables others to find your references

• Get better marks

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

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

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

• Librarian Twitter http://twitter.com/SATlibrarian

• Library Facebook Middlesex University Library

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

• MDX App http://unihub.mdx.ac.uk/support/app/index.aspx

Need further help?

Your Librarian is:

Vanessa Hill v.hill@mdx.ac.uk

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