Jönköping University
Information management for thesis writing
Welcome! How many of you will write your thesis and have no
reference list? The aim with this lecture is to give you the tools for
effective information management! ILO – Assess and critically evaluate (and use)
scientific publications Evaluation criteria: “Frame of reference” - Theory /
Reference list in your thesis
Information management for thesis writing
Welcome!
Daniel Gunnarsson Subject Librarian Coffee break halfway through!
Information management for thesis writing
Agenda! Academic writing Preparations Search method Databases Critical evaluation After the search Search examples - “tips from the coach”
Information management for thesis writing
Academic writing:
You shall all act as academics• Independently work, your responsibility!• Based on peer-reviewed theories• Use scientific methods• Draw your own conclusions• Bibliographic references (Harvard style)• The Interactive Anti-Plagiarism Guide – JU• Important for your career, your academic manifesto!
Information management for thesis writing Preparations:
Better prepared = more effective! • In need of definitions / problem statement• What kind of material is needed
- topicality, data, legislation, publication type• Start with “International Encyclopedia of Business
and management” (shelf Qb(x) REF INTE) or specific Handbooks within your topic (SAGE)
• “Critical Writings in…”• Read this guide about search strategy
Information management for thesis writing
Search method:
An excellent search method gives you fewer results
with better quality (gives you more time for writing)• Search field (subject – fulltext)• Author, publication year, publication type• “Phrase search”• Combination search (and, or, not)• More about search techniques
Information management for thesis writing
Search method:
Important to use proper terms in your search – “bad
input even worse output “• Identify suitable and accepted search words
(encyclopedias, handbooks)• Spelling (dictionaries)• Synonyms and related terms• Create a thesaurus (mindmap)• More about choosing search words
Information management for thesis writing
Database selection:
A variety of resources demands the right selection!• Choose the right database or catalogue• Different types of databases
- Reference (bibliographic)
- Fulltext (aggregator or publisher)
- Facts (legislation, statistics/data, company reports)
- Citation database (Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science)
• Off-Campus access (your computer login - Novell)• More about search tools
Information management for thesis writing
Critical evaluation:
The essence of a researchers work and competence• How many hits (spelling, index)• Modify search (limit or explore)• New suggestions/ideas during the search process• Frequently appearing works in reference lists or
highly cited
Information management for thesis writing Critical evaluation:• Frequently appearing authors in reference lists or highly
cited• Types of resources: primary or secondary, peer-
reviewed - “What is a scholarly journal article?”• Types of publishers: EE, Springer, Oxford, Routledge• Change database or catalogue (iterative process)• See movie Scientific publishing
Information management for thesis writing
After the search:
“It ain't over 'til the fat lady sings”• Updating the reference list (continuously)• Deficiencies or limitations (part of the thesis)• Redo the searches (especially for longer works)• Set up alerts (search string, author, article)• Save information about search word, databases and
experiences for future usage
Information management for thesis writing Help:
“No man is an island” – we are here to help you!• Subject guides (my profile page)• Ask the library• BusinessLib (Facebook)• BusinessLib (Twitter)• BusinessLib (LinkedIn)
Information management for thesis writing
Search example:
Google Scholar- Start from library website or subject guide = Off-Campus access
- Advanced scholar search (author, date, publication)
- “Human resource management“
- Get it
- Cited by
Information management for thesis writing
Search example:
Scopus- Start from library website or subject guide = Off-Campus access
- “Family business” (box social sciences)
- Refine results (source, author year, document type)
- Sort by (relevance, author, date, source, cited by)
- Identify important journals and often used keywords
- Select all click references
- Get it
Information management for thesis writing Assignment:
“Learning by doing” – improving your productivity
by regularly repeating the same type of action
(Kenneth Arrow, endogenous growth theory)• Give an oral presentation of the assignment (C2032)• Send in your notes in advance (e-mail)• One page (A4) with all your names on it• Where to find the assignment• Register for seminars after the lecture
Information management for thesis writing
Information management for thesis writing
The Grand Finale: The aim with this lecture was to give you the tools for
effective information management. Have you paid attention, I´m sure that you will save
time and write a better thesis!
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