Database Discovery:Exploring Search Strategies used in Multiple Databases

Library Research Tool Kit Workshop

May 5, 2015Suzanne van den Hoogen, MLIS

Laurinda Matheson, MLIS

Suzanne van den Hoogen, MLIS

What will this session cover?

• Information Seeking Behaviour• Research Cycle• Critical Thinking• Evaluating Information

• Scholarly vs Popular

• What is a Database?• Database Discovery

• Putting your skills to use!

Suzanne van den Hoogen, MLIS

Researching through the Internet: Where do you go first?

Suzanne van den Hoogen, MLIS

The Research Cycle

Suzanne van den Hoogen, MLIS

Critical thinking: You must demonstrate that you are willing to examine popular beliefs, assumptions and opinions and weigh them against facts. Support your thesis statement with research.

Analyse your assignment questions:•What does this question mean?•How much detail does your professor require?

Analyse your assignment questions:•What does this question mean?•How much detail does your professor require?

Where do I begin?•Read about your topic •Know your subject matter•Brainstorm ideas• Think about Key Words & Key Concepts•Write your thesis statement

Suzanne van den Hoogen, MLIS

Questions to ask:

Question! Question! Question! Is this source reliable? Is this source current? Have opinions changed? What are the current trends in this research area? Are there any gaps in the research? Is something missing? Who is the author? Are they an expert in this field? Do they represent multiple points of view or do they express bias for their

own point of view?

Suzanne van den Hoogen, MLIS

HOW DO I REMEMBER WHAT QUESTIONS TO ASK?

Suzanne van den Hoogen, MLIS

Suzanne van den Hoogen, MLIS

Currency How recent is the information? Can you locate a date when the resource was written/created/updated? Based on your topic, is this current enough? Why might the date matter for your topic?

Reliability What kind of information is included in the resource? Is the content primarily opinion? Is the information balanced or biased? Does the author provide citations & references for data?

Authority Can you determine who the author/creator is? What are their credentials (education, affiliation, experience)? Who is the publisher or sponsor of the work/site? Is this publisher/sponsor reputable?

Purpose / Point of View What’s the intent of the article (to persuade you, to sell something)? For Web resources, what is the domain (.edu, .com, etc.)? How might that influence the purpose/point of view? Are there ads on the Web site? How do they relate to the topic? Is the author presenting fact or opinion?

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WHAT ABOUT BOOKS & ARTICLES?

Suzanne van den Hoogen, MLIS

ASK THE SAME QUESTIONS!

Scholarly vs. Popular

Popular• Magazines• Written by journalists, students,

popular authors, or no author listed• Flashy covers• Advertisements• Brief articles• Trade Journals: Business, Finance,

Industry (Written by experts, but may not be peer reviewed)

• Newspapers

Scholarly• Journals• Written by experts• Evaluated by experts: “Peer Reviewed”• Authoritative Source• Usually include:

– Credentials of the Author– Abstract– Bibliography– Specialized vocabulary– Reference List

Suzanne van den Hoogen, MLIS

What is a Database?

Suzanne van den Hoogen, MLIS

Library Databases•Contain a multitude of articles from a variety of journals gathered in one place.•Make searching multiple sources quicker and easier•May be focused on one subject / discipline•May be full-text or may link out to content

Remember: The Library pays for scholarly content so you don’t have to!

ACTIVITY

Suzanne van den Hoogen, MLIS

PUTTING YOUR SKILLS TO USE

EXERCISE: Search Library DatabasesEBSCO

– PsychInfo– CINHAL– American History

& Life

Suzanne van den Hoogen, MLIS

ProQuest– Canadian Business

and Current Affairs– ERIC– Political Science

Abstracts

JSTOR

QUESTIONS ?

Suzanne van den Hoogen, MLIS

Thank You!Suzanne van den Hoogensvandenh@stfx.ca867-4535

Liaison Librarian for: • Adult Education• Anthropology• Education• Political Science• Sociology

Suzanne van den Hoogen, MLIS