Information Literacy for MOS ECS-65100, Lecture 2 Marco van Veller

Session 3, lecture: Evaluation and citing of information sources, publishing Keywords: Reviewing and adapting search strategies; evaluating bibliographic references and websites; citing; styles; plagiarism; publishing; impact factors; exam.  After the session:- Prepare for the exam Illustrations © Loet van Moll 2009

Assignment  Topic analysis concepts, search line  Quick and dirty searchsearch terms, wikipedia, dictionariesadapted search line  Multidisciplinary database search: Scopus or Web of Science  Following a thread adapted search line  Subject specific database search:e.g. CAB Abstracts  Evaluation of search process  Reference listEndNote, styles

Topic analysis Coping with natural disasters in farming practice Climatic and other environmental catastrophes may result in high losses in agriculture. For instance, droughts, floods, landslides, earthquakes or volcanic eruptions may seriously affect the natural resources that are needed to ensure yields. To adjust for or prevent further disturbing pressure on crops and livestock, farmers apply different coping strategies. In this assignment you have to search for publications on risk reducing steps that farmers apply to deal with the natural hazards that may threaten their yields.

Topic analysis Coping with natural disasters in farming practice Climatic and other environmental catastrophes may result in high losses in agriculture. For instance, droughts, floods, landslides, earthquakes or volcanic eruptions may seriously affect the natural resources that are needed to ensure yields. To adjust for or prevent further disturbing pressure on crops and livestock, farmers apply different coping strategies. In this assignment you have to search for publications on risk reducing steps that farmers apply to deal with the natural hazards that may threaten their yields.

Concepts Relevant concepts  Natural disasters  Farming practices  Coping with No concepts usedConcept(s) missing, or too many concept(s) All relevant concepts used

Search terms: content coverage  important: natural disasters, natural hazards, environmental catastrophes, climatic catastrophes, droughts, floods, landslides, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, fire, geological hazards, climate hazards  too broad or irrelevant: climatic change, global warming, snow, natural phenomena, diseases, agricultural disasters, volcano No synonyms are searched where relevant; irrelevant or unnecessary search terms are used Some important synonyms are missing; some irrelevant or unnecessary search terms are used Many relevant synonyms are used; no use of irrelevant or unnecessary terms

Search terms: content coverage  important: farming, farmers, agriculture, cultivation, livestock, crops, cattle, agronomics  too broad or irrelevant: plant, animal, cultivation, yield, rural land  redundancy: farming together with “farming strategy” No synonyms are searched where relevant; irrelevant or unnecessary search terms are used Some important synonyms are missing; some irrelevant or unnecessary search terms are used Many relevant synonyms are used; no use of irrelevant or unnecessary terms

Search terms: content coverage  important: coping (with), coping strategy, risk reducing step, dealing with, adapt, mitigation, prevention, struggle, disaster management  too broad or irrelevant: reduction, management, technique No synonyms are searched where relevant; irrelevant or unnecessary search terms are used Some important synonyms are missing; some irrelevant or unnecessary search terms are used Many relevant synonyms are used; no use of irrelevant or unnecessary terms

Search terms:use of thesaurus  Find out the right search terms  Include narrower terms with explode; especially useful for geographic locations  Search specific in keywords field  Not in all databases available

Wildcards: symbols SymbolsSymbols: check help or search tips for each database Examples: *=0 or more characters ?=1 character (Scopus, WoS, EBSCO); 0 or 1 (OVID-SP) #=0 or 1 character (EBSCO); 1 character (OVID-SP) $=0 or 1 character (WoS); 0 or more (OVID-SP) No or incorrect use of wildcards where appropriate Some small faults in the use of wildcards Correct use of wildcards Example from WoS

Wildcards: get what you want Tips: think about variations, check found results and use help/ search tips right: farm*; crop*; strateg*; manag*; adapt*, flood*; agricultur*; cultivat*; “cop* with”; adjust* dangerous: cop* useful?:copi*; disaster* (some databases find plurals) Example from Scopus:

Parentheses Always use them around concepts Scopus Web of Science

Operators  Boolean: AND/ OR/ (AND) NOT  Proximity operators examplesW/xScopus ADJxOVID NEAR/xWeb of Science Scopus Parentheses lacking; operators not correctly used Parentheses and Boolean operators correctly used

Phrase searching  Right:  Better two concepts:  Not necessary: “farm*”  Use the right quotes: No use of quotation marks when necessary Unnecessary use of quotation marks Use of quotation marks when necessary Scopus: do not cut and paste!

Evaluation of found records  Is the content of this document appropriate for my research topic?  Is it worth the effort of getting the full text and reading it?  Criteria: ● type of document ● subject and scope – abstract information ● primary or secondary research ● audience ● date of publication ● author details

Primary versus secondary research  Primary research presents original research methods or findings for the first time. Examples include: ● A journal article or research report that presents new findings and new theories ● A poster presented at a conference  Secondary research provides a compilation or evaluation of previously presented material. Examples include: ● A review article summarizing research or data ● A textbook

Judging bibliographic records  Intended audience Is the publication aimed at scientists, professionals, policy makers, students or a general audience? Illustration © Loet van Moll 2009

Peer review A standard procedure in scholarly publishing, whereby a prospective publisher submits the manuscript of an article to experts in the research field for their critical scrutiny, under conditions of anonymity, with the aim of assuring quality and reliability of findings. © American Chemical Society 2009

Journal articles Scientific journals Research Peer reviewed Professional journals Practical Non-peer reviewed

Evaluation of the search Multidisciplinary databaseSubject specific database Retrieved% Rel.Retrieved% Rel. Not specified: 9730%OvidSP: 12720% Google Scholar: <15%Scopus: 11985% Scopus: 27575%EBSCOhost: 37180% Scopus: 8470%CAB abstracts: % Scopus: 14380%OvidSP: 26180% Not specified: 14041%Wageningen UR Digital Library: % Scopus: 37780%CAB abstracts: % Not specified: 36990%OvidSP: 8270% Scopus: 44721%OvidSP: 59714%

Evaluation of the search  Specify which sources you used: ● search platform ● bibliographical database  Only give percentage of relevant records where you actually can determine it ● search results are often sorted according to relevancy

Improving your search  To narrow: more specific terms, less truncation, more concepts, add limits like year, field searching.....  To broaden: more (general) terms, more truncation, less concepts …………  Build on what you have found: ● More or better terms (thesaurus!) ● Key authors/ groups ● References (following a thread) Low percentage of relevant hits; refinement necessary Moderate percentage of relevant hits; refinement still possible High percentage of relevant hits; refinement not necessary

Improve your search (example)  Field searching ● Ghana only in title, abstract and/or keyword fields means no irrelevant articles with Ghana in an address, affiliation or institute field Ghana in all fields Ghana in title, abstract, and/or keywords

Choice of subject specific database Database chosen is not a bibliographic database, or does not cover the topic Database chosen is a bibliographic database and covers the topic, but is not the most appropriate one Most appropriate bibliographic database is chosen

Bibliographic databases Multidisciplinary Scopus Web of Science Google Scholar Specific topics CAB-Abstracts Biological Abstracts ASFA Medline/ PubMed …………….. Use digital library to find the right ones!digital library Overlap Additional Use several databases

Overlap and unique records Web of ScienceScopusCAB AbstractsSciFinder After deduplication Sensitivity of models on leaching of pesticides to groundwater

Search platforms  Search platform is the search interface for searching a bibliographic database  Some bibliographies have their own search interface (e.g. Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed).  In Wageningen, a large number of bibliographies can be searched simultaneously on one of the search platforms EBSCOhost (use for Social Sciences) or OvidSP (use for natural sciences) but there are more platforms.  Each search platform offers specific operators, wildcards, indexing and other search tools: see HELP or Search tips

Evaluating internet resources  Anyone can publish  Advertising can be disguised as facts.  Quality criteria: ● Accuracy ● Objectivity ● Authority (of author and publisher) ● Currency Example and feedback in exercise herbalifeherbalife Illustration © Peter Steiner 1993

Publishing  Publishing: why ● contribution to the record of science ● part of research process (requirement) ● reflection ● evaluation (publish or perish)  Publishing: where ● Type of document ● Journal selection, impact factors ● Open access journals: e.g. BioMed Central, PLoS BiologyPLoS Biology

Plagiarism  Definition: Taking someone's words or ideas as if they were your own.  (also known as) Copy and paste  Plagiarism is a serious academic offence  Wageningen University uses Turnitin to check student reports  Avoid unintentional plagiarism by citing correctly Illustration © Loet van Moll 2009

Plagiarism exercise 1a  Original text “This study has shown that golf courses can enhance the diversity of three indicator groups (birds, ground beetles and bumblebees), relative to adjacent pasture farmland.”  Text from Mr. Smith The study of Tanner and Gange (2005) has shown that golf courses can enhance the diversity of three indicator groups (birds, ground beetles and bumblebees), relative to adjacent pasture farmland. Tanner R. A. and A. C. Gange, Effects of golf courses on local biodiversity. Landscape and urban planning, Vol. 71, 2-4,

Plagiarism exercise 1b Original text “This study has shown that golf courses can enhance the diversity of three indicator groups (birds, ground beetles and bumblebees), relative to adjacent pasture farmland. “ Text from Mr. Smith The study of Tanner and Gange (2005) has shown that “golf courses can enhance the diversity of three indicator groups (birds, ground beetles and bumblebees), relative to adjacent pasture farmland.” (p.....) Direct quotations must be quoted!!

Plagiarism exercise 2 Original text “This study has shown that golf courses can enhance the diversity of three indicator groups (birds, ground beetles and bumblebees), relative to adjacent pasture farmland. “ Text from Mrs. Brown According to Tanner and Gange (2005) the diversity of birds and some insect groups can be higher on golf courses than on adjacent farmland. Tanner R. A. and A. C. Gange, Effects of golf courses on local biodiversity. Landscape and urban planning, Vol. 71, 2-4,

Plagiarism exercise 3: Secondary source Is it okay when you cite Mr. Smith for this information originating from Tanner and Gange? Preferable not. But in case you cannot get the original publication, it is allowed. You have to indicate that this is a secondary source, e.g. (Tanner and Gange, 2005, as cited in Smith, 2010). In your reference list you should provide the details of the secondary source (the source you read). Whether you have to give the details of the primary source or not, depends on the citation style.

Referring, citing, quoting  To allow readers to find and check your information sources  To give authors of these sources credit for their work  Methods ● In-text citations and quotes ● Reference lists ● Many different styles ● Bibliographic details differ per document type

Referring, citing, quoting  Be complete ● Do not use “et al.” for authors  Only provide the needed information ● DOIs won’t work if you do not have access ● Other redundant information

Examples of styles Kotir, J. H. (2011). "Climate change and variability in Sub-Saharan Africa: A review of current and future trends and impacts on agriculture and food security." Environment, Development and Sustainability 13(3): Kotir, J.H., Climate change and variability in Sub-Saharan Africa: A review of current and future trends and impacts on agriculture and food security. Environment, Development and Sustainability, (3): p

Choice of style  Ask your supervisor  Citation guides: Guide to referencing and citations Citation guides  Journal style: About this journal, Author guidelines ● Journal of Hydrology Journal of Hydrology

Reference list  Completeness of references  Consistency of style  Format of style Essential elements missing like year, source, pages All essential elements are included Style apparently inconsistent Some inconsistencies in the style Style consistent Used style not indicated; format rules not followed Style indicated; some minor format mistakes Style indicated; no mistakes in the format

Reference list-2  Content Less than 50% of the selected records relevant, current and representative Not all of the selected records relevant, current and representative, but more than 50% All selected records relevant, current and representative

Evaluation of the course  Assignment ● Assignment had to be submitted in order to get a grade for this course  Exam ● PC exam on 30 January 2013 (PC 602 / PC 606) 14:00-15:30 ● Re-exam on 14 August 2013 (PC 612 / PC 616) or at the end of period 5 ● Final grade is based upon this exam (minimum 5.5) ● Note: the time for the exam is 90 minutes ● Example exam: see Extra Materials in Blackboard  Contact:

Learning outcomes After this course you will be able to:  Identify and understand various information sources  Construct strategies for locating information and data  Locate and access the information and data you need  Review the research process and compare and evaluate information and data  Organise and use information professionally and ethically  Select appropriate publication and dissemination outlets.

Good luck, and see you at the exam!