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Literature searching for dissertation

http:// unihub.mdx.ac.uk / study / library

PSY4035 November 2015

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What we will cover today

• Keywords and search operators (* “ ” etc)

• Advanced searches: WOS and PsycINFO

• Inferring

• Strategic searching a + b + c = (a + b) + (b + c) + (a + c)

• Alerts

• Referencing

• Where you can get help

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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

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Please loginPLEASE USE CHROME OR FIREFOX

MyUnihub: gateway to library resources myUniHub > My Study > My Library

My Library – most of the links you will ever need

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Psychological TESTS

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My library > Databases

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Or author/test name search

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Click here to limit to full text

TESTS

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Not all tests in PsycINFO are full text

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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 – n.brunswick@mdx.ac.uk (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

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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!

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Advanced searchesTask 1 – explain my search

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Advanced searches

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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”

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

Search for database by letter, then name

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Web of Science

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Web of ScienceMyUniHub > MyStudy > MyLibrary > Databases > W > Web of Science

Gives you a hyperlinked

list of articles which cite this article

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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

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PsycINFO – Access via Unihub > Databases

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PsycINFO – options and limits

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limits Full text

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Repeat and improve

• Repeat, improve = improved results. • Try different things, react to your searches• Follow citations• Expand your keywords as you go • Alternative or new keywords in results— Re-run your searches

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Task 2

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Therapy AND offenders AND mental illness

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So my narrower search is….

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CBT AND prisoners AND mental illness

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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

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Task 2 – Strategic searching

• A + B + C = results• But what if it doesn’t?

• a + b• b + c• a + c

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Inferring – what is the nearest relevant research to build a picture of this topic area?

• Effectiveness of mentoring on young homeless people— Mentoring and young people— Mentors and homeless people — Support for homeless people getting out of homelessness

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• Peer, media and family influences among African and Afro-Caribbean women and the effects on self esteem and body image

— Media influences on women and their self image— Peer/family/cultural influences on women and their self image— Media influences on Black/Afro Caribbean populations and their

confidence/self image — Media influences on people’s self worth and body image

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• Impact of missing father figure on teenage girls— Missing father figure with teenage boys — Missing father figure - influence on adult women — Missing father figure - influence on very young female

children — Key stages of development for teenagers — Parenting and its role in development

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Task 2 – Strategic searching

• Use the worksheet to choose one member of your groups dissertation topic.

• I want you to have a go at breaking down that topic into the concepts/ideas

• Once you have those concepts label them a b and c

• Construct searches including a + b b + c and a + c

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Task 3 - Have a go!

• Use the searches from your worksheet or your own topic if you already have one and have a go at either Web of Science or PsycINFO

• Ask me for help!

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Alerts – databasesYou must set up an account with the database

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Alerts – databasesYou must set up an account with the database

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Alerts: Zetoc

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Zetoc

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Zetoc

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Cite them right

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examples Gives you a formatted example to type over

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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

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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

My Subject – library guides

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Need help?

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

• Psychology Library Subject Guide

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

• Viv – your librarian v.eades@mdx.ac.uk