Research Beyond Google. Frosh Friday Seminar Michelle Spence Engineering & Computer Science Library February 17, 2012

Transcription

1 Research Beyond Google Frosh Friday Seminar Michelle Spence Engineering & Computer Science Library February 17, 2012

2 Agenda Searching using Google Research 101 Build a search strategy Selecting the best tools Obtaining articles online and in print Other sources of information - standards and codes Evaluating information Writing & citing Research assistance

3 How do you usually find information? In your personal life For school projects and assignments

4 Benefits of Using Search Engines Quick and easy Get a variety of information web pages, images, maps, videos, etc. Free

5 Drawbacks of Using Search Engines Can t always get up to date or older information Can only look at online information Do not access deep web Hard to sort/organize search results Authority, accuracy, bias, and currency not always clear CRAAP test

6 Search Engine Results

7 How easy is it To spot a reliable website?

8

9

10

11

12

13 Why do you care?

14 Scholarly Sources Primary sources Research Articles Peer reviewed articles Conference proceedings Standards Technical reports Patents Codes and laws Review articles

15 Google Scholar

16 Wikipedia Wikipedia is the best thing ever. Anyone in the world can write anything they want about any subject. So you know you are getting the best possible information. Michael Scott, The Office

17 Going Beyond Google

18 It s all free and available online $ 28,783,001 : University of Toronto Libraries. (n.d.) Annual Statistics. [Online]. Available t/2010/complete-report pdf

19 What do you get with that $28,783,001? Over 30 libraries Books (electronic and print) Databases Newspapers Standards Codes Journals (electronic and print) Statistics Videos and sound recordings Access online resources from home!

20 Access to resources from off campus Always begin at the library s home page You will be prompted to enter your UTORid and password, or TCard barcode and PIN

21 Research 101 General Encyclopedias Textbooks Books Review Articles Specific Primary Articles, Standards, Technical Papers, etc.

22 Before you start your search Define your topic and identify key concepts Build a search strategy E.g. remediation of groundwater after mercury contamination

23 Search Strategy Now you need to find alternate terms for your key concepts: broader, narrower, related terms acronyms plural/singular, spelling variations - use the truncation symbol, usually *

24 broadening your search Concept #1 groundwater ground water subsurface water Concept #2 remediation bioremediation amelioration Concept #3 mercury heavy metals

25 Finding the Best Resources

26 Searching for Books? Use the Library Catalogue

27

28 Print items: Write down: call number (TJ820.N X) library (Engineering) location (Stacks)

29

30 Things to remember: Search the Library Catalogue for books books are usually on a general topic, and might cover many specific things - broaden your search to a more general topic to try and find information The catalogue searches for what you type in, so the words you use matter!

31 Searching for research articles? Use a database

32

33

34

35

36

37

38 Full-text Access

39

40

41

42

43 Linking doesn t work? Searching for the JOURNAL or CONFERENCE TITLE in the library catalogue

44 Looking for a Specific Article? Article search type in title of the article OR Article Finder OR Search for the Conference/Journal title in the library catalogue and dig

45 Other Sources Government Documents Patents Etc. Who might collect/produce this kind of information?

46 Examples City of Toronto Information? Go to City of Toronto Web site Government of Ontario Information? Go to Government of Ontario web site US patents? Go to USPTO web site Lots of information is online, but you need to search it effectively

47 Standards and Codes Standards are documents that describe the important features of a product, service or system. For example, CSA Standard Z Ice Hockey Pucks specifies a hockey puck's material, size, mass, hardness at room temperature and test methods.

48 Standards and Codes Codes are collections of laws and rules which provide correct procedures to maintain uniformity and safety. Example: Ontario Building Code

49 Standards and Codes at U of T Engineering and Computer Science Library has standards and codes ONLINE and in PRINT To search for a standard or to see what we have, come and ask!

50 Evaluating Information Accuracy Authority Bias Audience level Currency

51 Evaluating Information Accuracy Authority Bias OR Audience level Currency

52 Evaluating Information Accuracy Authority Bias OR Audience level Currency

53 CRAAP Currency Relevancy Authority Accuracy Purpose

54 Writing & Citing Accurate documentation Helps you justify your decisions Gives credit when it is due Check out the Engineering Communication Program s web site for tips and tricks including a plagiarism self-test

55 Citation Management Software Allows you to easily select, annotate, organize, and output citations in approved-style reference lists It also allows you to easily format bibliographies and in-text citations

56 Examples of citation management software (free and fee-based) RefWorks (licenced by U of T; sign up with your U of T )) Reference Manager (fee-based; U of T Bookstore gives student discounts) Endnote (fee-based; U of T Bookstore gives student discounts) EndNote Web (available through Web of Knowledge - Click "My EndNote Web" to register for a free account) Zotero (free) WizFolio (licenced by U of T; sign up with your U of T )

57 Overwhelmed?

58 The best resource of all

59 Engineering and Computer Science Library SF Research resources Computers Printers Photocopiers Scanners Study space

60 Chat Service

61 Questions?

62 Thank you! Michelle Spence Engineering & Computer Science Library