Research methods: information retrieval, evaluation and integration March 25 th, 2004

Analytical methods - research Activity of Recognising need for info Recognising need for info Identifying an appropriate source Identifying an appropriate source Formulating search strategy Formulating search strategy Retrieving information Retrieving information Evaluating the information Evaluating the information Integrating knowledge, ideas into assignment, core values Integrating knowledge, ideas into assignment, core values is called …

Analytical methods - research Information literacy Australian and New Zealand information literacy framework [electronic resource] : principles, standards and practice nd ed.

Analytical methods - research Information literacy is a key generic skill a key generic skill essential for life long learning. essential for life long learning.

Analytical methods - research The Library is a national treasure – The Library is a national treasure – Available to you now! Available to you now! Use it to enrich your work Use it to enrich your work To assist you to do well! To assist you to do well!

Analytical methods - research The University of Sydney Library is 152 years old The University of Sydney Library is 152 years old Support teaching and learning Support teaching and learning Largest in Australia after NLA Largest in Australia after NLA Have 200 staff members Have 200 staff members Have 20 libraries in 2004 Have 20 libraries in 2004 Science & Technology Library Science & Technology Library Favour electronic delivery Favour electronic delivery Create electronic material/SETIS Create electronic material/SETIS Promote information literacy Promote information literacy

Analytical methods - research Topic – “mobile commerce” Topic – “mobile commerce” Do some work early – as in the time before the deadline you’ll become aware of connections and sources Do some work early – as in the time before the deadline you’ll become aware of connections and sources Read the assignment sheet twice – Read the assignment sheet twice – Let the topic brew in your mind!

Analytical methods - research What task have you set yourself? What task have you set yourself? Know your research problem! Know your research problem! Identify key concepts Identify key concepts Define the key concepts Define the key concepts Explore the relationship between the concepts Explore the relationship between the concepts

Analytical methods - research Key concepts – synonyms Key concepts – synonyms Plural/singular or both? Plural/singular or both? Acronym and/or spelt out – Acronym and/or spelt out – SLA or Service Level Agreement Broader/narrower terms? Broader/narrower terms?

Analytical methods - research Expressing the relationship between the terms in your search strategy Expressing the relationship between the terms in your search strategy Boolean operators Boolean operators AND AND OR OR NOT NOT

Analytical methods - research In order to define and engage with your problem – In order to define and engage with your problem – Look at “The literature” Look at “The literature”

Analytical methods - research To frame the problem under scrutiny To frame the problem under scrutiny To identify relevant concepts, methods/techniques To identify relevant concepts, methods/techniques To position the study – will your work add something new to the body of knowledge? To position the study – will your work add something new to the body of knowledge?

“The Literature”

Analytical methods - research Indexes to the literature: Library catalogue Library catalogue Electronic databases Electronic databases Search engines Search engines

Analytical methods - research

Library catalogue Library catalogue Holdings of twenty libraries within Univ – you can borrow from any of these libraries Fisher Library contains IT items – Engineering and other libraries may hold items of interest to you.

Analytical methods - research

General overview: Monographs – Subject heading Key word search Note that monographs (books) may be in print and electronic form Safari Tech book online – electronic texts

Analytical methods - research Journals– May be searched by Journal title in the library catalogue For an index to the contents of the journal - Electronic databases

Analytical methods - research

Electronic databases provide the Electronic databases provide the citation of relevant articles and often the fulltext of the article itself. Remote access Remote access The four databases that we cover today are available off-campus via an Extro account or via our Remote access system – your name & library barcode number

Analytical methods - research To find a database, visit the Databases & Electronic Resources page To find a database, visit the Databases & Electronic Resources page

Analytical methods - research Databases and Electronic Resources Databases and Electronic Resources A- B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z subject listing of databases; Remote Access Quick List; Password Access Quick List; On-campus Quick List About off- campus access to databases, e-journals and e-reserve; Obtaining Library Passwords; learn database searching; e- resource troubleshooting tips; databases on trial; new databases. A- B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z subject listing of databases; Remote Access Quick List; Password Access Quick List; On-campus Quick List About off- campus access to databases, e-journals and e-reserve; Obtaining Library Passwords; learn database searching; e- resource troubleshooting tips; databases on trial; new databases.BCDEFGHIJLMNOPQRSTUVWZ subject listingRemote Access Quick ListPassword Access Quick ListOn-campus Quick List About off- campus access Passwordslearn database searchinge- resource troubleshooting tipstrialnew databasesBCDEFGHIJLMNOPQRSTUVWZ subject listingRemote Access Quick ListPassword Access Quick ListOn-campus Quick List About off- campus access Passwordslearn database searchinge- resource troubleshooting tipstrialnew databases

Analytical methods - research Each database has its own search program. Each database has its own search program. Check Search tips to see how to enter your search in that database – often enter phrases in “parentheses” to that words are searched as a phrase. Check Search tips to see how to enter your search in that database – often enter phrases in “parentheses” to that words are searched as a phrase.

Analytical methods - research ACM Digital Library ACM Digital Library Association for Computing Machinery – the full-text for articles published in ACM periodicals and proceedings since the full-text for articles published in ACM periodicals and proceedings since 1985.

Analytical methods - research

IEEE Xplore IEEE Xplore Full text access to IEEE and IEE journals, transactions, magazines, letters and conference proceedings published since 1988 plus selected content back to 1950; all current IEEE standards.

Analytical methods - research

Abstract and fulltext of each article Abstract and fulltext of each article In the Abstract index terms for the abstract are provided and these may provide useful clues for other relevant terms. In the Abstract index terms for the abstract are provided and these may provide useful clues for other relevant terms.

Analytical methods - research IEEE states its Peer review IEEE states its Peer review policy – “implemented a rigorous peer review process to ensure the high quality of its technical material.”

Analytical methods - research “all scientific papers and communications published in regular IEEE periodicals shall be reviewed by at least two referees who are competent and have experience in the area of the subject matter of the paper.” “all scientific papers and communications published in regular IEEE periodicals shall be reviewed by at least two referees who are competent and have experience in the area of the subject matter of the paper.” Editor decides whether to publish and with what changes. Editor decides whether to publish and with what changes.

Analytical methods - research ABI Inform ABI Inform American Business Index Inform

Analytical methods - research

ABI Inform is on the Proquest suite of databases. ABI Inform is on the Proquest suite of databases. - Might as well choose to search all databases – include Proquest Computing. - Can limit searching to fulltext and scholarly (including peer- reviewed) articles.

Analytical methods - research ScienceDirect ScienceDirect Published by Elsevier which is the world’s largest publisher of science, technology and medical information. Contains nearly six million fulltext articles Contains nearly six million fulltext articles

Analytical methods - research

Searching is a dynamic process Create search strategy Create search strategy Enter the strategy into a database Enter the strategy into a database Assess the search results Assess the search results Are the retrieved references covering the areas you want? Are the retrieved references covering the areas you want?

Analytical methods - research Do you need to narrow the search results by adding another or different word to the search strategy? Do you need to narrow the search results by adding another or different word to the search strategy? Do you need to use terms that cover a broader subject area? Do you need to use terms that cover a broader subject area? Are there synonyms – mobile commerce is often referred to as m-commerce Are there synonyms – mobile commerce is often referred to as m-commerce

Analytical methods - research How does the database record inform you about your topic? How does the database record inform you about your topic? Does the abstract give some useful hints to broader/narrower terms or synonyms? Does the abstract give some useful hints to broader/narrower terms or synonyms? What about related terms – how does m-commerce relate to e-commerce? What about related terms – how does m-commerce relate to e-commerce?

Analytical methods - research How does wireless relate to m- commerce? How does wireless relate to m- commerce? Are there author keywords or index terms on the record that will inform you? Are there author keywords or index terms on the record that will inform you?

Analytical methods - research You may need to review the search strategy and search with the new strategy and continue the process until you are satisfied that all relevant references have been located. You may need to review the search strategy and search with the new strategy and continue the process until you are satisfied that all relevant references have been located.

Think about the topic Talk to your friends, classmates Bounce ideas around with them as information literacy is a social activity!

Analytical methods - research Material held or made available by the Library is Published Published Peer-reviewed Peer-reviewed Purchased by the Library Purchased by the Library

Analytical methods - research Assignment calls for 4/5 papers should be “peer-reviewed research papers”. Assignment calls for 4/5 papers should be “peer-reviewed research papers”. 1/5 “could be technical reports, 1/5 “could be technical reports, newspaper articles or online articles.” newspaper articles or online articles.”

Analytical methods - research ABI Inform/Proquest has lighter, newspaper articles. ABI Inform/Proquest has lighter, newspaper articles. “Online” for the assignment means internet articles. “Online” for the assignment means internet articles.

Analytical methods - research Internet Internet Anyone can publish an internet page Anyone can publish an internet page A Google search retrieves a whole range of pages. A Google search retrieves a whole range of pages.

Analytical methods - research Search engines – Google Search engines – Google Key features: Results are relevancy ranked. Adds ADD to the search strategy so that looks for all words Use “quotation marks” to search for a phrase “mobile commerce”

Analytical methods - research Boolean option OR is not available Boolean option OR is not available No advanced search options No advanced search options Links to sites are cached – view the contents of the web page when Google indexed it – information may not be up-to- date Links to sites are cached – view the contents of the web page when Google indexed it – information may not be up-to- date

Analytical methods - research Evaluating an internet page Evaluating an internet page Reliability Reliability Scope Scope Currency Currency Accuracy Accuracy Commercialism Commercialism Design Design

Analytical methods - research To conclude: To conclude: Check out the Library’s resources Check out the Library’s resources Have a go at the databases Have a go at the databases Locate the fulltext Locate the fulltext Think about your search strategy, refine it if necessary Think about your search strategy, refine it if necessary Be wary of internet pages Be wary of internet pages

Analytical methods - research Powerpoint is at On Information Technologies subject guide on Library homepage Julie Olston x16914