PSY3330 literature searching for your dissertation: lecture

© Middlesex University

Literature searching for your dissertation

unihub.mdx.ac.uk / study / library

PSY3330


What we will cover today

• Finding Tests – where and how

• Simple searches: Summon vs Google

• Keywords and search operators (* “ ” etc)

• Advanced searches: WOS and PsycINFO

• Referencing

• Where you can get help

Presentation title | 2


Example of coursework marking criteria

10% Introduction

15% Overview

30% Critical analysis

15% Discussion

10% Conclusion

10% Referencing

10% Quality etc

Maximum marks for a well referenced and accurate description of [subject] using suitable references

Maximum of 10 marks for a list of references which is both relevant, and correctly given in APA style

Maximum of 10 marks for quality, style of writing and presentation


Finding resourcesmyUniHub > My Study > My Library

Access all sorts of online resources here!

My Library – most of the links you will ever need


Psychological TESTS



My library > Databases


© Middlesex University | 8

PsycTESTS database

Simple subject search


Or author/test name search


Click here to limit to full text

TESTS


Not all tests in PsycINFO are full text



Psychology department test library

— Myunihub > My study > My Learning > PSY3330— NOT in Sheppard Library!— Find index of tests (word document) — Download and complete Test Request form.

Hand or Email to Nicky Brunswick • TG61 – [email protected] (Wednesday – Friday only).

– Subject: ‘Test Library Request’– Give name and Student ID and copy in your supervisor

— She will collect the test when possible — You will not get the test immediately


mailto:[email protected]


Look for tests from previous studies in journal articles

—They may be in the appendix

—You may find the authoritative test by Googling (confirm with tutor)

—Email academics: They may send you the test, and often lots more useful info too!


Quick journal searches



Simple searches

Google Scholar• Simple search function• Searches many journal

websites• Not all full text

(but can set up to access MDX journals through Unihub)

• Up to date articles from the big publishers – not so good coverage of small journals

• Hard to filter • Searching all subject areas


Summon vs Google Summon

• Simple search function• Google for University

resources• Searches many journal

databases and subscriptions

• A lot of full text• Up to date – largest databases

updated daily/weekly• Easy to filter to Psychology

journals


Summon


16

Google Scholar – make sure you access what you’ve paid for!

17

Search for and select Middlesex University


Simple searches



Literature Searching



SynonymsCriminal Drug addiction Treatment

Criminal* “Substance abuse” Therapy

Offender* “Illicit drugs” Counsel*

Convict* “Illegal drugs” Program*

“Criminal population”

Inmate*

“Criminal justice system”


Narrower Terms

Criminal Drug addiction Treatment

“Youth offender*”

“repeat offender*”

“first time offender*”

“violent offender*”

HMP

“serial offenders”

“vulnerable offenders”


Other ways to narrow your topic

• People or participants:– Racial/cultural/nationality groups– Age– Type of participant

• Way you measure it• Sub-factors (E.g. Media effect on

self esteem):– Fashion and Beauty media– Effect on body image or self worth– Among Women / students

– Among students in UK/Dubai/Mauritius


Keywords activity

• Piece of paper per row with a topic on it

• Each person add either a synonym or narrower term for

that idea or concept

• Pass the paper along your row

• Can it make it all the way along the row without running

out of words?

• Remember UK/US spellings and you can Google for

synonyms!

5 minutes!Presentation title | 23


Databases for research articles myUniHub > My Study > My Library > Databases

Search for database by letter, then name

© Middlesex University Psych PG | 25

Web of Science


Get better results & find things faster• Spelling US v UK:

• behavior / behaviour • counselor / counsellor

• Truncate *: • Offend* = offending, offender, offenders • Counsel* = counselling, counsellor,

counsellors• Behav* = behavior, behaviour, behavioural,

behavioral

• Phrases (exact words in that order)• “substance abuse”• “cogntive behav* therapy”


Web of Science – Results MyUniHub > MyStudy > MyLibrary > Databases > W > Web of Science

Gives you a hyperlinked

list of articles which cite this article


Citation searching

• Which articles have cited an earlier article• Updates to the research study you’ve been looking at• Find articles on similar/related subject• How many times an article has been cited• Best journals in your field


Looks kind of like this...


© Middlesex University Presentation title | 30

PsycINFO – Access via Unihub > Databases


PsycINFO – options and limits


limits Full text


Repeat and improve = improved results• Try different things• React to your searches – why is there too much/not

enough?• Follow citations• Expand your keywords as you go • Alternative or new keywords in results— Re-run your searches

• More of this in week 7 workshops


Getting full text of journal articles

• Troubleshooting guide can be found here http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/psyaccess

• Double check library catalogue• Copy journal title into search• Choose ‘journal keyword’ • Find record • Find correct date

• Go to Author’s website/institution’s repository

http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/psyaccess


Cite them right


examples Gives you a formatted example to type over


Managing your references• 2 choices of referencing software at MDX

• Flow – simple to use, limited functionality, fine for essays

• Refworks – slightly more complex to use but more functional

• Both will allow you to import citations from databases and both will format your reference list for you.

• Go to Psychology Library Subject Guide and find the section on referencing

libguides.mdx.ac.uk/psy/referencing


It’s not in the Library!• Inter Library Loans

http://bit.ly/InterLibraryLoans

• SCONUL Access http://www.access.sconul.ac.uk/sconul-access

• Other libraries http://bit.ly/visitingotherlibraries

http://bit.ly/InterLibraryLoans

http://www.access.sconul.ac.uk/sconul-access

http://www.access.sconul.ac.uk/sconul-access

http://bit.ly/visitingotherlibraries

http://bit.ly/visitingotherlibraries


More help

• Book onto a dissertation workshop in week 7

• Links in My learning > PSY3330

• If working on a group project try and come in

your groups



To access the Library Subject Guide


Need help?

• Psychology Library Subject Guide

http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/psy

• Librarians in the StudyHub (1st floor) Monday – Friday 9-5

• Viv – your librarian [email protected]

http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/psy

mailto:[email protected]

Education

PSY3330 literature searching for your dissertation: lecture