Literature Searching. Part 2: Databases. Ewan Grant & Susan McCourt. Researcher Development Programme 2016/17 - June

Transcription

1 Literature Searching Part 2: Databases Ewan Grant & Susan McCourt Researcher Development Programme 2016/17 - June

2 Assumptions You have your Designing a Search Strategy matrix (or an enhanced version ) from Part 1 workshop OR You will develop one (quickly) for use in this workshop If you are planning on, or thinking about, using RefWorks - you have set up your RefWorks account sent last week about setting up your account

3 Outline Identify suitable and relevant databases Highlight powerful search features Introduce the idea of managing references AIM: Feel confident that you can make effective use of databases to find journal articles and research level material to support your research [Note we covered books and other support materials in Part 1 of this workshop series]

4 Information in academic environment Reliable = authoritative, scholarly, current, academic, respected Format can be a helpful indicator of this Books and Journal articles/papers written by academics, articles= original research, editorial control or peer reviewed before publication Conference papers and reports may be written by academics or industry specialists, original research, generally not peer reviewed/checked Web pages may be written by anyone Many tools available to find reliable information Primo, databases (e.g. Scopus), search engines (e.g. Google and Google Scholar)

5 Tools/resources for academic information Tools/resources depend on the type of information you re looking for Books: Primo, subscribed sites (ebrary, Springer, ScienceDirect etc.) Google and Google Scholar Journal articles (research papers): Databases Technical standards: BSOL database, OHSIS database, IEEE Xplore, Google (we have limited access to this type of material) Reports and commercial/trade information: Google (Advanced search)

6 Identify relevant databases

7 Use Find Databases tab in Primo to get a list of all of full-text ebook collections and then link out to search the relevant one for your topic

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9 Find Databases option list of databases by discipline + info on search rules and content

10 Show Info: description of database content and information on the search rules (Search hints) Right click on name/title of an individual database, open a new tab to link through and search (The tick boxes as shown do not work you cannot reliably search across multiple databases at the same time)

11 TIP Use General Interest - - Theses to identify specialist databases containing information on UK, Irish and US theses

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13 Now Any questions? Access Primo Find Databases Identify some relevant databases for your research Use Show Info to check coverage and Search hints (= search rules) Ask for help that s what we re here for

14 Searching databases: Web of Science & Scopus

15 Safety issues related to wind farms particularly those located offshore

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17 Plan your search never type in sentences! Apply correct search rules to your keywords and phrases Safety issues related to wind farms particularly those located offshore Idea 1 wind farm* OR wind turbine* OR AND Idea 2 maintenance OR inspection* OR access AND Idea 3 offshore OR OR Fourth idea could be safe* OR risk*

18 Linking words (Boolean operators) OR Broadens the search Use alternative words OR AND Narrows the search More specific AND NOT Cuts out unwanted terms Use with care! NOT

19 Search rules Scopus & Web of Science Check the search rules Boolean connecting words AND e.g. safety AND offshore OR e.g. safety OR risk NOT e.g. wind NOT solar Not case sensitive do not need to use capital letters Truncation symbol * environment* looks for environment, environments, environmental, environmentalist, environmentalists Phrase search wind turbine word1 word2 word3 = these exact words in this exact order Can use * in a phrase search wind farm*

20 Every database looks different but often share similar features: Web of Science Basic Search

21 Web of Science Advanced Search. The Basic Search option is satisfactory for most searches!

22 Web of Science: use Add Another Field to reproduce your planning grid/matrix

23 Every database looks different but often share similar features: Scopus

24 Scopus: use to reproduce your planning grid/matrix

25 Search approach: Method 1 Method 1 As on your planning grid Multiple lines/boxes each containing an individual concept Advantages Use the OR operator between each separate search word or phrase Use the default AND operator between each line/box Obtain results Add further search terms as needed More immediate results to skim, analyse, evaluate

26 Method 1: Standard search approach in many databases: Each idea on a separate line. Combine in one step. Gives immediate results

27 Search approach: Method 2 Method 2 (the only available option within Medline) As on your planning grid/matrix, but one step at a time Single line/box Idea/Concept 1: Use the OR operator between each separate search word or phrase Obtain results sets Clear the search box. Insert the terms for Idea/Concept 2 Obtain results Repeat as needed for further ideas/concepts Combine sets in different ways Advantages: Flexible. Can get a feel for each concept within the database. Can identify areas where search terms may need further consideration Can save time when carrying out very complex searches

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29 Method 2 (In Web of Science): Lesser used, more traditional, approach may provide added flexibility at PGR level. (Is the only option in Medline database). One idea at a time then combine in different ways

30 Method 2: In Scopus to combine the results of each individual idea/concept you type the set number (prefixed with #) rather than the tick boxes provided in Web of Science. One idea at a time then combine in different ways

31 Now Any questions? We ll demonstrate how to sort, refine and evaluate your results later Try a search method now. Select Scopus OR Web of Science Search Method 1 or Search Method 2 which works best for your search terms? Use the Scopus or Web of Science worksheets in your handout pack as a guide

32 Databases index/cover different journals different results

33 TIP: WoS & Scopus - change the number of results per page for speedier skimming!

34 Viewing your results: Sorting features Don t rely just on the default - change the sort order of results Publication Date (by Newest or Oldest) Most recently published Oldest material (in this database) Useful for trends/development type analysis Times Cited Most frequently referenced papers - can identify classic/important papers Favours older papers over newer ones Can indicate subject areas not heavily researched Relevance (based on search terms used) Useful when carrying out initial searches Authors or Source Title Papers from high impact or important journals, or respected authors, are wellregarded

35 Refining and limiting your results: database categories Add extra, or different, keywords Categories (=Subject Area) Can help to narrow the focus of your results Document Types Very useful for Review articles! Source Titles If you are aware of important journals in the discipline Various others including Authors Publication Years Funding Agencies Countries/Territories

36 TIP: if available refine/limit Document Type to Review at the start of a piece of research overview, background, trends, gaps, authors, references. Particularly useful if Review paper has been published in last few years

37 Click on View Abstract for additional information Click on title of paper for extra information and options

38 Web of Science: Keywords, Citations and References data

39 Now Any questions? Try things out for yourself Continue in your database of choice Sort and refine your initial results Use the Scopus or Web of Science worksheet in your handout pack as a guide Just ask for help if you need it

40 Checking availability

41 Scopus & Web of Science: results = lists of references Link out to full-text (where we ve paid for it) Different buttons/options in different databases If no immediate full-text option always use SFX

42 To check availability: use SFX option in most databases Scopus & WoS have an extra option Full Text or Full Text from Publisher button Can give a false negative i.e. no button indicating that Full Text is available, but we do have access ALWAYS use the SFX button if it is an item that you are interested in accessing. Can get an indicator of electronic and/or print availability

43 If you are interested in an item and there is no full-text option visible always use SFX to doublecheck the availability

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45 Read, download, save for personal use/study purposes. Keep track of what you are reading so that you can cite and reference items correctly

46 Held in print format at the Medical Library. We can bring this down to Old Aberdeen for you

47 This example: Hold it in e-format but only for 2004 to 2006

48 SFX Get this later : uses ISSN to check whether we hold (in print/electronic format) the journal in which the article was published

49 Primo and catalogue results: we do not have access to this journal in print, or electronic format

50 Availability Databases provide information on millions of articles and research papers Spend of 3m does not provide us with access to everything that has been published! If item not held by us can try other means of obtaining it If not available and item is very relevant Carry out an Advanced search in Google (phrase search using title of paper + author surname or filetype PDF) author may have made it freely available on their home page, in ResearchGate, Mendeley or in their institutional repository Use contact details in the database to contact author (short, polite ) to ask if it is possible for them to supply a copy Check with colleagues in department do they have a personal subscription to the journal (paper format)? Speak with supervisor if you require an inter-library loan (ILL). This costs your department a minimum of 7 per request we have a limited number of free ILL vouchers available at the moment

51 Now Any questions? Try things out for yourself Find anything of interest? Are these items available to you in electronic/print format? Use the relevant database worksheet in your handout pack as a guide to further search features and options Just ask for help if you need it

52 If you don t find many results

53 Use some found items to widen your search: keywords, references used, citing papers, related documents

54 If you do not find many results If you are struggling to find relevant material Check your spelling! Identify several good/relevant papers: use what you have found to move off to other papers Move backwards in time look at the References used to support the paper Move forwards in time look at who has Cited that paper since it was published Look at papers Related to this one (different options in each database) Use keywords from these to revise your search Look at your Search History Modify or start again using new/different keywords Move into a different database

55 Managing what you find

56 Mark/select items to set up actions. In Scopus see options given above the results list

57 Manage/output your results Mark/select items to set up actions. In WoS see options given above the results list

58 If you lose your way or cannot find relevant items look at your Search History. Can try different keywords or combinations

59 The searching process As you view your records Decide on relevance to your topic Skim and scan titles and abstracts Evaluate - change sort order, use refine options Check availability link to full text if available keep a note of shelfmark for items in paper format keep a note of important unavailable items try specific search (exact title plus author surnames) in Google in case item is in institutional repository or on author website check with departmental colleagues personal subscription (paper format)? contact the author to ask for a copy (be very nice and polite!) discuss interlibrary loan (ILL) possibility with supervisor Note new keywords or search terms refine/improve your search Manage the references that you find

60 Scopus & Web of Science: Advanced features

61 Advanced features Vary from one database to the next Generally require a personal account (look for Register/Sign In, or as part of Institution/Shibboleth login) Can be time effective and impressive Save complicated search searches to run when you want Set up Alerts information pushed to you Set up Citation Alerts keep on top of what your supervisor is publishing (and who is citing it!) Easy export to RefWorks or similar software

62 Extra features/options available if you create a personal account

63 Complex search strategy? Save your search Re-run it whenever you want (Example shown = Scopus)

64 Complex search strategy or something you want to keep on top of? Save the search and set up an Alert s sent to you when new items are added to the database that match your strategy

65 Who is citing papers published by your supervisor (or by you!)? Set up an Author Citation Alert (Scopus & WoS) Example: in the week to end Fri 24 June 2017 three papers referenced work published by Prof John Parnell. (Biggest number in a week, so far, has been 16 for this member of academic staff)

66 Publications information and benchmarking tools

67 WoS: Analyze options Features: Analyze Results, Create Citation Report

68 Option to Analyse your results by different factors

69 Analyse your results by different factors e.g. Source Title

70 Analyse your results by different factors e.g. Publication Years

71 Create a Citation Report on the references that you have found

72 Citation report from Web of Science for a specific academic author

73 Scopus also has various indicators and citation count displays

74 Now Any questions? Try things out for yourself Use the worksheets in your handout pack to guide you through the additional search/analyse options Example: Look for papers by one of your supervisors set up a citation alert on them Just ask for help if you need it

75 Many other databases are available

76 Suggested approach Use biggest and most comprehensive databases first and see what you get Use Scopus and/or Web of Science for most topics (Westlaw, Lexis & Hein Online for Law; Medline for Medicine and medical Sciences) Then move off into smaller or more specialised databases to find research papers from subject specific sources Use Primo > Find Databases to help identify these

77 Pick n Mix databases Many specialised databases are hosted on supplier platforms (search interfaces). Examples: ProQuest (wide subject range) EBSCO (wide subject range) Ovid (for Medicine and Medical-related databases) JSTOR is an independent database Each platform, and independent database, has its own search rules

78 Primo -- Find Databases Use Show Info and/or use a relevant worksheet

79 Access to Medline is via Primo TIP: w recommend use of Ovid Medline (not Pubmed) Many entries for Medline click on the entry for the year range you require

80 Now Any questions? Try things out for yourself did you identify any databases beyond Scopus and Web of Science at the beginning of the workshop? Use the ProQuest/EBSCO/Ovid worksheet(s) available on this wiki as a guide Ask for help that s what we re here for

81 Access from on- and off-campus

82 Look for Login or Sign in option. Then Institution or Other Institution or Shibboleth

83 Use dropdown and select UK Access Management Federation

84 Then look for University of Aberdeen (Scopus listing: not in a-z order this year!)

85 University computer username and password needed to authenticate (=prove) that you are entitled to access this resource

86 Scopus: when you use the Institution/Shibboleth login route you ll get the opportunity to Activate Personalization complete and submit the online form. TIP: having a personal (My Scopus) account gives you access to extra services.

87 More detailed information on accessing electronic sources is available in Learners Toolkit and library guides

88 Remote access to resources To access our electronic books, journals and databases you must prove that you are a student from University of Aberdeen (= authentication) Several authentication methods used by information suppliers Use Primo > Find Databases route for reliable access Shibboleth/Institution login works on and off campus most databases Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) makes your personal PC look as if it is a classroom PC. Access to classroom software Using the VDI is essential if you are off campus and want to access classroom specific software IT Services and Library guides available

89 Finishing off

90 Why use databases? Essential that you use research information in support of your thesis reading Academic databases contain information about research published in journals, at seminars and conferences Databases offer powerful searching, sorting, displaying and alerting features If we could get by using just Google and Google Scholar we wouldn t spend > 300,000 each year on databases Most effective way to find out about published academic research is to search across academic databases

91 Search process - 2 Set alerts Monitor alerts Store citations Skim. Evaluate Refine. Limit. Sort Keywords and Concepts/Ideas. Search rules Availability Repeat relevant database(s)

92 Complying with copyright your responsibility Basic allowances: 1 chapter from a book, 1 article from a journal However, some publishers work with more generous restrictions within our online licences e.g.: ScienceDirect (Elsevier) Books: can download multiple chapters Journal articles: can download multiple papers from a relevant issue of a journal SpringerLink (Springer) Books: can download complete book or multiple chapters Journal articles: can download multiple papers from a relevant issue of a journal All publishers monitor downloads and will contact us if misuse (mass download!) occurs. Our advice is to only take those items that are required for personal study/research

93 Overview Identify suitable and relevant databases Highlight powerful search features Introduce the idea of managing references AIM: Feel confident that you can make effective use of databases to find journal articles and research level material to support your research [Note we cover using RefWorks for managing references in Part 3 of this workshop series]

94 Help and advice Library: Subject support Information Consultants Subject & Enquiry staff (TSDRL floors 3-6, Medical and Taylor Libraries) Worksheets in our wiki (FinditFast!) Access and IT: MyIT or Tel: Use phone for out of office hours (OOH) service ( on weekdays and anytime at the weekend) In person: Edward Wright building (lunchtimes are very busy!!)

95 Transforming the world with greater knowledge and learning