RDF103_1: Resources

Section	Name	Description
Literature Searching	Literature searching
	Academic vs Professional Information

DEVELOPING YOUR SEARCH TECHNIQUES	Building an effective search
	Identifying key words and smart searching	KEY WORDS AND SMART SEARCH TECHNIQUES What are the key words that describe your subject? Establishing the key words that will enable you to identify texts and articles that are of most relevance to your research is crucial. Have you: brainstormed all of the terms which you think are relevant? thought of all possible synonyms, alternative and related key words and concepts? used subject dictionaries and encyclopedias to extend your list? Key words really are the key! [Applying controlled vocabulary to a subject provides a consistent method of finding information, and allows you to broaden or narrow your focus There are two main kinds of controlled vocabulary used in databases - subject headings and thesaurus terms What are subject headings? Subject headings describe the main focus of the content of a publication, and provide terms which bring together different ways of defining a subject. How can a Thesaurus help? Thesauri list words grouped together according to similarity of meaning. Thesauri also list equivalent terms and* narrower, broader and related terms.* Smart searching Compiling a list of relevant key words is a crucial step; but there are ways to use those terms when searching a database to ensure that you get the best possible results. One of the most powerful techniques when searching a database is Truncation. It works like this: simply add an asterisk () to the root of a word Searching a database by entering the term optic in the search box will find optic, optics, optician, optical, etc. Spelling When searching databases remember the small but important differences between British English and American English - you don't want to miss things if contributors to your subject are based across the Atlantic or there are high-profile specialist journals published in America. Using Wildcards gets over this problem. characteri?sation will find characterisation and characterization: note the ? - this is a Wildcard search colo$r will find color and colour: note the $ - this is also a Wildcard search Phrase searching Phrase searching can be used with almost all databases and library catalogues. Phrase searching works by using "quotation marks" If you search a database using "energy conservation" then it will retrieve results that only include that exact phrase - it could occur in the title or, if you are using a full-text database, the phrase could occur somewhere in the main body of the text. Boolean Operators Use Boolean Operators to combine your search terms Using AND will narrow your search Using OR will broaden your search Using NOT will narrow your search A visual representation of the three main Boolean Operators In order to avoid missing important references when searching databases use the techniques we've outlined here - either singly or in combination
	Structuring your searches and recording the results	This Prezi gives guidance on structuring your searches to get the most out of the databases you are using.

EVALUATING INFORMATION	Evaluating information	Draft text.
	Additional reading

PLANNING AND CARRYING OUT A LITERATURE REVIEW	Planning and carrying out a literature review
	Additional reading

Practical Tips	Managing information
	Keeping up to date with the latest research	Draft text.
	Tools and information sharing
	Additional reading

Mental Health and Wellbeing	Finding support
	Additional reading

THE VIVA	Additional reading