Search strategies Literature reviews

Information searching

Research Skills

Today’s objectives

1. Become more aware of how to build a search strategy

2. Learn about different types of literature for your research

3. Learn how to search the Library catalogue4. Learn more about the online resources

available to you

What is a search strategy?

Your search strategy is your plan of action

• It helps you find the information you need to complete your work.

• It makes you think about your work.• It helps you work out what information you need, and

how you're going to find it.

What do I do first?

• Look at your research project title and make sure you understand it.

• Use a dictionary or thesaurus to find related words

If you are not in the Library you can use an online reference service:

Oxford Reference Online

Mind mapping and keywords

Research questionBreak down into concepts

Related topicsDefinitions and context

Keywords and synonyms

Narrower concepts and specialist areas

Specific theories and authors

What type of information do you need?

• a definition so you understand your main concept?

• an overview on the topic so you can identify key issues?

• statistical data to back up your arguments?• a review of recent debates?• the latest research?

Reviewing the literature

What is a literature review?• “The literature” means the works

you consult in order to understand and investigate your research problem.

What literature should you review? 1.

Books:Pros Cons

What literature should you review? 1.

Books:Pros Cons

Good starting point Less up-to-date

Accepted knowledge

Provide references for further reading

What literature should you review? 2.

Journal articles

Pros Cons

What literature should you review? 2.

Journal articles

Pros Cons

Up-to-date May not always be peer-reviewed

For an academic audience

Millions of titles!

Peer-reviewed or refereed

What literature should you review? 3.

Trade Journals / Magazines

Pros Cons

What literature should you review? 3.

Trade Journals / Magazines

Pros Cons

Up-to-date Not peer-reviewed

Company or product news not available elsewhere

Not for an academic audience

Easy to read May have corporate bias

What literature should you review? 4.

Conference proceedings:Pros Cons

What literature should you review? 4.

Conference proceedings:Pros Cons

Latest research Can be hard to find in print

Leading practitioners

May be

Un-reviewed

What literature should you review? 5.

Theses and dissertationsPros Cons

What literature should you review? 5.

Theses and dissertationsPros Cons

Original research Unpublished

Often includes original data

Can be hard to obtain

Varying quality

What literature should you review? 5.

Internet: Pros Cons

What literature should you review? 5.

Internet: Pros Cons

Usually up-to-date Unfiltered for quality

Large amounts of information

Often for a general audience

May be biased

Library catalogue

Library catalogueAvailable online from all over the world

http://webcat.hud.ac.uk

Useful electronic resources

• E-books

• Books 24x7

• Safari

Useful electronic resources via MetaLib

• ACM Digital

• Inspec

• Computer Source

The library’s gateway to electronic resources

http://metalib.hud.ac.uk/

Metalib

Searching electronic resources

• Search enginese.g. Google

• Subject Gatewayse.g. Intute

Scholar

Need help?

• Library website • Information Literacy web site

http://www.hud.ac.uk/cls/

• Intute – Virtual Training Suite• Floor 6 Subject Office