Library Research Skills for MSc (ME) 2012

© November 2012

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II

III

IV

You’ve got a Research topic

(A) Why literature review? p.2

(B) About Referencing p.2

How to start a Literature Review?

(A) Where to find the resources? p.3

(B) Search Strategy p.4

(C) Search Steps p.4

How to search ... various information types?

(A) eBook p.5

(B) Standards p.6

(C) Dissertations p.7 - 9

I Search HKU theses, HKU Scholars’ Hub p.7

II Theses from worldwide, ProQuest D & T p.8 - 9

Journal articles on a research topic

(A) Featured database p.10 - 12

(B) Key e-Resource (Multi-discipline) p.13 - 14

Handy tools

(A) Research Alerts p.15

(B) WebBridge in Dragon p.15

(C) Endnote p.15

The University of Hong Kong Libraries

ME MSc Library Research Skills

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IV

Research Topic

ME research skills 2 The University of Hong Kong Libraries

I You’ve got a

Why literature review ? A

About Referencing

1. Purpose: take a critical look at the literature.

2. Coverage: scholarly information in books, journals, theses, proceedings etc.

3. Finding: demonstrate your understanding of the topic.

4. References: giving credit to the sources used to create the intellectual work.

B

A

1. To acknowledge other person’s ideas. 2. To help reader (your teacher) knows where to check your source of information. 3. To avoid plagiarism. 4. Cover both Citation and Bibliography.

Covey, S. R. (2003). The seven habits of highly effective people: restoring the character ethic.

New York: Free Press.

Author Publication Year Book title

Place of publication Publisher

A Book Citation (APA Style)

Chrusciel, D. (2008). What motivates the significant/strategic change champion(s)? Journal of

Organizational Change Management, 21(2), 148-160.

Author Publication year Article title

Volume Issue

Journal Article Citation (APA Style)

Journal title Page numbers

Tips - Endnote to help out the reference management - Useful links for MSc Project/Dissertation Resources from ME http://www.mech.hku.hk/bse/MEBS6012/resources.htm LibGuides on citation http://libguides.lib.hku.hk/content.php?pid=88558&sid=658625 Library link on citation http://lib.hku.hk/general/research/guides/citation_styles.html#websites

http://www.mech.hku.hk/bse/MEBS6012/resources.htm

http://libguides.lib.hku.hk/content.php?pid=88558&sid=658625

http://lib.hku.hk/general/research/guides/citation_styles.html#websites

Literature Review

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II

ME research skills The University of Hong Kong Libraries

Where to find the Resources ? A

HKUL Homepage > Electronic Resources

Large databases, some of which are multi-disciplinary and have fulltext

What is ResearchPro? One search interface across multiple databases

How to access it? HKUL Homepage > ResearchPro

ResearchPro

A

Literature Review

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II


Boolean operators : AND Combine terms covering different subjects E.g. Ventilation AND intelligent building OR Combine similar terms E.g. Zero-energy building OR energy efficient building NOT Exclude terms from a search E.g. Palm not tree

Truncation Find variant forms of a root word.

E.g. build* finds builds, built, building, buildings ...

(Note: Symbols vary for different databases)

Search Strategies B

Search Steps C

Step 2: Devise search statement

Step 6: Get the articles

Step 5: Modify

Step 3: Search

Step 4: Evaluate

Step 7: Write up your assignment

Step 1: Define the topic & Select resources

Topic: Ventilation of zero-energy buildings

Search statement: (ventilation OR air flow) AND (“zero-energy building” OR green building*)

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III How to search ...

various Information Types


eBook A

Topic: Analyses on Ventilation of Residential Buildings

1. Access HKUL Homepage at http://lib.hku.hk

2. Click on Electronic Resources

3. Select Knovel : scientific and engineering databases

4. Limited to My subscription

5. Keyword search: Ventilation and Building

Browse content by Subject

Other eBook collections - ENGnetBASE - SpringerLINK - for more: HKUL homepage > Electronic Resources > by Format

limit before search

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Standards B

Topic: Analyses on Ventilation of Residential Buildings

==> Q: What is the performance standard?

Modified search: residential building

within your result

1 Number of items = ____291____

2

Number of items = ____33______ 3

Standard

1. Standard is a document that provides rules, guidelines or characteristics for activities 2. generally established by consensus and approved by a recognized body 3. Examples: BSI, ASTM standards

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Dissertations C

● Examine the

subjects

Topic: Indoor air quality of office buildings.

Devise search statement

Search HKUTO

Display record

Evaluate record

Refine search

Concept 1 Indoor air quality

Concept 2 Office buildings

Related Terms

Indoor air quality Office*

● Enter search statement

● Click thesis title to

display full record

1

2

3

4

● Any relevant subjects?

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6

● Specify connecting boolean

● Click Search

“indoor air quality”

office buildings OR office*

● Limit year : 2001—2012

Record no. 25

Subject search = (Indoor air pollution) AND Office buildings

I. HKU Theses at HKU Scholars Hub

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II. Theses from Worldwide

Example: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses

Topic: Indoor air quality of office buildings

Select database Devise search statement Search Proquest

2

ProQuest Dissertations & Theses A & I 1

3

Enter search statement Select Field

(“indoor air quality” ) AND (“office building*” OR office*)

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Evaluate the results

Locate the theses

Modify the search

(when needed)

Citation/Abstract: Available

for most theses records.

Preview: Free preview of the first

24 pages for theses produced after 1997.

Check HKUL holdings through WebBridge

> Match title in Dragon

Order a copy: Online

ordering is available but out of your own pocket.

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5

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IV Journal Articles on a research topic


Topic: Analyses of Ventilation of Zero-energy Buildings

1. Decide on SUBJECT area

2. Access HKUL Homepage at http://lib.hku.hk

3. Click on Electronic Resources

4. Select e.g. Engineering research databases

Featured database (e.g. Engineering research databases)

Step 1: Select databases

Your search statement is: (ventilation OR air flow) AND (zero-energy building* OR green building*)

● Identify the Key Concepts of the topic, e.g.

● Brainstorm for Related Terms

Step 2: Devise search statement

Concept 2:

Zero-energy Building*

Concept 1:

Ventilation

Related terms Green building

Energy efficient building

Air flow

Indoor air quality

Aerodynamic analysis

Concept 1 Concept 2

Ventilation Zero-energy Building*

A

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2. Select search field

3. Select the appropriate boolean operator

1. Enter search terms

Step 3: Search

auto-complete

ventilation

Step 4: Evaluate

● Is this article relevant ? Yes □ No

Abstract provides a

short summary of the article. Subject is the controlled

term of the subject matters.

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● Finding similar? □ Yes □ No OR

● Search with indexing terms? □ Yes □ No

Step 5: Modify

Your NEW SEARCH is: (Air Quality OR Ventilation) AND (Buildings) AND (Energy use)

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Search steps

Topic: (your own) or

ventilation of intelligent building

Select database

e.g. Engineering Village 2

Search statement

Search results N records ... too many/few?!

Modify search

Narrow down by other factors? □ Yes □ No Any new subject terms which might be useful? □ Yes □ No

Try on a key e-Resource (Engineering Village 2) B

2. Select search field

3. Select the appropriate boolean operator

1. Enter search terms

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1. Full text available online

2. Full text not available (a) Full text match in WebBridge (b) No full text match in WebBridge

Check if HKUL has a print subscription. (Note: interlibrary loans service)

Step 6: Get the articles

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Handy tools!

C. Endnote

A. Research Alerts

- Regular updates on latest publications on a topic.

- Can be in email or RSS feeds.

B. WebBridge in Dragon

- Regular updates on latest publications on a topic.

- Can be in email or RSS feeds.

Endnote will help you to: ● Manage your readings, e.g. books, articles, web-

sites ● Cite While You Write (CWYW)

Endnote @ HKU A reference storage and management software tool

(http://lib.hku.hk/endnote/index.html)

Training and support

● Online guides ● Endnote workshop at Libraries

Documents

Library Research Skills for MSc (ME) 2012