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Searching the Literature planning a search using information resources effectively

Searching the Literature planning a search using information resources effectively. Applied Psychology October 2009. Gathering information. 1 – definitions 2 – search strategy 3 – choose resources 4 – begin searches 5 – refine searches 6 – note the sources of information used.

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Searching the Literature planning a search using information resources effectively

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  1. Searching the Literatureplanning a searchusing information resources effectively Applied Psychology October 2009

  2. Gathering information • 1 – definitions • 2 – search strategy • 3 – choose resources • 4 – begin searches • 5 – refine searches • 6 – note the sources of information used

  3. What am I looking for? Planning is the key: • look carefully at your topic • break it down into concepts or themes e.g.“how reliable is eyewitness testimony”?

  4. How to put concepts together • AND • both words must be present in the record for it to be retrieved • OR • either word or both must be present in the record for it to be retrieved

  5. Boolean operators AND OR eyewitness AND testimony eyewitness OR eye witness

  6. Boolean operators • use the Boolean operators to help you express your search logically e.g. AND AND

  7. Synonyms and spellings • think about other terms which mean the same i.e. synonyms, or related terms • remember alternative spellings e.g. US vs British AND AND OR OR

  8. Widening a search Other options with keyword searching: • use truncation to pick up plurals or other word endings • e.g. testimon* = testimony, testimonies • use wildcards to pick up spelling variants • e.g. behavio?r = behavior, behaviour • use adjaceny for words appearing in the same sentence • e.g. nature SAME nuture = nature nurture, nature versus nurture, nurture as opposed to nature,...

  9. Widening a search AND AND OR OR

  10. Limiting a search • Can you make your search more specific? • For example: • English language • date of publication (last 5 years?) • type of publication (review articles?) • type of population (human? animal?)

  11. Selecting your resource(s) • what kind of information do you want? • how much information do you want? • which “finding aids” cover this type of information? e.g. • Library Catalogue for books • databases such as PsycInfofor journal articles • LexisNexis orInfotrac for newspaper articles • Intute for web links

  12. www.dur.ac.uk/library • Library Catalogue • Databases link • Subject Information – Psychology • Information skills – tips pages • Literature searching workshop page with online tutorials

  13. Constructing your own search Using the search grid • choose your own search question • break it down into key terms • think of synonyms, alternative spellings and plurals, etc • decide which Boolean operators are required

  14. Practical • Connect to the internet • From the Current Student’s Gateway click: Library | Subject information | Psychology | Information skills | AppPsycTraining 2

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