Finding information for your PhD Laura Jeffrey Researcher Training Librarian

Find resources on information literacy practices among researchers in higher education

What is the first thing you would do? I would hope you would ask: What is it for? What do you want me to do with it? How much information do I need?

Define your information need Background Basic facts/ definition In depth secondary information Critical responses Data

How to search Effective searching should – Reduce the time spent looking for information – Maximise the quality and appropriateness of results Keyword Advanced search options on databases Related material Citations and references Known item

Using Keywords

Search tips For keyword searching consider – Synonyms survey OR questionnaire – Alternative spellings organi?ation – Word stems educat* – Proximity European within # Presiden* Combine search terms “”, AND, OR, NOT, () Particular to different databases and catalogues

Examining the impact of teenage crime in the inner city youth juvenile adolescen* OR AND OR AND NOT teen* crim* “inner city” truan* ( theft OR “anti-social shoplift* thief) behavio?r” cit* London Examining the impact of teenage crime in the inner city cit* crim* youthadolescen* “anti-social behavio?r” London

Keyword Searching Hands-on write a research question connected to your subject in the box at the top identify the keywords within your title / question and write these at the start of the rows write synonyms next to each keyword Use wildcards, truncation symbols where possible

Advanced search options and limiters

Advanced Searching Hands-on Choose a database or catalogue Enter your search strategy Try and limit your results before and after you search

Related material

References and citations

Paper A – a journal article that you are interested in An article that is referenced by Paper A A book that is referenced by Paper A An article that cites Paper A A book that cites Paper A An article that cites Paper A Citations References

Finding Information - Hands-on Pick a key article and look for it in a database Find related material Trace academic debate using citations and references

Accessing resources

Finding resources known item OR resource discovery introductoryOR in-depth subscription OR freely available full text OR bibliographic current OR historic/non-recent generic OR subject-specific primary OR secondary catalogues OR databases

The right tool for the right job Thorough assessment of what available: Google Scholar Manageable number of results: subject specific database such as IBSS Full text journal articles: Jstor Most up to date research: Science Direct Primary material: EEBO Popular commentary: Nexis UK

Finding full text Print – Durham researchers can borrow 40 books for up to 6 months – Ask if the library can purchase itpurchase it – Use Document Delivery ServiceDocument Delivery Service – SCONUL Access Durham researchers can borrow from other institutions Visiting researchers can borrow 7 books for up to 3 weeks from Durham University Library

Finding full text Electronic – Use library web pages – Sign in off campus – Use to find out if we have access

Accessing resources Electronic – Use library web pages – Sign in off campus – Use to find out if we have access – Double check the catalogue if negative result or use resources in tandem – Make use of Document Delivery Service or SCONUL Access if we don’t

Accessing Resources Hands-on Look at what is available at other institutions in print Try accessing e-resources from references- only database Look at Document Delivery options for your institution Look at the information about SCONUL Access if you are not already a member

Summary Spend a little time thinking about – on what sort of information you need – how you are going to search – what sort of resources you want – how you will access them and you will save time by having a more relevant and useful set of results