Research resources for 3 rd /4 th year projects James Webley Subject Librarian Mathematics 13 October 2014

Today’s talk: Introduction to Library search tools and the Mathematics support pages. Outline a few key resources. Google Scholar Accessing electronic resources and using ILL Cited reference searching Referencing Further help and advice 13 October 2014

‘Library Search’ Two types of search: ‘UoB Collections’ – books, ebooks, journals, ejournals. ‘Everything’ – UoB collections plus articles from a Central Index. Huge collection, but for a more comprehensive and refined article search use Subject-specific Databases… 13 October 2014

Mathematics Support pages Google: ‘Library Mathematics Bristol’ Links to ejournals, ebook collections, Library Search Databases of scholarly research literature 13 October 2014

MathSciNet and WoS Overview MathSciNet Over 2.8 million records/500+ journal titles covering most of mathematical sciences literature. Also includes conference proceedings, books and PhD theses. Links to review articles (particularly useful for overview of current literature) Web of Science Over 46 million records/12,000+ journal titles covers 256 disciplines Citation searching 13 October 2014

Google Scholar Searches scholarly literature. Useful for reports, blogs, OA material Links to UoB material What is being searched? How are results ranked? Poor metadata – publication dates. Limited search tools/’added value’ Search tips: Mathematics Subject pagesMathematics Subject pages 13 October 2014

Accessing online resources and ILL Access based on IP address, so if off-campus or using your own PC/Laptop… 1. University username and password (Shibboleth/UK Federation) 2.Remote Student Desktop or Off-Site Proxy …and if we don’t have access to an article you need then request via the ‘ILL requests’ link on ‘Library Search’. The article will be ed direct to your desktop. for 13 October 2014

Cited Reference Searching Enables you to track related research literature forward in time as well as backwards in time based on key references. Start with a key reference. Identify previous references cited by the paper. Identify future papers that have cited it. Citation searching offered by Web of Science, MathSciNet and Google Scholar 13 October 2014

Referencing Referencing is… Not simply including a reference list at the end of your project, but also acknowledging within the text of the project if you have taken an idea OR exact wording (quotation) from a source. This acknowledgement within the text of your project is known as a citation Choose a reference style and be consistent. Referencing help: Mathematics support pagesMathematics support pages 13 October 2014

Search Engines only?! “...a searcher who is unwilling to search multiple databases or to adopt a sophisticated search strategy is likely to achieve better than average recall and precision by simply using Google Scholar.” “Researchers value the ease and speed of Google Scholar, but should also perceive its quality and precision limitations.” Use the academic resources at your disposal 13 October 2014

Good research habits : An awareness of the search tools available to you. A knowledge of how to refine/sort your searches. Follow a ‘research trail’ – cited searching. Use appropriate tools to manage your information. 13 October 2014

For help and advice… Subject Enquiries 13 October 2014