Information Literacy ECS-65100

Programme Teachers: Introduction lecture Practicals Feedback lecture Blackboard modules Irene Veerman Marco van Veller

Definition Information Literacy is defined as the ability when there is a need for information, to be able to identify, locate, evaluate, and effectively use that information for the issue or problem at hand.

Why should you be information literate? Now during your study Courses Thesis Later as a professional Basis for research Input for decisions

Why Information Literacy? (Scientific) information overload formerly…. De Sola Price, D.J. (1961). Science since Babylon. Yale University Press. New Haven.

Why Information Literacy? (Scientific) information overload formerly…. more recently arxiv.org/show_monthly_submissions

Which skills do you need? Define your need Search effectively Evaluate results Manage results Use and cite correctly Keep abreast Communicate, publish Loet van Moll

Skills 1: Define your need Purpose look up fulltext, orientation, in-depth search Level scientific, professional, news Type data, news, books, research article, laws, company information, government information Topic research question Examples in Blackboard

Use of research resources Three Resources Identified as Most Important by Researchers Research Resources % Ranking in Top 3 Journal articles 71.1% Monographs 32.0% Chapters in books with many authors 21.8% Expertise of individuals 19.4% Organizations web sites 15.3% Original text sources, e.g. newspapers, historical records 12.5% Conference proceedings 11.6% Datasets. published or unpublished 8.1% Other sources (specified by interviewee) 6.8% Preprints 5.1% Non-text sources, e.g. images, audio, artifacts 2.9% Researchers and discovery services. Behaviour, perceptions and needs. A study commisioned by the Research Information Network, 2006.

Articles Scientific journals Research Peer reviewed Professional journals Practical Non-peer reviewed

Resources and finding aids Resources Journal articles scientific professional Monographs books reports dissertations proceedings Encyclopedias Websites Blogs Datasets News Finding aids Bibliographies Library catalogues Internet search engines Gateways/ portals

Bibliographies - bibliographic databases

Bibliographic databases Structured references with abstract, keywords, link to full-text in some also: cited by, related records Mainly scientific articles, some also other types Good search facilities (better than Google) Different search platforms Google Scholar?

The optimal bibliography contains all relevant publications links to the full text, if WUR has a subscription is updated frequently has good search facilities can be searched from anywhere ………………………………

Bibliographic databases All disciplines Scopus Web of Science Google Scholar Specific topics CAB-Abstracts Biological Abstracts FSTA Medline/ PubMed …………….. Overlap Additional Use several databases

Example search Sensitivity of models on leaching of pesticides to groundwater WoSScopusCABSciFinder After deduplicatio n

WoS Scopus CAB SocIndex ASFA LSW Biological Abstracts PsycInfo Google Scholar Portals Choice of bibliographic databases MetaSearch

Catalogue Books Journals Maps Reports, theses, etc. WoS Scopus CAB SocIndex ASFA LBW Biological Abstracts PsycInfo Google Scholar Getting the articles Only when logged in!

Know how to use the Wageningen UR library Physical library (Forum) Virtual library (Digital Library)

Skills 2: Search effectively WHERE?? Use the right finding aid(s) for your need HOW?? Use the right search (terms)

Search effectively Finding the focus Identifying key concepts Finding search terms (keywords) Combine with Boolean operators Limitation: period, language, region

Finding the focus Effect of windmills on the marine environment Questions: Which effects? How can wind energy be collected? What does the marine environment exist of? Background: Encyclopedia, books, reviews

Limitation years of publication geographic region language additional concept(s)

Identifying key concepts Effect of windmills on the marine environment

Identifying key concepts Effect of windmills on the marine environment

Finding search terms windmills OR wind power OR wind energy OR windfarm marine OR sea OR ocean environment OR fishes OR fauna OR macrobenthos OR seals OR ……. effect OR impact OR influence OR disturbance OR ……..

What will you learn? windmills marine environment

Search history

Selected articles Importance of using multiple sampling methodologies for estimating of fish community composition in offshore wind power construction areas of the Baltic Sea Spatial planning of offshore wind farms: A windfall to marine environmental protection? abstract: … no-take zones for fish, with possible spill- over effects… Underwater noise from three types of offshore wind turbines: Estimation of impact zones for harbor porpoises and harbor seals keywords: … seal; oceans; seas; power plants …

Other skills Know how to evaluate Bibliographic references Internet resources Know how to apply search results Referring, citing, quoting Literature lists Plagiarism Reference management EndNote Publishing

Feedback lecture Skills –Define your need –Search effectively –Evaluate results –Manage results –Use and cite correctly –Keep abreast –Communicate, publish EndNote Exam Questions

Blackboard modules Before practicals: Modules 1, 2, 3, 4.a.1 and 4.a.2 Assignment exercise 1 Subject, exercise 2.1 Databases individually or with 2 During practicals Discussion subject and database selection Going on with modules 4.a.3, 4b, 5, 7 and 8 Continuation exercises of assignment Quizzes, Extra materials Exercise Visit a real library

Evaluation Assignment Exam See also course information Contact: Discussion board