LT901 Library resources and information skills

Emma Walkey LiFTS Librarian 15

th

October 2008

Literature searching

 A key part of the process of doing a literature review  The sort of material you are looking for will affect both

where

and

how

you search  Takes longer than you may think!

 Not necessarily a linear process

Where to start: the information hierarchy

   As a general rule, the

purpose

of your search will determine what sources you use Start with sources where the information provided: • Is aimed at an academic audience • • Has been through a quality control process Takes a critical rather than a descriptive approach Such as: • MLA International Bibliography (LION) • Annual Bibliography of English Language and Literature (LION) • JSTOR/Project Muse/EBSCOHost

Search strategy

 Before you start looking, think about the keywords which you will use to search • Synonyms, plurals, spelling variations • Ways of combining different search terms  May require you to investigate how a source works before you use it but will save time in the long run

Women’s cinema and women’s identity in Latin America

Women, woman, wom?n, female, feminine, femini*… Cinema, film, motion pictures, acting, actors, act*,director… Identity, personality, essence, characteristics… Latin America, South America, Brazil, Chile, Argentina… (Women or female or feminine) and (cinema or film or motion pictures) Women and film and “Latin America”

Literature Online (LION)

 Primary texts  Biographies and bibliographies of major writers  Indexes to secondary texts (MLA/ABELL), and access to journal articles in full text

Refining a search

  If you are getting too many results, think about ways to narrow down your search • Make search terms more precise • • Include additional search terms Combine terms with AND If you are not getting enough results, think about ways to broaden your search • Make search terms less precise • • • Use fewer terms in your search Combine terms with OR Use truncation symbols

How to search for different types of material and how to get hold of them

  Books & Journal articles • Albert Sloman Library catalogue (book suggestions) • • • Other library catalogues/online bookshops Inter library loans SCONUL Access Theses • Library catalogue • • • EThOS Index to Theses/Proquest Dissertations and Theses ILL/SCONUL Access

Searching the internet

 Getting started on the internet • http://www.essex.ac.uk/myskills/skills/researc h/criticalUseInternet.asp

(Critical use of the internet on MySkills) • http://www.vts.intute.ac.uk/he/tutorial/english (Internet tutorial from JISC Intute) • http://libwww.essex.ac.uk/subject_resources/li t.html

(Literature subject guide)

What to look for

 Who has produced the site?

 Who is the intended audience?

 How current is the information?

 What evidence is there of quality control?

Contact me

Emma Walkey [email protected]

Ext. 3181 Enquiry desk Wed AM in term or ask for me at any time Notes at http://libwww.essex.ac.uk/literature_searching_lifts.htm