1. Information Literacy How to find literature & data
Rick Vermunt,

2. Content Introduction & preparing Finding Literature
Finding & using data

3. Where to search: University Library
Opening hours*: Monday - Thursday 9:00 – 19:00
Friday 9:00 – 17:00
2nd floor: Library Economics & Business Administration
also
2nd floor: General services / Law / Psychology / Science / Earth- and Life Sciences / Social Sciences.
1B21: Help desk Data Center
Monday
Wednesday + Friday

4. The library homepage is a good starting point
The library homepage is a good starting point

5. Working from home

6. Finding literature

7. Limitations and Suggestions for Future Research
Preparing
Limitations and Suggestions for Future Research
Look for (information on) a subject by doing a literature search
Build on existing research (choose a different angle)
Choose a practical subject from the field

8. Preparing Upside down pyramid What is my subject ?
Determine the keywords
Formulate a research question
Determine the Research question

9. What we all do

10. Google Scholar Much information Ranks results Everything linked
Strong points
Weak points
Much information
Ranks results
Everything linked
Specific searches: articles
Not everything / changes
Ranking is a bias
The Full-text link does not always work
Subject searches: keywords

11. Formulate a problem or search query
Search Strategy - Steps
Select a subject
Formulate a problem or search query
Do you have literature
references ? No
Yes
Building Blocks
method
Appropriate
database
Snowball
method
Appropriate
database
Search

12. Snowball method: Web of science

13. Snowball method - example

14. Snowball method - example

15. Snowball method - example

16. Snowball method – Google Scholar

17. Snowball method – Google Scholar

18. Snowball method – Google Scholar

19. The Library’s main portal

20. e-Library http://elibrary.vu.nl
Simple Search
Advanced Search 20

21. Search for a book 21

22. Search for a book: library catalogue22

23. E-Library article search

24. Better: look for articles in specific databases
Use drop down to select

25. Relevant databases

26. Relevant databases 2

27. ABI/Inform : building blocks
Word/subject list
Suggestions while you type
Specify your search field
What does this mean?

28. ABI Inform

29. Business source elite

30. EBSCO: Business Source Elite
Niet full text?

31. EBSCO: Business Source Elite

32. Finding & using data (sources)

33. Research question & Data
Formulate a research question
What was the influence of pay-performance relationship of CEOs of United States commercial banks on the financial crisis?
What data do I need?
What data / variables do I need?
Is the data available?

34. What data is needed? Research question: CEO compensation:
What was the influence of pay-performance relationship of CEOs of United States commercial banks on the financial crisis?
CEO compensation:
Cash Compensation: salary + bonus
Total compensation: salary, bonus, restricted stock grants, stock option grants and all other compensation
Firm performance:
ROA (return on Assets)
Total annual Excess Stock Return (TESR).
Control variables: leverage ratio, firm size, Beta of the firm, number of board members and CEO change.
Did I forget anything?

35. Main criteria for selection:
What is the time frame of my research ?
Time before the crisis:
Financial crisis:
Selection guidelines
What type of data do I need?
 Financial data on com- mercial banks
 Executive remuneration data
What is the geographical scope ?:
 United States

36. Which databases are relevant?

37. Which databases are relevant?
Do I need several databases ?
Do I need to combine datasets ?
Do I need just one database ?

38. Using several databases
Company identifiers
Search 1
Data 1
Data 2
Search 2
Company identifiers: codes that uniquely identify a company in 1 or more databases

39. Combining data(sets) Company identifiers Data 1 Data 2
Find out which (Company) identification codes are
available in all relevant databases !

40. Research Data Services

41. Research Data Services RDS

42. Data Center in Black Board
Login with your VU-net-ID

43. Data Center in Black Board

44. Data Center in Black Board

45. Enrolling to Data Center
Bottom right
Enroll yourself

46. RDS on Blackboard

47. Data Center on Blackboard
11 more

48. Data Center on Blackboard
Tools
Additional information

49. Data Center - expert files

50. Data Center on Blackboard

51. Datastream – inflation rates

52. Datastream – inflation rates

53. Datastream – inflation rates

54. Important: Is the data for each database in a single currency ?
What control variables do I need?
Do I need to download components to calculate variables I could not download? (Ratios etc.)
Is the data for each database comparable in time?
If you need more than 1 database: Do you need company identifiers? (see: Blackboard)
Can I get the information elsewhere if it is not available at the university?
Contact authors of articles if you have questions. It may also be possible to get datasets from them!

55. Summary What is my subject & what literature/data do I need ?
What sources are available to find literature / data ?
Before you start writing: check data availability!
Check the RDS course in Blackboard for help.
Visit the Library / RDS if you need help finding literature / data or need advise on making a selection.

56. The Library is there for you!
Blackboard:
General questions: Data:

57. Research question & Data
Formulate a research question
What was the influence of the financial crisis on pay-performance relationship of CEOs of United States commercial banks?
What data do I need?
What data / variables do I need?
Is the data available?

58. Did I forget any variables?
What data is needed?
Research question:
What was the influence of the financial crisis on pay-performance relationship of CEOs of United States commercial banks?
CEO compensation:
Cash Compensation: salary + bonus
Total compensation: salary, bonus, restricted stock grants, stock option grants and all other compensation
Firm performance:
ROA (return on Assets)
Total annual Excess Stock Return (TESR).
Control variables: leverage ratio, firm size, Beta of the firm, number of board members and CEO change.
Did I forget any variables?

59. Which databases are relevant?

60. Main criteria for selection:
What is the time frame of my research ?
Time before the crisis:
Financial crisis:
Selection guidelines
What type of data do I need?
 Financial data on com- mercial banks
 Executive remuneration data
What is the geographical scope ?:
 United States

61. Which databases are relevant?
Do I need several databases ?
Do I need to combine datasets ?
Do I need just one database ?

62. Using several databases
Company identifiers
Search 1
Data 1
Data 2
Search 2
Company identifiers: codes that uniquely identify a company in 1 or more databases

63. Combining data(sets) Company identifiers Data 1 Data 2
Find out which (Company) identification codes are
available in all relevant databases !

64. Which databases are there?

65. Data Center

66. Data Center on Blackboard

67. Data Center on Blackboard

68. Data Center on Blackboard
Additional information or tools

69. Data Center on Blackboard

70. Data Center on Blackboard

71. Important: Is the data for each database in a single currency ?
What control variables do I need?
Do I need to download components to calculate variables I could not download? (Ratios etc.)
Is the data for each database comparable in time?
If you need more than 1 database: Do you need company identifiers? (see: Blackboard)
Can I get the information elsewhere if it is not available at the university?
Contact authors of articles if you have questions. It may also be possible to get datasets from them!

72. Summary: Which databases are there How do I look for literature
Refining a search
What data is available and how to use it.

73. Need help? The library is there for you !
Website: Blackboard: