AIMS OF THE WORKSHOP To understand the Research Process To understand the Research Process To become familiar with the Library Catalogue To become familiar with the Library Catalogue To become familiar with Internet searching techniques To become familiar with Internet searching techniques To understand how to evaluate the information found To understand how to evaluate the information found To understand how to compile a bibliography To understand how to compile a bibliography DESIGN CENTRE LIBRARY

The Research Process Research is a process followed when an information need is identified. A simple example would be if you want to see a movie, you look at a newspaper, call the cinema or check a website to find the session time. Research is a process followed when an information need is identified. A simple example would be if you want to see a movie, you look at a newspaper, call the cinema or check a website to find the session time. In an academic environment, the information is usually much more complex. In addition, you need to make it time efficient and achieve a successful result.e.g. designing an event In an academic environment, the information is usually much more complex. In addition, you need to make it time efficient and achieve a successful result.e.g. designing an event

The Research Process DEFINE what you need DEFINE what you need LOCATE information LOCATE information SEARCH for information SEARCH for information EVALUATE information EVALUATE information ORGANISE information ORGANISE information PRESENT information PRESENT information REFERENCE sources used REFERENCE sources used

DEFINING INFORMATION NEEDS Break your assignment question into significant words or short phrases. Break your assignment question into significant words or short phrases. Look up the definition of important words, concepts and phrases. Look up the definition of important words, concepts and phrases. Make a list of words of similar meaning and also of more specific or more general meaning. Make a list of words of similar meaning and also of more specific or more general meaning. Use a dictionary or encyclopaedia to define keywords quickly. These resources are available either online (eg Google define) or in the reference section of the Library. These will become your keywords which will be entered as search queries on the Library Catalogue, Internet or Databases. Use a dictionary or encyclopaedia to define keywords quickly. These resources are available either online (eg Google define) or in the reference section of the Library. These will become your keywords which will be entered as search queries on the Library Catalogue, Internet or Databases. Remember, the better the keywords the better the results! Remember, the better the keywords the better the results!

BEFORE STARTING YOUR RESEARCH Identify the information types that will best answer the question. e.g. Images or Text. Identify the information types that will best answer the question. e.g. Images or Text. What do I want to find the answers to? What do I want to find the answers to? How current does the information need to be? How current does the information need to be? How much information do I need - is it a short report or a large assignment? How much information do I need - is it a short report or a large assignment? How much time do I want to spend? How much is the assignment worth? How much time do I want to spend? How much is the assignment worth? What do I have to do with the information? i.e. make a presentation, produce a report, design a costume What do I have to do with the information? i.e. make a presentation, produce a report, design a costume

LOCATING THE INFORMATION Places to locate information may include: People, libraries, directories, books, audiovisual materials, Internet sites, organisations, magazines and newspapers. Some information is accessed through resources, such as the Library Catalogue, Internet search tools and databases. Remember you can use your TAFECARD at any TAFE NSW library

LOCATING INFORMATION Apart from TAFE Libraries you can join the State library which allows you to access their databases from home. Apart from TAFE Libraries you can join the State library which allows you to access their databases from home Sydney Institute Library has a reciprocal borrowing agreement with UTS, cost is $50 per annum. See library staff if you wish to join UTS as you will need to take a copy of your record. Sydney Institute Library has a reciprocal borrowing agreement with UTS, cost is $50 per annum. See library staff if you wish to join UTS as you will need to take a copy of your record.

SEARCHING FOR INFORMATION TAFE Online Catalogue TAFE Online Catalogue The TAFE Online Catalogue lists sources of information available across the TAFENSW Library Network ml ml Enter Keywords to search for information relevant to your research Enter Keywords to search for information relevant to your research Use the library’s Interlibrary Loan service to access information found at other libraries Or visit other TAFE libraries if convenient

SEARCHING FOR INFORMATION The SI library website also allows you to access databases from home: And gives the phone numbers and addresses of other SI libraries

SEARCHING FOR INFORMATION The library blog gives information on library hours and services, lists new books and DVDs, has links to a large number of design sites, links to glossaries on design related subject areas, RSS feeds and podcasts from By Design. The library blog gives information on library hours and services, lists new books and DVDs, has links to a large number of design sites, links to glossaries on design related subject areas, RSS feeds and podcasts from By Design. Location is at: Location is at:

SEARCHING FOR INFORMATION del.icio.us is a social bookmarking website which allows you to access the same bookmarks from any computer and add bookmarks from anywhere, too. On del.icio.us, you can use tags to organize and remember your bookmarks, which is a much more flexible system than folders. del.icio.us is a social bookmarking website which allows you to access the same bookmarks from any computer and add bookmarks from anywhere, too. On del.icio.us, you can use tags to organize and remember your bookmarks, which is a much more flexible system than folders. You can also use del.icio.us to see the interesting links that other people bookmark, and share links with them in return. You can even browse and search del.icio.us to discover useful bookmarks that everyone else has saved -- which is made easy with tags. You can also use del.icio.us to see the interesting links that other people bookmark, and share links with them in return. You can even browse and search del.icio.us to discover useful bookmarks that everyone else has saved -- which is made easy with tags.

SEARCH ENGINES Search Engines are programs which find the words or phrases (KEYWORDS) you have entered across the Internet. They are huge databases and there is no quality control on content An example, is Google Try “I’m feeling lucky” when searching for a known site. Alternatively when searching for a few concepts go to advanced search. Try “I’m feeling lucky” when searching for a known site. Alternatively when searching for a few concepts go to advanced search. Google does not cover everything on the net. It is a good idea to use a few different engines when researching Google does not cover everything on the net. It is a good idea to use a few different engines when researching

SEARCH ENGINES Clusty groups similar results together in clusters to one side of the results page. This saves you having to scroll through many pages and also helps you narrow the topic by providing suggestions for keywords to narrow or broaden your topic

A Gateway is a listing of various Internet sites on specific subjects. A gateway is a good place to begin finding quality sites on a specific topic. Studylinks, produced by TAFE librarians, is a list of sites, specific to each of the disciplines it teaches, including a comprehensive listing of art, fashion, reference and design sites. links links links GATEWAYS

META SEARCH ENGINES Meta Search Engines present your search query to multiple search engines and directories. Very useful if you are searching for an unusual topic Dogpile searches a number of engines including Ask.com, Google, Yahoo, Looksmart and msn Metacrawler simultaneously searches a number of engines and directories, like Clusty, it clusters results on the left hand side of the screen

SEARCH TOOLS Read search tips/help notes of each search tool, this will show you how to expand or restrict searches For example, limit it to finding only Australian sites Hint: Yahoo and Google displays paid sites on the right hand side of the screen. Sites on the top of the list have been the most cited, (linked to) indicating their importance and authority Read search tips/help notes of each search tool, this will show you how to expand or restrict searches For example, limit it to finding only Australian sites Hint: Yahoo and Google displays paid sites on the right hand side of the screen. Sites on the top of the list have been the most cited, (linked to) indicating their importance and authority Search using Keywords – these are words which you identified as the most descriptive of your information need (research need). Keywords should also be used on the Library Catalogue. Keywords = the best results Search using Keywords – these are words which you identified as the most descriptive of your information need (research need). Keywords should also be used on the Library Catalogue. Keywords = the best results Make it specific – put a phrase in quotation marks and it searches for the exact phrase. e.g. “Indira Ghandi” Make it specific – put a phrase in quotation marks and it searches for the exact phrase. e.g. “Indira Ghandi”

EVALUATING INFORMATION Not all websites are useful to your needs. You should look at: Currency Currency Reliability Reliability Authority Authority Purpose Purpose To define the usefulness of a site

EVALUATING INFORMATION Information can be biased and incorrect because no-one owns the Internet and anyone can put information on it. Always check for the following before using the information you find. Lack of credibility-anonymity, lack of quality control, bad grammar and spelling Lack of credibility-anonymity, lack of quality control, bad grammar and spelling Lack of accuracy- no date on document, vague or sweeping generalizations, old date and very one sided view Lack of accuracy- no date on document, vague or sweeping generalizations, old date and very one sided view Lack of reasonableness- emotive tone, over claims and conflict of interest Lack of reasonableness- emotive tone, over claims and conflict of interest Lack of support- statistics presented without identified source, absence of source documentation, you cannot find other sources presenting the same information Lack of support- statistics presented without identified source, absence of source documentation, you cannot find other sources presenting the same information

REFERENCING Compiling Bibliographies You must adequately acknowledge and document all external source material whenever preparing a brief or a report based on your research. Examples of source material are: books, audiovisual materials, Internet sites or magazines, or whatever provided you with the information A Bibliography is simply an alphabetical listing of all sources consulted and it appears at the end of the report Avoid plagiarism, by referencing all ideas which are not your own Hint if you have forgotten to write down the Internet address, conduct a phrase search using inverted commas “” on a line from the article.

REVIEW WORKSHOP This lesson has covered: Five steps of the research process – define, locate, search, evaluate and reference Five steps of the research process – define, locate, search, evaluate and reference How to access the TAFE NSW library catalogue How to access the TAFE NSW library catalogue Effective ways to use Internet search tools, such as Gateways, Search Engines and MetaSearch Engines to search for information online Effective ways to use Internet search tools, such as Gateways, Search Engines and MetaSearch Engines to search for information online How to compile a Bibliography How to compile a Bibliography