Finding information: Engineering and Computing Sciences Nicola Conway October 2011

Aims of the session To help you: Identify, find & evaluate relevant resources for your research Use the library effectively, and make the most of our services and resources Know who to contact for further help

Format of the session What the session will involve: A demonstration of quality academic resources for your subject A chance for you to begin searching for information An opportunity to ask for help and advice

Library basics Main Library Level 3 : Sciences Information for students: –New, Current and Researcher web pages : –Opening hours –Loan entitlements Durham University Contacts / support

Subject Specific Support:

4 steps to finding information1. Identify keywords 2. Decide where to search 3.Search 4. Review results

1. Identify Keywords Identify keywords from your topic: “Discuss how artificial intelligence could be used to detect errors in data sets” Advanced searching techniques: Synonyms: error OR mistake OR fault / artificial intelligence OR AI Truncation: detect* to locate detection, detecting etc. Phrases: “data set” Wildcards: organi?ation to locate organization or organisation Joining Words: AND, OR, NOT

Task One p.3 of handout Identify keywords from the topic you are researching, if you haven’t got a topic to research yet you can use: “Discuss how the evolution of 3D software has affected cinema and television”

Task One p.3 of handout (2) OR AND Software Evolution Progress* “Discuss how the evolution of 3D software has affected cinema and television” AND OR Advance* 3D3 dimension* ProgramCinema 4D XL

2. Decide where to search (1) What information do you need? –Overview of a topic, theory, idea, concept? Encyclopaedias and Dictionaries (online and in print) –Background information? Textbook/E-book –Information on the latest developments? Journal Article Conference Paper News item E-Print/Research Repository

2. Decide where to search (2) Do you have a specific reference? –Yes Library Catalogue –No Online resource Have you consulted the information resources available for Engineering and Computing Sciences?

3: Search - the Library Catalogue Can be searched using a variety of methods –Author/Title (combined) for known item –Keyword –Classmark and Subject search Searches for print and electronic resources but does not search within them Can save searches and results

3: Search – Online databases Which online resource? Databases –Journal Articles –Standards –E-books –Conference Papers –Theses

Journals and Conference Papers Databases search a wide range of material: Some provide full text –Science Direct Some provide some full text and some bibliographic information –ACM Digital Library / Computer abstracts international database Some only provide bibliographic information –Web of Knowledge –Can use ConneXions to see if Durham subscribes to the content No single database will cover everything

Journal Ranking ARC: Australian Research Council – journal_list.htmhttp:// journal_list.htm –A* - Not Ranked Web of Knowledge: –Journal Citation Reports Impact Factor (1.5+)

Task Two p.6 of handout Use the keywords you identified in Task One to search for information in: –An online database

Using other online resources Standards: British Standards OnlineBritish Standards Online Patents Theses & dissertations : – News and news archives E-prints/Research Repositories: arXiv.orgarXiv.org E-books

Using Internet Resources (1) Remember to evaluate information on the web Anyone can be a web author There are few controls over what is posted on the web Is material peer-reviewed or edited? Is the information up to date? Check for bias or an agenda

Using Internet Resources (2) TechXtra - access to e-prints, technical reports, theses, articles, news, trade magazines and job announcements.TechXtra Scirus - science search engine of evaluated academic sitesScirus Google Scholar – search engine for academic resourcesGoogle Scholar –uses Durham ConneXions button

Task Two p.6 of handout Use the keywords you identified in Task One to search for information: –Using another online resource

Obtaining items outside of Durham Visiting other universities e.g. Newcastle and Northumbria –Check their catalogues: Access to other libraries – SCONUL Access Scheme – Document Delivery Service –

4. Review your results Are your results useful? –Do you need to change your keywords or search in a different database? –Use one record to find similar useful resources Evaluate the quality of your sources –particularly if they are found on the internet Keep references – yourself useful references

References and Bibliographies Always keep a full and accurate record of your information sources Use the Library Catalogue and online databases to references for saving Make sure you refer correctly to other authors within your work Avoid plagiarism

Where to get further help Academic Support Team: Nicola Conway – Engineering & Computing Sciences Subject information page: – Help and Information Point on Level 2 Online enquiries form: –

Any Questions Nicola Conway: