Research Skills

by Nancy Stokes

What today’s session will cover:Research Cycle: 5 stagesFinding information on the library website:

selected websites, ebooks, subject guidesSearching the library catalogue

books , journals, DVDsSearching an online database: EbscohostOnline searching tipsEvaluating information from the Web

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What are the 5 Stages?

1.Understand

question or topic

Research Cycle

2.Identify main

keywords/concepts

WriteFinal Essay

4.Evaluate your

information5.

Reference yourinformation

3.Find

information

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Research Assignment:

Around Australia and Provide Visitor Information

1. Understand the topic - what you are required to do and by when. (Also, how it is to be formatted, etc)

2. Identify the main keywords/concepts - use a highlighter or underline keywords.

3. Find information…

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Finding Information on Library Website

www.central.wa.edu.au/library

Library Homepage www.central.wa.edu.au/library

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Travel & Tourism

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eBooks Links to Websites and eBooks…

Web

site

s

Login to eBooks using your Student Network Login

Frommer’s Australia eBook

See help sheet for more information about eBooks

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Searching Library Catalogue

www.central.wa.edu.au/library

TO FIND USEFUL LIBRARY RESOURCES…

Books - Lonely Planet; Frommer’s; Rough Guides; Eye Witness Guides; & other travel books.Journals - Travel Weekly; Travel Talk; Australian Traveller, Australian Geographic, etc.Encyclopedias - RD Illustrated Guide to Australian Places; The Travel Book, etc.Atlases - Atlas of Australia; Atlas of the World, etc.DVDs - of major cities/countries.[Which collection will they be found in?]

Library Catalogue Search

Library Catalogue Search

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Library Catalogue: Search Page

- Search for travel books on Western Australia at Perth Campus -

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Search Results Page

Links to item record

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Record with Holdings & StatusLo

catio

n, C

all N

umbe

r & L

oan

Info

rmati

onInform

ation needed for Bibliography

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Searching Online Databases

www.central.wa.edu.au/library

Library Homepage

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Select Database to Search - EBSCO

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04+student number date of birth

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Choose Databases

Search Screen Options/Limits

Search Results for ‘wildlife tourism’

Online Search Tips

Online searching tips…Boolean Operators

AND (+): limits the search as both keywords must appear in the documentsmeals AND snacks

OR: expands the search as either keywords will appear in the documents beverages OR refreshments

NOT (-): limits the search as excludes one of the keywords from the documents“budget accommodation” -hostels

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More searching tips….

Quotation marks: searches for the phrase e.g. “Fremantle Prison”

Plus sign: in front of a word ensures that word is included e.g. resort +spa

Synonym searching: ~ in front of a word finds synonyms e.g. ~inexpensive = cheap, affordable, low cost

Define: before a term finds definitions e.g. define:itinerary

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Evaluating information

EVALUATING INFORMATIONFROM WEBSITES

When evaluating information from websites, it can be difficult to determine the reliability of the information.

Unlike most print sources where the information has been edited before it is published, information on the Internet is mostly unfiltered.

There is little control over the material and anyone can create a website on any topic, whether or not they have training or experience in the subject field.

A lot of the information on the Internet is commercial or personal.

List of Organisational Types List of Country Codes

.com commercial .au Australia

.edu education .nz New Zealand

.gov government .uk United Kingdom

.net network .de Germany

.org organisation no code USA

Generally, the websites that have .edu or .gov in the URL will be more reliable.

If you want Australian sites, add .au to your search.

URL CODES

EXAMINING, SELECTING AND REJECTING RESOURCES

Ask yourself these questions…√ Is the information correct?√ Is the information relevant?√ Is the information reliable? (who is the

author/sponsor?)√ Is the information up-to-date?√ Is the information free from bias? (is it trying to

persuade?)√ Is it what I need?

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RememberIf you require further assistance:

Ask at the Library Service Desk

Email: helplibrary@central.wa.edu.au

Check out the OIL modules on the library website @ www.central.wa.edu.au/library

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Library Homepage: www.central.wa.edu.au/library

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