Research Smarter NOT Harder College of Science & Mathematics
Finding Books PolyCat, Kennedy Library's online catalog of books, journal titles (not individual articles), DVDs and other resources. Hint: When you find a good book on your topic, click on the book record s Subject link to find other books on your topic quickly Get Books Not in the Library Link+ Interlibrary Loan
Subject Heading Search
Subject Heading Search
Link+ Search
Choose a Subject Database All Subjects Google Scholar Academic Search Elite CQ Researcher All Sciences Web of Science ScienceDirect Communication/Technology/Economics Communication and Mass Media Global market information data ABI/Inform Biology/Kinesiology PubMed CINAHL Psychology/Motivation/Education ERIC PsycINFO
Search Multiple Databases at Once
Database/Article Searching Citation Linker Scholarly and peer-reviewed? Hints: Find articles from reference lists Click peer-reviewed in advanced search Set age, gender, year, etc. limitations Use cited by and related articles Example: Google Scholar
Citation Linker
Google Scholar: if you select Find it and our library doesn t have it they will get it and email it to you!!
Find It Services: if it s not available, Kennedy Library will get it for you.fast!!
Interlibrary Loan
Exercises Use your topic to search using PolyCat and use subject search Article database quick search GoogleScholar cited by, related articles and find it CINAHL and then look narrow results by
Boolean Operators AND - Both words must be present (technology and environment) OR - Either or both words must be present (technology or machinery) NOT - The first but not the second word must be present (technology not machinery)
Boolean Operators cont. Use quotation marks to search as a phrase, in the exact order you type them, example web 2.0. Use an asterisk to search for multiple versions of a word at once by truncating the terms. For example, typing technolg** will allow you to search for technology, technologies and technological.
Exercises Search Google for your topic then do an Advanced search with domain limits and/ or Boolean limits Search in Academic Search Elite for your topic then use with Boolean limits, quotations, and truncation
Citing What needs to be cited? What tools do I have to cite material correctly?
What needs to be cited? What does not need to be cited? Words and ideas presented in a: - magazine - book - newspaper - journal Images, diagrams, illustrations, charts, pictures, video Direct quote or unique phrase Paraphrasing of others words or ideas Common knowledge - folklore, myths - common sense observations historical events (but not historical documents) - general rule if you can find it stated 5 other places without a citation) Your own experiences, observations, insights, conclusions, lab results Images, video, text you have created, generally accepted facts
Common Lit Rev Weaknesses Using articles or writing extracted from anywhere particularly questionable, random websites, and not technically reputable sources. Reviewing 2-3 articles and then declaring victory, and getting on with your own opinions. Not having a strategy for searching and summarizing what you have read. Poor citation of sources (e.g., not following APA format).
Common Weaknesses cont. Not understanding or appreciating the ethics of a literature review in the context of a technical project and paper. Not understanding that producing a literature review takes time and effort to dig through databases and locate appropriate material. Conceiving and labeling the process as a Literary Review rather that as an essential review of technical publications in a field.
What Constitutes a Good Literature Review? Credible sources Peer-reviewed articles Articles in premier journal Time Extensive Sources 5-10 year period Prominent Sources Articles with large cited-by numbers Integrative Sources Meta-analysis Review articles Associated/Linked Sources
Need Help? Libguides KINE470 www.calpoly.edu/~jgphelan Click on the Research button on the home page COSAM Research Central 24/7 Librarians Or contact our COSAM College Librarian Jeanine Scaramozzino, jscaramo@calpoly.edu