AIMS OF THE WORKSHOPAIMS OF THE WORKSHOP To understand the To understand the Research ProcessResearch Process

To become familiar with the To become familiar with the Library CatalogueLibrary Catalogue

To become familiar with To become familiar with Internet Internet searchingsearching techniquestechniques

To understandTo understand how to how to evaluateevaluate the information the information foundfound

To understand how to compile a To understand how to compile a bibliographybibliography

DESIGN CENTRE LIBRARY

The Research ProcessThe Research Process

ResearchResearch is a process followed when an is a process followed when an information needinformation need is identified. is identified. A simple example would be if you want to A simple example would be if you want to see a movie, you look at a newspaper, call see a movie, you look at a newspaper, call the cinema or check a website to find the the cinema or check a website to find the session time.session time.

In an academic environment, the In an academic environment, the information is usually much more complex. information is usually much more complex. In addition, you need to make it time In addition, you need to make it time efficient and achieve a successful efficient and achieve a successful result.e.g. designing an eventresult.e.g. designing an event

The Research ProcessThe Research Process

DEFINEDEFINE what you need what you need LOCATELOCATE information information SEARCHSEARCH for information for information EVALUATEEVALUATE information information ORGANISEORGANISE information information PRESENTPRESENT informationinformation REFERENCEREFERENCE sources used sources used

DEFINING INFORMATION NEEDS

Break your assignment question into significant words Break your assignment question into significant words or short phrases.or short phrases.

LLook up the definition of important words, concepts and ook up the definition of important words, concepts and phrases. phrases.

Make a list of words of similar meaning and also of more Make a list of words of similar meaning and also of more specific or more general meaning. specific or more general meaning.

UUse a dictionary or encyclopaedia to define keywords se a dictionary or encyclopaedia to define keywords quickly. These resources are available either online (eg quickly. These resources are available either online (eg Google define) or in the reference section of the Library. Google define) or in the reference section of the Library.

These will become your keywords which will be These will become your keywords which will be entered as search queries on the Library entered as search queries on the Library Catalogue, Internet or Databases.Catalogue, Internet or Databases.

Remember, the better the keywords the better the Remember, the better the keywords the better the results!results!

BEFORE STARTING YOUR RESEARCHBEFORE STARTING YOUR RESEARCH

Identify the information types that will best Identify the information types that will best answer the question. e.g. Images or Text.answer the question. e.g. Images or Text.

What do I want to find the answers to?What do I want to find the answers to? How current does the information need to be?How current does the information need to be? How much information do I need - is it a short How much information do I need - is it a short

report or a large assignment?report or a large assignment? How much time do I want to spend? How How much time do I want to spend? How

much is the assignment worth?much is the assignment worth? What do I have to do with the information? i.e. What do I have to do with the information? i.e.

make a presentation, produce a report, design make a presentation, produce a report, design a costumea costume

LOCATING THE INFORMATIONLOCATING THE INFORMATION

Places to locate information may include: Places to locate information may include: PPeople, libraries, directories, books, eople, libraries, directories, books, audiovisual materials, Internet sites, audiovisual materials, Internet sites, organisations, magazines and newspapers. organisations, magazines and newspapers. Some information is accessed through Some information is accessed through resources, such as the Library Catalogue, resources, such as the Library Catalogue, Internet search tools and databases.Internet search tools and databases.

Remember you can use your TAFECARD Remember you can use your TAFECARD at any TAFE NSW libraryat any TAFE NSW library

LOCATING INFORMATIONLOCATING INFORMATION

Apart from TAFE Libraries you can join the Apart from TAFE Libraries you can join the State library which allows you to access State library which allows you to access their databases from home.their databases from home.

www.sl.nsw.gov.auwww.sl.nsw.gov.au Sydney Institute Library has a reciprocal Sydney Institute Library has a reciprocal

borrowing agreement with UTS, cost is $50 borrowing agreement with UTS, cost is $50 per annum. See library staff if you wish to per annum. See library staff if you wish to join UTS as you will need to take a copy of join UTS as you will need to take a copy of your record. your record.

SEARCHING FOR INFORMATIONSEARCHING FOR INFORMATION

TAFE Online CatalogueTAFE Online CatalogueThe TAFE Online Catalogue lists sources of The TAFE Online Catalogue lists sources of information information available across the TAFENSW available across the TAFENSW Library NetworkLibrary Network http://tafecat.tafensw.edu.au/tafecat.hthttp://tafecat.tafensw.edu.au/tafecat.htmlml Enter Keywords to search for information Enter Keywords to search for information relevant to your researchrelevant to your researchUse the library’s Interlibrary Loan service to Use the library’s Interlibrary Loan service to access information found at other librariesaccess information found at other librariesOr visit other TAFE libraries if convenientOr visit other TAFE libraries if convenient

SEARCHING FOR INFORMATIONSEARCHING FOR INFORMATION

The SI library website also allows The SI library website also allows you to access databases from you to access databases from home:home:

http://www.sit.nsw.edu.au/library/index.phphttp://www.sit.nsw.edu.au/library/index.php

And gives the phone numbers and And gives the phone numbers and addresses of other SI librariesaddresses of other SI libraries

SEARCHING FOR INFORMATIONSEARCHING FOR INFORMATION

The library blog gives information on The library blog gives information on library hours and services, lists new library hours and services, lists new books and DVDs, has links to a large books and DVDs, has links to a large number of design sites, links to number of design sites, links to glossaries on design related subject glossaries on design related subject areas, RSS feeds and podcasts from areas, RSS feeds and podcasts from By Design.By Design.

Location is at:Location is at:http://designcentrelibrary.blogspot.com/http://designcentrelibrary.blogspot.com/

SEARCHING FOR SEARCHING FOR INFORMATIONINFORMATION

http://del.icio.us/http://del.icio.us/ del.icio.us is a social bookmarking website which del.icio.us is a social bookmarking website which

allows you to access the same bookmarks from allows you to access the same bookmarks from any computer and add bookmarks from any computer and add bookmarks from anywhere, too. On del.icio.us, you can use tags to anywhere, too. On del.icio.us, you can use tags to organize and remember your bookmarks, which is organize and remember your bookmarks, which is a much more flexible system than folders.a much more flexible system than folders.

You can also use del.icio.us to see the interesting You can also use del.icio.us to see the interesting links that other people bookmark, and share links links that other people bookmark, and share links with them in return. You can even browse and with them in return. You can even browse and search del.icio.us to discover useful bookmarks search del.icio.us to discover useful bookmarks that everyone else has saved -- which is made that everyone else has saved -- which is made easy with tags.easy with tags.

SEARCHSEARCH ENGINESENGINESSearch EnginesSearch Engines are programs which find the are programs which find the words or phrases (KEYWORDS) you have entered words or phrases (KEYWORDS) you have entered across the Internet. They are huge databases across the Internet. They are huge databases and there is no quality control on content and there is no quality control on content An example, is An example, is GoogleGoogle

http://www.google.comhttp://www.google.com Try “I’m feeling lucky” when searching for a Try “I’m feeling lucky” when searching for a

known site. Alternatively when searching for a known site. Alternatively when searching for a few concepts go to advanced search.few concepts go to advanced search.

Google does not cover everything on the net. It Google does not cover everything on the net. It is a good idea to use a few different engines is a good idea to use a few different engines when researchingwhen researching

SEARCH ENGINESSEARCH ENGINES

ClustyClusty groups similar results together in clusters groups similar results together in clusters to one side of the results page. This saves you to one side of the results page. This saves you having to scroll through many pages and also having to scroll through many pages and also helps you narrow the topic by providing helps you narrow the topic by providing suggestions for keywords to narrow or broaden suggestions for keywords to narrow or broaden your topicyour topic

http://clusty.com/http://clusty.com/

A GatewayA Gateway is a listing of various is a listing of various Internet sites on specific subjects. A Internet sites on specific subjects. A gateway is a good place to begin finding gateway is a good place to begin finding quality sites on a specific topic. quality sites on a specific topic. StudylinksStudylinks, produced by TAFE , produced by TAFE librarians, is a list of sites, specific to librarians, is a list of sites, specific to each of the disciplines it teaches, each of the disciplines it teaches, including a comprehensive listing of art, including a comprehensive listing of art, fashion, reference and design sites.fashion, reference and design sites.www.tafensw.edu.au/library/studylinkswww.tafensw.edu.au/library/studylinks

GATEWAYS

META SEARCH ENGINESMETA SEARCH ENGINES

Meta Search EnginesMeta Search Engines present your search present your search query to multiple search engines and query to multiple search engines and directories. Very useful if you are searching for directories. Very useful if you are searching for an unusual topic an unusual topic Dogpile Dogpile searches a number of engines searches a number of engines including Ask.com, Google, Yahoo, Looksmart including Ask.com, Google, Yahoo, Looksmart and msnand msn

http://www.dogpile.com/http://www.dogpile.com/MetacrawlerMetacrawler simultaneously searches a simultaneously searches a number of engines and directories, like Clusty, number of engines and directories, like Clusty, it clusters results on the left hand side of the it clusters results on the left hand side of the screenscreenhttp://www.metacrawler.comhttp://www.metacrawler.com

SEARCH TOOLSSEARCH TOOLS Read search tips/help notesRead search tips/help notes of each search tool, of each search tool,

this will show you how to expand or restrict this will show you how to expand or restrict searchessearchesFor example, limit it to finding only Australian For example, limit it to finding only Australian sites sites Hint: Yahoo and Hint: Yahoo and Google displays paid sites on Google displays paid sites on the right hand side of the screen. Sites on the the right hand side of the screen. Sites on the top of the list have been the most cited, (linked top of the list have been the most cited, (linked to) indicating their importance and authorityto) indicating their importance and authority

Search using KeywordsSearch using Keywords – these are words which – these are words which you identified as the most descriptive of your you identified as the most descriptive of your information need (research need). Keywords information need (research need). Keywords should also be used on the Library Catalogue. should also be used on the Library Catalogue. Keywords = the best resultsKeywords = the best results

Make it specificMake it specific – – put a phrase in quotation put a phrase in quotation marks and it searches for the exact phrase.marks and it searches for the exact phrase.e.g.e.g. “Indira Ghandi” “Indira Ghandi”

EVALUATING INFORMATIONEVALUATING INFORMATION

Not all websites are useful to your needs.Not all websites are useful to your needs.

You should look at:You should look at: CurrencyCurrency ReliabilityReliability AuthorityAuthority PurposePurpose

To define the usefulness of a siteTo define the usefulness of a site

EVALUATING INFORMATIONEVALUATING INFORMATIONInformation cInformation can be biased and incorrect an be biased and incorrect because no-one owns the Internet and anyone because no-one owns the Internet and anyone can put information on it. Always check for the can put information on it. Always check for the following before using the information you following before using the information you find.find.

Lack of credibilityLack of credibility-anonymity, lack of quality -anonymity, lack of quality control, bad grammar and spellingcontrol, bad grammar and spelling

Lack of accuracyLack of accuracy- no date on document, vague - no date on document, vague or sweeping generalizations, old date and very or sweeping generalizations, old date and very one sided viewone sided view

Lack of reasonablenessLack of reasonableness- emotive tone, over - emotive tone, over claims and conflict of interestclaims and conflict of interest

Lack of support-Lack of support- statistics presented without statistics presented without identified source, absence of source identified source, absence of source documentation, you cannot find other sources documentation, you cannot find other sources presenting the same information presenting the same information

REFERENCING REFERENCING Compiling BibliographiesCompiling Bibliographies You must adequately acknowledge and document all You must adequately acknowledge and document all external source material whenever preparing a brief external source material whenever preparing a brief or a report based on your research.or a report based on your research.Examples of source material are: books, audiovisual Examples of source material are: books, audiovisual materials, Internet sites or magazines, or whatever materials, Internet sites or magazines, or whatever provided you with the informationprovided you with the informationAA BibliographyBibliography is simply an alphabetical listing of all is simply an alphabetical listing of all sources consulted and it appears at the end of the sources consulted and it appears at the end of the reportreportAvoid plagiarismAvoid plagiarism,, by referencing all ideas which are by referencing all ideas which are not your ownnot your own

HintHint if you have forgotten to write down the Internet if you have forgotten to write down the Internet address, conduct a phrase search using inverted commas address, conduct a phrase search using inverted commas “” on a line from the article.“” on a line from the article.

REVIEW WREVIEW WORKSHOPORKSHOP This lesson has covered:This lesson has covered: Five steps of the Five steps of the research processresearch process – – define, locate, define, locate,

search, evaluate and referencesearch, evaluate and reference

How to access the How to access the TAFE NSWTAFE NSW library cataloguelibrary catalogue

Effective ways to use Internet search tools, such as Effective ways to use Internet search tools, such as Gateways, Search Engines and MetaSearch Gateways, Search Engines and MetaSearch Engines Engines to search for information onlineto search for information online

How to compile aHow to compile a Bibliography Bibliography