1 Antonio Trani Zheng Fan Virginia Tech October 25, 2014 Library Searches and Thesis/Dissertation Writing

2 Library Resources Look at Good amount of information

3 Finding Sources

4 Books and E-Books

5

6 Articles and Databases

7 Articles and Databases (2)

8 Good Databases for TISE Students Compendex, from Engineering Village ASCE Civil Engineering Database Computer and Information Systems Abstracts CRC Engineering Handbooks Online - ENGnetBASE Engineering & Technology Mechanical and Transportation Engineering Abstracts - MTEA NTRS: NASA Technical Report Server TRIS - Transportation Research Information Service Online

9 Sample Search (Compendex)

10 Sample Search (Compendex)

11 Sample Search (Cont.)

12 Selecting a Reference

13 Retrieving the Article Most of the time you can retrieve the article directly form the links provided in the database If not: –Try another database engine –Use interlibrary load You can retrieve abstracts and directly import information to other programs like EndNote from the Compendex iinterface

14 Exporting Searches to Other Applications Selected papers to export Download link

15 Exporting Information to End Note Export format wanted

16 EndNote Library Created after Exporting Data from Compendex Library information With articles that You exported

EndNote Demonstration 17

18 Thesis/Dissertation Organization Two possible formats: –Traditional Chapter 1 - Introduction Chapter 2 - Literature Review Chapter 3 - Model Description (or Analysis Methods) Chapter 4 - Model Results Chapter 5 - Conclusions Chapter 6 - Recommendations Appendices - as needed –Article/Paper format Chapter 1 - Introduction Chapter 2 - Literature Review Chapter 3 – Paper #1 Chapter 4 – Paper # 2 Chapter 5 – Conclusion Chapter 6 - Recommendations Appendices - as needed Consult with Your advisor before mapping out the chapters of the thesis or dissertation

19 Traditional Organization Chapter 1 - Introduction Chapter 2 - Literature Review Chapter 3 - Model Description (or Analysis Methods) Chapter 4 - Model Results Chapter 5 - Conclusions Chapter 6 - Recommendations Appendices - as needed

20 Chapter 1 Independent of the format used, Chapter 1 needs to address a few items: –The need for your research (justify the good work that you are about to do) –State the gaps in knowledge (literature review is key in supporting this fact) –State your approach briefly

21 Chapter 2 - Literature Review Often overlooked Very critical to any research effort Justifies your analysis (gaps) Spent time reading journals and articles Spent time summarizing them Give credit and learn how to cite Use VT library sources + End Note (a free program to students to do bibliographic references) End Note can be downloaded at:

22 Software for Students To get End Note

23 Chapter 3 - Model Description Describes the methods used to do your work Be explicit - do not assume the audience knows much Explain any software issues Explain your methods and materials used Include any statistical analysis employed in analyzing data Explain why this method is different than others used before

24 Chapter 4 - Model Results Be explicit Use graphs and tables Label graphs and tables appropriately Use consistency in your tables and graphs Watch out for inconsistent significant figures (typical in Excel and sometimes in Matlab graphs)

25 Chapters 5 and 6 Often the weakest part of the thesis Be explicit and thoughtful Conclusion should support your entire thesis/dissertation Are your results unique? Are they repeatable? Etc. How has my thesis advanced the state of knowledge in my area of study? Recommendations are very important - do not rush just to write them at the last minute