Transcript DATABASES TRAINING

GEOLOGY STUDENTS
February 2011
LIBRARY TRAINING:
WHERE & HOW TO FIND INFORMATION FOR YOUR
RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT/PROJECT
Pavlinka Kovatcheva, UJ Sciences Librarian, APK
[email protected]
PRESENTATION OUTLINE
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Library orientation
- Geology Subject Portal
Steps in online searching
Searching techniques
Electronic Databases & Internet
Reference Techniques
Conclusion
UJ Library Portal (http://www.uj.ac.za/library)
UJ Sciences Librarian Portal
http://ujsciencelibrarian.pbworks.com/
GEOLOGY SUBJECT PORTAL
http://ujsciencelibrarian.pbworks.com/Geology
STEPS IN ONLINE SEARCHING
http://ujsciencelibrarian.pbworks.com/Getting-Started-with-your-Research
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Step 6
Step 7
Step 8
Step 9
Identify your topic
Identify the main terms or keywords
Combine terms by using Boolean Operators
Locate and access the Library Resources
Select an appropriate source
Ongoing evaluation of the search results
Refine your search
Gather citations for your sources
Stop searching and start writing
STEP 1
IDENTIFY YOUR TOPIC
 Identify your topic
 Narrow your topic
- Look up your topic in general and specialised subject encyclopedias.
What you find will provide you with more specific topics, and possible
approaches or angles to take in your paper
 Write down your topic
- Develop several questions that you plan to answer in your paper
or speech. This is an important step because your questions will
become topic sentences for your outline. If you write leading
questions, it’ll be easier to come up with a list of answers and issues to
address in your project
STEP 2
IDENTIFY THE MAIN TERMS OR KEYWORDS
 Brainstorm for a list of search terms/ keywords
 Think of words and phrases related to your topic. Consider broader and narrower
terms, and synonyms (words that have the same meaning).
 Look up these terms in dictionaries and thesaurus. You may want to look them up in
subject specific dictionaries and encyclopedias.
 Establish logical relationship between the keywords, by making use of different
Searching techniques (AND, OR)
 Are there any specific names (authors, geographical locations, etc.) that would focus
my search?
MAKE USE OF THE THESAURUS
Keyword searching is not always the most effective or efficient approach.
Different authors use different words to describe the same concept or topic.
Trying to think of all the possible ways a concept could be expressed by
different people takes much mental effort, and chances are that you'll still
miss a few.
Instead, let the database itself help you. Most databases have a Thesaurus with
lists of selected words or phrases. Known as "controlled vocabulary," it is
used to describe concepts. The single word or phrase listed in the
Thesaurus can replace all the words you might try to think of yourself.
STEP 3 COMBINE TERMS BY USING
BOOLEAN OPERATORS
 When searching the UJ Library Catalogue, the Databases or the Internet
websites, using Boolean Operators helps you broaden or narrow your search
and its results.
- AND narrows your search,
- OR broadens your search, and
- NOT excludes certain terms
Use truncation symbols (usually ? or *) to capture all forms of words (e.g.,
educat? will retrieve education, educating, and educators).
STEP 4 LOCATE AND ACCESS THE
LIBRARY RESOURCES
Go to: UJ Library webpage (http://www.uj.ac.za/library)
Click on: Subject Collections
Then select: Science Librarian Portal or go directly to:
http://ujsciencelibrarian.pbwiki.com/
Most databases can be accessed remotely (from home).
Only Surname, student number & PIN will be requested for access.
Click on: UJLink (http://ujlink.uj.ac.za)
To search for the print collections in the library, and also to search simultaneously
multiple resources (print AND electronic)
STEP 5
SELECT AN APPROPRIATE SOURCE
 For background, basic information consider:
- UJ Library catalogue: to search for print general and
subject specific encyclopedias, handbooks, and other
reference books.
- Databases: to search for electronic reference works, such
as: Oxford Reference Online, Oxford English Dictionary,
Combined Chemical Dictionary, AccessScience (McGraw),
Encyclopedia of Energy, Gale Virtual Reference Online, etc.
Finding Information in Books
 Find books for overview & retrospective information on the
Assignment topic
For Print Books search the UJ Library Catalogue (UJLink).
Recommended books are also placed on the Reserve “Short
Loan” Collection (Library Foyer). Used only in the Library for 2h.
For Online Books search the Databases (Remote Access,
Multiple users)
- CRC ENVIROnetBASE Online Books on Biogeography,
Ecology, Ecosystems, etc.
- My iLibrary
Access to ONLINE BOOKS is also available through UJLINK
UJ LINK: Course Reserves for Geology
Recommended & Prescribed books on Reserve “Short Loan” Collection
(Library Foyer). Used only in the Library for 2h.
http://ujlink.uj.ac.za/search/r
UJ LINK: Search for Books with the New DEWEY
Classification system
New Classification System for Books: Dewey
http://bpeck.com/references/DDC/ddc_mine500.htm
Online Book & References Collections
http://ujsciencelibrarian.pbworks.com/Online-Books
STEP 5
SELECT AN APPROPRIATE SOURCE
 Find Current Information
- For current information consider the use of the
Electronic Bibliographic and Full-text databases available
in the library
- Additional search from Internet:
Consider searching selected Internet websites, such as:
Google Scholar; Scirus; etc.
STEP 6
ONGOING EVALUATION OF THE SEARCH RESULTS
 Evaluation determines how effectively and efficiently the information need
was satisfied.
 Evaluate the sources you’ve found, paying attention to their relevance,
purpose, value, accuracy, and authors’ credibility.
 Remember that Internet sources should also be evaluated for bias and
inaccuracies, and you should pay attention to whether the sites present
facts or opinions.
 As you start to create an outline of your project or paper, note areas
where you need more information.
STEP 7
REFINE YOUR SEARCH
 You need to be prepared for unexpected search results (too much or too little
information retrieved)
 If your search did not yield enough results, try searching a broader terms. If your
search yield too many results, use narrow terms. Make sure you are using Boolean
operators correctly
 Use alternative keywords (synonyms)
 Try different databases
 You won’t necessarily use everything you find. As a rough guide, find twice as many
sources as your lecturer requires. For example, if your lecturer asks you to find 5
items, aim for 10. This allows you to choose from plenty of sources rather than being
stuck with too few or relying on an incomplete collection of sources
STEP 8
GATHER CITATIONS FOR YOUR SOURCES
 As you’re doing research, you should write down bibliographic
information (author, title, publisher, date of publication, etc.). This
will enable you to be prepared to create a “Bibliography” or
“Works Cited” list.
 In books, you’ll find this information collected on a “title page,” one
of the first few pages. Online journals print this information at the
top/bottom of the page. Print journals usually have this
information on their covers.
 Web pages are inconsistent about this information, so ask for help
if you have trouble locating it.
STEP 9
STOP SEARCHING AND START WRITING
 How do you know when you have enough information?
 This is hard to judge, but you need to do more research if you still
have questions about what you’re reading or if there are names
and ideas that you’re not sure about.
 Once you have all the information you have gathered it is time to
start writing
 If you still experience problems, contact your Subject Librarian for
assistance
SEARCHING TECHNIQUES
 SEARCH STRATEGY
 Understand what is required
 Identify the concepts
 Translate the concepts into keywords
• BOOLEAN OPERATORS ( AND, OR , NOT)
• TRUNCATION ( * )
• WILDCARD CHARACTER ( ? )
• PHRASE SEARCH ( “ “ )
• USE OF PARENTHESIS ( )
BOOLEAN OPERATORS:
AND, OR , NOT
 DEFINITIONS OF BOOLEAN OPERATORS
 Boolean operators are the words used to group, combine, or
intersect terms when searching databases. Boolean operators
provide a way to tell a computer how to combine your keywords/
terms. In other words, they refer to the logical relationship among
search terms.

The operators used more frequently are AND & OR and not so
frequently NOT. They are used to combine search terms to
broaden or narrow the results of a search.
OR is more, AND is less.
BOOLEAN OPERATOR: AND
Using AND tells the database to look for all the words on either side of the AND. Thus, a
search for "success AND adult learners AND distance education" would retrieve only records
in which every one of the terms appears.
The more words you connect with AND, the fewer records the database will retrieve.
AND means "I want only documents that contain both words."
BOOLEAN OPERATOR: OR

OR
The more terms or concepts we combine in a search with OR logic, the more records we
will retrieve.


Using OR tells the database to look for any one of the words on either side of the OR.
Thus, a search for "success OR achievement OR progress OR goals" would retrieve
records in which any one of the terms appears.
OR means "I want documents that contain either word; I don't care which word."

BOOLEAN OPERATOR: NOT
Although NOT is considered a connector, it probably should be called
"The Eliminator." Use it very carefully, as it excludes any terms that follow it.
You may end up losing valuable information when you use NOT.
NOT logic is used to exclude a particular concept/term. We retrieve only records in which ONLY
ONE of the terms is present.
TRUNCATION ( * )
After identifying all the possible relevant search terms, decide
whether you are going to use Truncation to EXTEND the search
strategy.
Truncation may be used to restrict the search to WORD STEM (
right truncation)
geolog* will retrieve information on geology, geological,
geologist, etc.
mineralog* will retrieve information on mineralogy, mineralogical,
mineralogist, etc.
WILDCARD CHARACTER ( ? )
Wildcard can be helpful when you are unsure of the correct
spelling of a word.
A wildcard is the insertion of a question mark symbol in place
of a letter that you do not know.
wom?n will search for both women and
woman
Use wildcard to retrieve words that are used differently in
American and English languages.
organi?ation will find organiSation and
organiZation
PHRASE SEARCHING (“ ”)
Phrase searching, use the quotation marks to search for
results that contained those words together, rather than
search for all instances of each separate word:
“economic geology” ;
“South Africa”
“igneous petrology”
USE OF PARENTHESIS ( )
The use of parenthesis is very important in the
grouping of search terms, not only for clarity on
search terms representing the same concept, but
also for instructing the computer in WHAT ORDER
the search should be executed.
(Achondrites OR Stony meteorites) AND
occurrence
The word occurance will be combined with both
terms before creating the final set
ELECTRONIC DATABASES & INTERNET






Difference between Bibliographic & Full-text databases
Bibliographic databases & the Research plan
How to find FULL-TEXT journals in the library
How to find a specific journals electronically: A-to-Z list
Electronic Databases (Bibliographic & Full-text)
How to search the electronic databases for
articles/references
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BIBLIOGRAPHIC AND FULLTEXT DATABASES
Bibliographic Database
A bibliographic database is an online database that lists sources of information and
describes the information, but that does not include the text of the information itself. It
contains only references to various types of documents such as journal articles, books,
conference papers and reports.
Full-text database
A full-text database holds the complete text of original sources. The user can read the
article, print, e-mail or download a copy.
NOTE:
Full-text databases also provides access to abstracts only (Some journals have
Publishers restrictions for displaying the full-text articles)
HOW A BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATABASE SEARCH FITS
INTO A RESEARCH PLAN
 A search of a bibliographic database is the first step in investigating a new
research area or refining a research project.
 Surveying the previous research enables you to pinpoint topics for further
research or replication of that research.
 You can also use a search to locate general articles and books on your topic
to broaden your understanding of it and to learn about recent developments.
 After your research is complete, you can use a bibliographic search as an
efficient way to find articles on your topic that were published since your initial
search, in order to incorporate these recent findings into your report.
 Once references are retrieved from a bibliographic databases, you need to
try and find the full-text articles.
HOW TO FIND SPECIFIC JOURNALS IN
PRINT AND ONLINE: : UJLink
Search for Print &
Electronic Journals
per TITLE
HOW TO FIND SPECIFIC JOURNALS
ELECTRONICALLY: A-to-Z JOURNAL LIST
MULTIDISCIPLINARY
FULL-TEXT DATABASES








Academic Onefile (Infotrac)
Academic Search Complete (EbscoHost)
JSTOR (Retrospective database, 3-5 years back file)
MasterFILE Premier (EbscoHost)
SA E-publications ( South African journals)
ScienceDirect ( Elsevier Publ. journals)
SpringerLink (Springer and Kluwer Publ. journals)
Wiley Online Library
SCIENCE DIRECT DATABASE
SCIENCE DIRECT FEATURES:
Full Abstracts; Sort by Relevance/Data; View Related Articles; Search Feeds; Search
within Results; Full-text options
WILEY ONLINE LIBRARY (full-text, 1997+)
SPRINGER LINK DATABASE
SUBJECTS BIBLIOGRAPHIC &
FULL-TEXT DATABASES

-
Geology
Data Metalogenetica (repository of mineral deposits)
GeoRef (Bibl. Database)
GeoScienceWorld (35 full-text journals)
SAGEOLIT (Bibl. Database)

-
Chemistry
ACS (American Chemical Society) (full-text)
RSC (Royal Society of Chemistry) (full-text)
SciFinder (Bibl.)
 Physics
APS Prola (full-text)
Institute of Physics (IOP) (full-text)
SUBJECT BIBLIOGRAPHIC &
FULL-TEXT DATABASES
 Mathematics
MathSciNet (full-text)

-
IT
ACM (Association of Computing Machinery) (full-text)
Academic Onefile (incl. Computer database) (full-text)
Safari Tech Books Online (300 full-text e-books)

-
Engineering
ASCE American Society of Civil Engineers (incl. full-text)
CRC ENGNetBase (e-books)
Engineering Village2 (incl. Compendex, Inspec)
IEEE Xplore (incl. full-text)
Referex (e-books)
GEOREF & GEOSCIENCE WORLD DATABASES:
QUICK SEARCH
GEOREF & GEOSCIENCE WORLD DATABASES:
ADVANCED SEARCH
GEOREF & GEOSCIENCE WORLD FEATURES:
Quick & Advanced search screen; Select Document type; Retrieve both full-text and references only;
Thesaurus terms; PDF & HTML full-text; Once the article is open, on the right side of the screen you can find:
alerts & e-mail options; Citing articles; Google Scholar author search results
SAGEOLIT (through SabinetOnline)
Select SAGEOLIT
Type your keywords
to search SAGEOLIT
Your Results List
DATA METALLOGENICA
Global Reference System for ore deposit information
Requires password to access
SOUTH AFRICAN DATABASES
 Africa-Wide Nipad (EbscoHost)
Works published in and about Africa & South Africa
 SA E-Publications
Bibliographic and full-text access to South African
journals
 Sabinet Online
Access to various databases with SA content
SA E-PUBLICATIONS DATABASE
Full-text articles are available; Limit search with: Full-text/ No full-text/ both; Limit per Journal
title & Accredited & Non-accredited journals. PDF articles will open in a new window.
Select references & e-mail / print them
TYPE YOUR
KEYWORDS
GOOGLE SCHOLAR: http://scholar.google.com
Basic & Advanced search screen; Search for Author, Publication, Date range. Under
Preferences – Export to RefWorks option; View Recent articles (2003+); Cited by; Related
articles; Full-text – available
REFERENCE TECHNIQUES
To access full Reference Techniques document, go to
the Library main page:
http://www.uj.ac.za/library
Click on: Reference Techniques
OR
Consult the reference techniques from
“South African Journal of Geology”
Shelf number: AG6 SAJG – Level 2
REFERENCE TECHNIQUES: TERMINOLOGY
 Citation: recognizing resources in-text (to support an
“argument”/conclusion)
 Reference list: List of resources used –
bibliographic details
 Bibliography: list of relevant documents – used and
additional reading material
REFERENCE TECHNIQUES
Avoid Plagiarism by:
 Keeping a record of all the sources - books, e-mails,
lectures (when, who, what?)
 Linking own ideas with that obtained from sources
 Collecting/using a wide range of sources
 Acknowledge, acknowledge, acknowledge!
Basic in-text referencing (citing)
In-text reference where the author of the source is known
Simply use whatever you used as author in the reference, as well as the year of publication.
Always insert the page number where possible.
Examples:
…the result of this is a “technical super identity” (Erikson, 1967:20).
Azar and Martin (1999) found that… (As part of the sentence)
…thus Cox (1966:52) refers to the modern urbanite as…
In-text reference to more than one source:
In-text reference to more than one author should be ordered alphabetically.
Examples:
More recent studies (Bartlett, 1992; James, 1998) show that…
The researchers (Bartlett, 1992:54; Brown, 1876:56; James, 1998:45) refer to…
GENERAL FORMS FOR REFERENCE LISTS
Non-periodical
Author, A.A. (1994). Title of work. Location: Publisher.
Non-periodicals include items published separately: books, reports,brochures, certain monographs,
manuals, and audiovisual media.
Part of a Non-periodical
Author, A.A. & Author, B.B. (1994). Title of chapter. In Title of book. Edited by Editor, A., Editor, B. &
Editor, C. Location: Publisher.
Periodical
Author, A.A., Author, B.B. & Author, C.C. (1994). Title of article. Title of periodical, xx:xxx-xxxx.
(Volume/Issue number/Pages)
Periodicals include items published on a regular basis: journals, magazines, scholarly newsletters,
etc.
Online periodical
Author, A.A., Author, B.B. & Author, C.C. (2000). Title of article. Title of periodical, xx:xxx-xxxx.
(Volume/Issue number/Pages) Available from: web address (Accessed day Month year).
Online document
Author, A.A. (2000). Title of work. Available from: web address (Accessed day Month year).
THANK YOU
Pavlinka Kovatcheva
Subject
Librarian: Sciences
Tel: 011 5592621
e-mail:
[email protected]