Effective Literature Searching for Projects and Dissertations

EffectiveLiteratureSearching Projects & Dissertations

Today’s Session

•Constructing an effective search strategy

•Finding resources with Library Search

•Using the databases on your Subject Guide

•Evaluating & referencing with infoSuss

•Further support

Effective Searching

• Identify key concepts and alternative terms

•Narrow your search with phrase searching

“research methods”

•Broaden your search using * or OR

method* for methods or methodology

reference OR citation

Your turn

Analyse your topic and produce a list of keywords

Think about alternative terms, related topics, acronyms etc.

Library Search

•Tabbed searching across all resources

•Use the left-hand menu to refine your results

•Sign in to save results, searches, and set alerts

•Links to Reading Lists and Interlibrary Requests

Your turn

Search for materials on Library Search using your keywords

Think about best operators and filters to use

Subject Guides

•Contain a wide range of key subject specific

resources including academic databases and

specialist archives

•Access from the Library Homepage

•Cross-check results with Library holdings using:

Other Guides

Although we have grouped the

most relevant resources on to your

guide, you may also find useful

information in the Other Guides

section, for example:

•These and dissertations

•Ebooks

Web resources

•An increasing number of potentially useful

resources available online

• It is important to critically evaluate what

you are using to ensure it is suitable

•The Assessing web pages guide on

infoSuss will help with this

Referencing and Reference Management

•Look at infoSuss on Study Direct for guidance on

referencing styles and software

•Different software includes:

Endnote - supported by ITS

Zotero - guides on Study Direct

Further Support

Further Support tab on Subject Guide for

• Instant messaging

•Bookable 1-2-1’s

•Skills Hub

• infoSuss