BEB100 – Introducing Professional Learning 2009 Researching for the Built Environment and Engineering Professions Graham Dawson Craig Milne Jennifer Thomas Marvin van Prooijen

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BEB100 – Introducing Professional Learning 2009 The research process Planning for research Search strategies Search tools Evaluating information Useful resources and searches Further help Today’s objectives

BEB100 – Introducing Professional Learning Obtain your project brief and details of requirements 2.Define your information needs and search objectives 3.Develop a search plan as your guide 4.Consider the type of information and types of sources 5.Use your search plan and trial in the search tools 6.Evaluate results; develop and refine your searches 7.Use and communicate results ( page 2 ) The research process

BEB100 – Introducing Professional Learning 2009 Define your information need: Analyse your project brief / assignment Identify key concepts / synonyms / alternatives / plurals Make use of a search planner / concept mapping Example – sustainability: sustainable, ecological, renewable, recycle, “energy efficient” ( page 3 ) Planning your searches

BEB100 – Introducing Professional Learning 2009 Using ‘AND’ - Infrastructure AND “remote communities” Using ‘ OR ’ - Indigenous OR aboriginal OR native Using ‘ NOT ’ - infrastructure NOT “information technology” Use: “ ….. ” For phrase searching - “public private partnership” Use: * For alternative endings to words - hous*, sustainab* Think about the type of information you require: - background, statistics, technical, demographic, planning, research, Think about the types of information sources you will need - Journals, Conferences, Newspapers, Websites, Podcasts, Books, ( ) Search strategies: Symbols & tips

BEB100 – Introducing Professional Learning 2009 A: Google B: Library Catalogue C: Databases Where do you start looking?

BEB100 – Introducing Professional Learning 2009 The Web Google Advanced Search Google Scholar Library Catalogue Books, eBooks, book chapters Also: DVD’s, journals, websites, reports, CD’s, newspapers, magazines, maps, databases, standards, etc. Databases The library subscribes to over 500 databases on various online platforms Containing journal articles, reports, conference papers, news etc. ( pages ) Search tools

BEB100 – Introducing Professional Learning 2009 EBSCOhost – US / International Academic Search Elite (Multidisciplinary) Australia & NZ Reference Centre (Australian News) ProQuest – US / International Academic Research Library (Multidisciplinary) InfoRMIT – Australian Build, Engine, ATRI, Engineering Collection (Discipline specific) APAIS-ATSIS, APA, ATSI-Health (Indigenous / Multidisciplinary) Engineering Village – International Compendex, Inspec (Engineering disciplines) Relevant platforms and databases

BEB100 – Introducing Professional Learning 2009 What criteria might you use to evaluate information? Why? Evaluation

BEB100 – Introducing Professional Learning 2009 Authorship and authority – who has written it? What are their qualifications, experience, other publications, etc. Date / age / currency of the information Accuracy Is the author objective or biased? Is there proof or evidence to support the argument? Does the author reference their sources? Appearance – does is look good? For journals - is there an abstract, list of references, is it refereed? For books - "scholarly", specialist publisher, part of a series? For websites – are the links unbroken, dates of last modification, etc.? ( pages ) Evaluating information

BEB100 – Introducing Professional Learning 2009 Library text: Researching for the BEE Professions. 2 nd ed. Week 7 Tutorials: Searching databases Need help?: Ask-a-Librarian: PILOT - Library Homepage - Blackboard –BEB100 unit site Further help and teaching

BEB100 – Introducing Professional Learning 2009 Questions? Please! Week 9 lecture topic: Referencing and avoiding plagiarism