What today’s session will cover: Research Strategy: 5 stages Finding information on the library...

Research Skills

by Nancy Stokes

What today’s session will cover:Research Strategy: 5 stagesFinding information on the library website:

selected websites, ebooks, subject guidesSearching the library catalogue

books , journals, DVDsSearching an online database: EbscohostOnline searching tipsEvaluating information from the Web

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What are the 5 Stages?

1.Understand

question or topic

Research Strategy

Cycle

2.Search for

information

WriteFinal Essay

4.Evaluate the information

5.Reference your

information

3.Expand search

boundaries

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Understand the topic:- identify the keywords and other search terms

“Discuss the importance of choosing a suitable site when planning an event.”

location

venue

organising

arranging

function

conference

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Identify the concepts and search terms…Discuss the importance of choosing a suitable site when planning an event.

Concept 1 Concept 2 Concept 3

site planning event

or or or

venue organising function

or or or

location arranging conference

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Finding Information on Library Website

www.central.wa.edu.au/library

Library Homepage www.central.wa.edu.au/library

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Library Website Search

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Library Website Search: Events Page

ebooksweb

site

s

Login to eBooks using your Student Network Login

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eBooks: See Help Sheet for Options

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Searching Library Catalogue

www.central.wa.edu.au/library

Library Catalogue Search

Library Catalogue Search

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Library Catalogue Search Page

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Library Catalogue Search

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Bibl

iogr

aphi

c D

etai

lsLo

catio

n D

etai

ls

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Searching Online Databases

www.central.wa.edu.au/library

Library Homepage

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Library Website Search

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04+student number date of birth

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Choose Databases

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Database Search Page

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Database Search Results

Online Search Tips

Online searching tips…Boolean Operators

AND (+): limits the search as both keywords must appear in the documenthazards AND events

OR: expands the search as either keywords will appear in the documents conferences OR seminars

NOT (-): limits the search as excludes one of the keywords from the documents“outdoor events” -festivals

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More searching tips….

Quotation marks: searches for the phrase e.g. “convention centre”

Plus sign: in front of a word ensures that word is included e.g. events +sponsorship

Synonym searching: ~ in front of a word finds synonyms e.g. ~inexpensive = cheap, affordable, low cost

Define: before a term finds definitions e.g. define:itinerary

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Evaluating information

EVALUATING INFORMATIONFROM WEBSITES

When evaluating information from websites, it can be difficult to determine the reliability of the information.

Unlike most print sources where the information has been edited before it is published, information on the Internet is mostly unfiltered.

There is little control over the material and anyone can create a website on any topic, whether or not they have training or experience in the subject field.

A lot of the information on the Internet is commercial or personal.

List of Organisational Types List of Country Codes

.com commercial .au Australia

.edu education .nz New Zealand

.gov government .uk United Kingdom

.net network .de Germany

.org organisation no code USA

Generally, the websites that have .edu or .gov in the URL will be more reliable.

If you want Australian sites, add .au to your search.

URL CODES

EXAMINING, SELECTING AND REJECTING RESOURCES

Ask yourself these questions…√ Is the information correct?√ Is the information relevant?√ Is the information reliable? (who is the

author/sponsor?)√ Is the information up-to-date?√ Is the information free from bias? (is it trying to

persuade?)√ Is it what I need?

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RememberIf you require further assistance:

Ask at the Library Service Desk

Email: helplibrary@central.wa.edu.au

Check out the OIL modules on the library website @ www.central.wa.edu.au/library

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Library Homepage: www.central.wa.edu.au/library

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