Transcript Finding resources for your Theology dissertation

Coloured cards
• If you find a coloured card at your seat
please hold onto it.
• We will be asking you to read out the
question written on the card.
• If you do not feel comfortable reading it
aloud, please pass the card to another
member of the group.
Finding resources for your
Theology dissertation
Suzie Kitchin & Christine Purcell
June 2009
Learning Outcomes
After this workshop you will be able to:
• Construct a search strategy
• Select the most appropriate resources for
your topic
• Effectively search catalogues and
bibliographical databases
• Search full-text sources
I know what topic I want to
study, but where do I start with
searching for material?
Planning your search
• Research strategy (see handout)
• Consider scope of research
• What kind of information are you looking
for?
• Keywords and synonyms
Effective searching
• Truncation, eg. Bibl* (bible, biblical etc)
• Wildcards, eg. savi#r(saviour, savior)
– Useful for British / American differences
• Subject headings
– In Library catalogue, databases
Resources
• Advanced features on library catalogue
–
–
–
–
Keyword searching
Modifying your search
Marking records
Use of AND, OR, AND NOT
• Theology Subject pages as a launch pad
I’ve found some useful books
in the library on my
dissertation topic but how do I
find what else has been
published on my subject?
Resources
• Databases (eg)
–
–
–
–
ATLA Religion (within FirstSearch)
Web of Knowledge
ECCO; EEBO
JSTOR
• News archives (eg)
– Infotrac
– Times Digital Archive
I will be doing my literature
searching from home over the
summer. How can I access
material when I’m not in
Durham?
Studying away from Durham
• Access to online resources
• Full text sources
– E-journals, JSTOR, e-books
– Connexions link in databases
– Blackwell Reference online
• Using other libraries
– Other library catalogues including Copac
– SCONUL Access scheme
Can’t I just use the Internet to
do my research? I’ve found a
lot of information on my
subject there.
Internet resources
• Accuracy? Currency?
• Authority? Objectivity?
• Internet Gateways for pre-evaluated resources
– Eg. Intute Arts and Humanities
• Tutorials, eg. Internet for Religious Studies
• Google Scholar (access via library pages)
• http://www.dur.ac.uk/library/theology/
How do I keep track of all the
references I find?
Saving your references
• Library catalogue & databases
– Emailing results
• Databases
– Save searches & re-run them
• Endnote
– Bibliographic management software
– ITS Guide 92
How will I remember in a few
months time where to go to
access these resources?
Help and support
• Theology Subject pages as launch pad
• Research strategy handout (+ on web pages)
• Online enquiries service
http://www.dur.ac.uk/library/using/enquiries/
• Academic Support Team
– Christine Purcell [email protected] 0191 334 2937
– Suzie Kitchin
[email protected] 0191 334 2975
Practical and individual support
• Time to explore resources for your
dissertation
• Individual chats
• Any questions – please ask
• Please complete online evaluation before
logging off your PC
http://www.survey.bris.ac.uk/durham/theodiss09