1. UPLift! is designed to work with Microsoft Office 2007. If required, a viewer can be downloaded from here. To interact with UPLift! view as a Slide Showhere This section of UPLift! is aimed at all students. It builds on the core skills section helping you to make more effective use of the University of Portsmouths specialist databases. For example, it will help you to devise search strategies for complex projects and use advanced search features effectively. Perhaps you know how to do some of these things already? Take the short quiz to find out. Perhaps you need to develop a particular skill? Take the link to find out more. If you would like some more help click on the Help! button, otherwise move to the next page using the arrow icon. Developing Skills Searching for information using specialist databases

2. Click on Q&A to link to a short quiz to see if you can do the basics of this skill. Click on the ? icon to find links to information, guides, video clips etc. to help you develop this skill. Move between slides by following the navigation buttons at the bottom of the screen. Tick the box when you have completed the quiz. First of all, select Slide Show, then From the Beginning.

3. Searching for information using specialist databases Developing Skills SkillCan I do this?Find out more Devise effective search strategies for more complex needs, e.g. dissertations Conduct an advanced search on relevant databases Limit searches using fields Identify when to use Google Scholar and when to use a database Conduct a basic search in a relevant database or Google Scholar Identify how to access the full text of the article either in the Library or online, where possible

4. Searching for information using specialist databases Developing Skills SkillCan I do this?Find out more Locate audio-visual resources that are of good quality and have been copyright cleared for educational purposes Select and use a wider range of databases without guidance Suggest when databases may not be an appropriate place to search

5. Searching for information using specialist databases Developing Skills Devise effective search strategies for more complex needs, e.g. dissertations Rob wants to use his time effectively. He needs to start researching his dissertation over the holidays, but he also wants to spend time surfing. Hes trying to remember the advice the librarian gave him about planning his search before going online to do it! Robs got a long train journey ahead, what might he begin to consider about searching for information for his dissertation? Try to think about it before turning over

6. Searching for information using specialist databases Developing Skills On Robs long train journey he might consider the following: Concepts PeopleGeography Dates Meaningful concepts – computers dont understand Alternative spellings – colour/color Synonyms – female/woman Alternative endings – Marx/Marxism Decide what terms to search together What if you get too few? Think of broader terms, instead of teaching spaces, try university buildings How should you combine them? AND/OR/ NOT/ Phrase Consider which words might give you too many results? Devise effective search strategies for more complex needs, e.g. dissertations Analyse research topic Maybe think of narrower terms Turn those into keywords or phrases

7. Searching for information using specialist databases Developing Skills Devise effective search strategies for more complex needs, e.g. dissertations Top tips on searching effectively Search for phrases, use female gaze John Wayne female gaze John Wayne Use keywords not sentences & consider alternative spellings theatre (theater) photo* (searches photo, photography, photographer, photographic etc.) theatre (theater) photo* (searches photo, photography, photographer, photographic etc.) Combine words with Boolean Logic AND articles containing information about both cats and dogs OR articles containing information about either cats or dogs NOT articles containing information about cats but not dogs AND articles containing information about both cats and dogs OR articles containing information about either cats or dogs NOT articles containing information about cats but not dogs Or use advanced search options Or use advanced search options

8. Searching for information using specialist databases Developing Skills Conduct an advanced search on relevant databases What do you think? Click on an answer b) Its not necessary to go beyond the basic search Hmmm, advanced search. I wonder if thats more difficult to use than the basic search? a) Thats for PhD students and librarians c) Its useful to help you get more relevant search results a) Librarians use advanced search because its their job to know how to make the databases find relevant results – but you can do it too! b) Most databases are fairly sophisticated these days and give you relevant results, but you often get too many. Try the advanced option next time and use it to help you think about your topic more carefully c) Yes, you can specify publication dates, whether you want to find peer reviewed (scholarly) articles. Sometimes you can specify articles that contain charts or images, or even the language and broad subject of your results

9. Searching for information using specialist databases Developing Skills Conduct an advanced search on relevant databases An advanced search allows you to search more effectively. On some databases you will find an advanced search option. For an example, click here.click here Other databases offer you the opportunity to refine your results after you have tried an initial search. For an example, click here.click here

10. Searching for information using specialist databases Developing Skills Conduct an advanced search on relevant databases Decide what kind of information you want Within a particular date (publication date) range In a particular language Within a particular subject area. Be aware that some disciplines may overlap, for instance, art and cultural studies You can even specify a particular publication Look out for search help features – some features vary between databases You are prompted to combine keywords or phrases

11. Searching for information using specialist databases A search for wikipedia on the database Business Source Complete, found 831 results.Business Source Complete, You can see that along side the search results, is a panel which will enable you to find more relevant articles. Search results Refining options Your tutor might ask you to find recent scholarly articles relating to Wikipedia as a social media resource. Click here to discover what you can do to improve your results.Click here Your tutor might ask you to find recent scholarly articles relating to Wikipedia as a social media resource. Click here to discover what you can do to improve your results.Click here

12. Searching for information using specialist databases Check the Scholarly Journals box Slide the date ruler along until 2011 appears as the start date Slide the date ruler along until 2011 appears as the start date Click the Subject menu, is there a relevant term listed, e.g. social media? Click this box to reveal how that has reduced the number of search results. Now you need only read the relevant articles!

13. Searching for information using specialist databases Developing Skills Limit searches using fields Link out to the EJS e-journals database to answer the following questionEJS e-journals Link out to the EJS e-journals database to answer the following questionEJS e-journals Pull down this arrow to discover what is meant by the following abbreviations From the advanced search page: (This means that the keywords you enter in the search box will only be searched for within those specific fields) TI AU SO TX TI AU SO TX Reveal the answer Article title Author Journal name (Source) All text Article title Author Journal name (Source) All text

14. Searching for information using specialist databases Developing Skills Limit searches using fields Many databases allow you to specify which fields you would like the database to search. E.g.: The database will only look in the articles keyword lists. This is a useful way of focussing your search. Sometimes searching for words in the full text of an article can be overwhelming.

15. DatabaseDatabase Searching for information using specialist databases Core Skills Identify when to use Google Scholar and when to use a database I use this resource when I want a quick overview of academic research on a particular topic I use this resource when I want to search trade and professional journals and magazines as well as academic sources ??

16. Searching for information using specialist databases Core Skills Identify when to use Google Scholar and when to use a database Google Scholar is a variant of Google, which searches specifically for academic material, including articles, books, conference papers, and preprints (early versions of journal articles) and other scholarly works. Some of the journals and databases, provided by the University Library, are linked to results in Google Scholar so it is useful as a quick and dirty search for immediately available online articles. If you come across a cluster of results from a particular library database, always repeat the search within the database itself. Databases improve the precision of your results, and you may find items that Google Scholar has missed. Google Scholar has limited access to some library databases, and cannot search some of our databases at all. Link to the guide, Using Google Scholar, to find further details on how to make the most of this alternative search tool.Using Google Scholar

17. Searching for information using specialist databases Core Skills Conduct a basic search in a relevant database or Google Scholar II wonder how I can get more relevant hits on Google Scholar? What would you suggest Alexis try to do? Reveal answer

18. Searching for information using specialist databases Core Skills Conduct a basic search in a relevant database or Google Scholar He could go to Settings and set Library Links to link to full text of articles where University of Portsmouth has a subscription Try out the Advanced Search which will guide him through some options which will help to define his search thoroughly

19. Searching for information using specialist databases Core Skills Conduct a basic search in a relevant database or Google Scholar Most databases contain help pages which are worth looking at if you want to make your searching as efficient and effective as possible. Google Scholar is useful for finding academic or scholarly information on the web. On-campus you will often see links to access the Full Text @ Portsmouth. If you want to know how to set this up off-campus, watch this short animation Scholar Settings: Library Links.Scholar Settings: Library Links To find out to search Google Scholar effectively have a look at the guide, Using Google Scholar.Using Google Scholar.

20. Searching for information using specialist databases Core Skills This is a result from Google Scholar. Identify how to access the full text of the article either in the Library or online. There are two possible answers. Click on them. This option will enable you to see which library resources you can link to and what years are available on line. There is also a link to the library catalogue so you can see if a printed edition is available – this might be useful if the online full text does not include images, for example. This option usually links you straight in to the article, however, from off campus you will have to login before you can view the full text.

21. Searching for information using specialist databases Core Skills Identify how to access the full text of the article either in the Library or online, where possible If the article is not available as a full text link from the database itself, you need to see if you can access the article from the Library either in printed format or through an alternative electronic link. The following short animations will show you how to do this. Use these when you want to search via the journal name: Finding Journal Articles Using the Library Catalogue Finding Journal Articles Using the E-Journals Search Use this when you want to search via the article title: Finding Journal Articles Using the Discovery Service

22. Try again Searching for information using specialist databases Core Skills Here is a section of the Library homepage. Click on the link that will enable you to locate audio-visual resources that are of good quality and have been copyright cleared for educational purposes You will know when you have selected the correct link because an image of the next web page will appear

23. Searching for information using specialist databases Core Skills Locate audio-visual resources that are of good quality and have been copyright cleared for educational purposes The Guide to Audio-Visual Resources The Guide to Audio-Visual Resources will introduce you to some key resources for finding good quality audio-visual resources which have been copyright cleared for non-profit educational purposes. You should always refer to the copyright information given on each resource for specific details of how you may use the content. The interactive Mediascape leads you to a-v resources in the library and on the Internet. Once again, always check copyright information on each site.Mediascape

24. Searching for information using specialist databases Developing Skills Select and use a wider range of databases without guidance Patty and Elise are working in the library late in the evening. They need to locate good quality information sources in their subject area from the library website. Where would you advise them to start? Click here Click here for some options

25. Searching for information using specialist databases Developing Skills Select and use a wider range of databases without guidance Which of the options below would you choose to start your search for good quality information sources in a particular subject area? Click on the option to find out it you are correct These options are taken from the library homepage.library homepage These options are taken from the library homepage.library homepage Yes, Information Resources or My Subject are the best options Try again

26. Searching for information using specialist databases Developing Skills Select and use a wider range of databases without guidance http://screencast.com/t/EmyhYLFH33Ehttp://screencast.com/t/bKGZP52apav Click on the shapes below to watch 2 short videos demonstrating the difference between finding good quality resources via the Information Resources link and the My Subject link My Subject Information Resources Information Resources

27. Searching for information using specialist databases Developing Skills Understand when databases may not be an appropriate place to search This is a tricky question as there are many different types of databases, for example some index scholarly publications, others audio-visual resources. However, there are some circumstances where a database isnt the best source with which to begin your research. Refer to the definition of library databases, then identify from the options below which sources are unlikely to be found on a library database?library databases Refer to the definition of library databases, then identify from the options below which sources are unlikely to be found on a library database?library databases Breaking news story How to... technical manual General web pages Historical newspaper article Journal articles Images

28. What are library databases? A library database is a searchable, electronic index which usually contains information about published items. All databases provide sufficient information for you to locate the full text which may be in the University library, online or available from another library. Some library databases also include abstracts or summaries of the information. Others also include the full text of the article or source. Types of material found using library databases are: Articles from Journals and Magazines Electronic Books Newspapers Images Reference Sources Click on this shape to link to University of Portsmouths Databases Click on this shape to link to University of Portsmouths Databases

29. Searching for information using specialist databases Developing Skills Understand when databases may not be an appropriate place to search News worthy event Weekly Magazines TV, Internet Radio Same day Newspapers Next day Next week Books Years later Scholarly articles Months later Some databases, such as Nexis UK index news sourcesNexis UK Some databases, such as Nexis UK index news sourcesNexis UK Databases Databases usually index academic literature Databases Databases usually index academic literature