Library Resources forEL/EN6770 Graduate Research Seminar

Ruby SengResource Librarian (ELL)

rubyseng@nus.edu.sg

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Outline

• Information sources & the research process• Advanced searching techniques• Steps 1-3• Databases• Theses• More…• About the libraries

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• Information sources• The research process

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Information Sources

• Books• Journal articles• Conference papers • Newspapers• Theses & dissertations• Primary sources• Internet

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The Research Process

Identify main keywords

List synonyms, related words & variant spellings

Create search statement

Search for sources using LINC+/LINC & databases

Get more sources by checking references

Are there enough? Evaluate quality, currency, relevance, etc.

yesno

Complete your assignment

Topic

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Advanced Searching Techniques• Boolean operators

• Parantheses• Quotation marks

• Asterisk

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Boolean Operators: AND, OR, NOT

1. AND: both terms must be present • fewer results

2. OR: either terms may be present • more results

2. NOT/AND NOT: exclude a term• use with caution

A B

cats AND dogs

A B

cats OR dogs

A B

cats NOT dogs

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Parentheses ( )

Use parentheses ( ) for:• grouping similar or related words

e.g. (detective OR crime) AND fiction detective AND fiction crime AND fiction

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Quotation Marks “ ”

Use quotation marks “ ” for:• phrase searching

e.g.: “code switching”

Note:Most databases treat adjacent words as separate words (AND), but some databases treat them as phrases (“ ”)

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Asterisk *

Use asterisk * for • variant forms of a word• variant spelling

e.g. postmodern*= postmodernism, postmodernist…e.g. colo*r = color, colour

Note:Some databases use other symbols, e.g.: $, ?, !

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Steps 1-3• Identify keywords

• List synonyms & related words• Create search statement

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Step 1: Identify Keywords

Topic: Cognitive development of bilingual children

keyword 1: cognitive development keyword 2: bilingual keyword 3: children

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Step 2: List Synonyms & Related Words

bilingualismcognitive development

•intellectual development

•mental development

•second language

• toddlers• preschoolers

• elementary school students

children

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Where to Find Synonyms

• thesaurus:printonline, e.g. www.thesaurus.com

• databasesbuilt-in thesaurus: (e.g. LLBA>Search tools>Thesaurus)abstract: subject headings, key concepts, descriptors

• articles, books, etc. on the same subject

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Step 3: Create Search Statement

Topic: cognitive development of bilingual children

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Search statement:(cognitive development OR intellectual development OR mental development) AND (bilingual or second language) AND children

Databases• LLBA

• MLAIB• JSTOR• Factiva

• Google Scholar• Other sources

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DB#1: LLBA

• CSA Linguistics and Language Behavior Abstracts• >2,000 journals, books, dissertations, book reviews• linguistics & related disciplines in the language sciences

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DB#1: LLBA

type llba

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DB#1: LLBA

field: keywords

advanced search

e.g. thesaurus

click on title of article or ‘View record’

sort by relevance or datemark record to save, print or email

citation

check whether library subscribes to this journal volume & issue by using LINC/LINC+

Checking Journal Record in LINC

our subscription

links to full text

latest issue In Current Journals

search for specific volume or year

click for listing of more volumes, some of which are in Bound Journals and others in Closed Stacks

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DB #2: MLA International Bibliography

• Modern Language Association of America (MLA)• scholarly books & articles on modern languages, literatures,

folklore and linguistics• coverage: literature from all over the world, works on

literature transmitted orally, in print, or in audio-visual media

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DB #2: MLA International Bibliography

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subject: morrison, toni

name of work: beloved

advanced search

refine

sort by relevance, publication date & document title

DB#3: JSTOR

• fulltext database for humanities and social sciences• back issues only• searching and browsing functions

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DB#3: JSTOR

various ways of limiting, e.g. by type

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click here to see the first page

download the PDF

DB#4: Factiva

• full text articles from nearly 8,000 sources from newspapers, newswires, magazines & trade journals

• no graphics and photographs• Straits Times: from 1989 onwards

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DB#4: Factiva

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go to search builder

type Straits Times, click on the button and select correct publication

put in your keywords

sort by date or relevance

mark to view on single page, email, print or save

Google Scholar

• aim: single search engine for scholarly literature • may include links to free PDF articles• good for quick research

However: • not all results come from scholarly sources• many link to publishers' websites which require subscriber login• use the proxy bookmarklet to access full-texts• note: only for resources subscribed by NUS Libraries

http://bit.ly/nuslibproxy

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Google Scholar

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Other Sources

Literature/Language Databases19th Century MasterfileInternational FilmArchive Database (FIAF)Literature Online

Multi-disciplinary DatabasesArts & Humanities Citation Index (via WOS)Expanded Academic ASAPPERINDPeriodicals Index OnlineProject MuseScopus

OthersOxford English DictionaryMICA Press Releases & Speeches

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To browse more databases, go to E-resources>Databases>By Subject

Theses• Proquest D & T

• LINC• ScholarBank

• Others

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Proquest Disserations & Theses

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no. of results

mark records for email or export to EndNote

sort results by relevance

NUS Theses: LINC Advanced Search

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To search for print theses submitted before 2004, use advanced search:

NUS Theses: ScholarBank

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browse by department

Note: Master by Research & PhD from 2004 only

English langugage & literature

Other Theses & Dissertations Sources

•Australian Digital Theses Database•Indexes to Theses (Great Britain & Ireland)•Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD)•North Carolina State University : Search Available ETDs•OhioLINK ETD Center

• Pennsylvania State University Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archives•Theses Canada Portal•Vanderbilt University : Electronic Theses and Dissertations

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More…• Recap

• Troubleshooting• Evaluating Information sources

• Appropriate use• LINC+ vs. LINC

• myLINC• EndNote

Recap

• use synonyms and related words• create search statement using keywords plus AND, OR, NOT, ( ),

*, “ ”• select fields e.g. article title, abstract• limit search by type (article, books, reviews), date, peer-

reviewed, etc• sort results by relevance

Quality (Relevance) vs. Quantity

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Troubleshooting Search Results

You may encounter:• too many results use AND, more precise keywords• too few results use OR, synonyms/related words• many irrelevant results exclude keywords that are too general• no results check spelling, use more OR & synonyms, or redefine

your research topic

If you need help, check with your professor or ask a librarian!

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Evaluating Information Sources

• relevance: to your topic• authority: reputable publisher, society or organisation;

author’s credentials & institutional affiliation• accuracy: methods of research; means to verify data; support

by references• comprehensiveness: range of viewpoints to support

arguments• objectivity: biasness• currency: up-to-date• scholarly: peer reviewed, cited

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Appropriate Use

• Library resources are mainly for your research and study• Use them responsibly • Observe copyright guidelines for photocopying and printing

- 10% or 1 chapter of book- 1 article in a journal issue

• Avoid excessive photocopying or downloading • Copyright violations may have serious consequences

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• Copyright Act• Research & study• 10% of book

• 1 article in journal• No excessive copying & downloading• Penalties imposed for violation

LINC+ vs. LINC

LINC+ LINC

•search many fields (title, author, keyword, subject)

•good for browsing & discovery

•search one field (title, author, keyword, subject, call no., ISBN) etc

•good for known item search

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myLINC

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EndNote

A software that:• stores and organizes citations • inserts citations into a Word document• format references in a predefined citation style

For workshop schedules and more info: http://libguides.nus.edu.sg/endnote

Technical queries (e.g. installation):call IT Care at 6516 2080 or email itcare@nus.edu.sg

Watch EndNote video

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About the Libraries• 7 Libraries

• Opening hours• What you need

• Borrowing • Other services• Getting help

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7 Libraries

Central C J Koh Law

Hon Sui Sen Memorial Medical/Science

Chinese

Music

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Opening hours

Mon – Sat: 8.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m.

Sun: 9.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.

Public Holiday: closed (unless otherwise stated)

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What You Need

• Student card: enter library• Student card + PIN: borrow books, access myLINC• Cashcard: print, photocopy, pay fines • NUSNET ID & password: library portal, e-resources

https://aces01.nus.edu.sg/pinRetrieval/login.jsp

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Borrowing

No. of Books: 30

Duration: 28 days

Fine: $0.50 per day

Renewal: 2 times

RBR books: (1 at a time)

2 hours/overnight(fines: $1 per hour)

Bound journals: 1 day

Counter 3

Self-borrowing

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Other Services

Recommend purchase of new books• e-forms• no endorsement from supervisor needed• approximately 1 to 3 months to process

Interlibrary/Intralibrary Loan & Document Delivery• e-forms• endorsement from supervisor needed

Study Carrels• get key from Loan Counter 1 & check out using your card

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Getting Help

Phone: 6516-2029/30

Email: rubyseng@nus.edu.sg (ELL queries)

askalib@nus.edu.sg (general queries)

Walk in: information desk (CL, level 5)

Others: FAQsLibrary Instruction ONline (LION)Subject Guide

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Thank You!

To download the slides: http://bit.ly/elslides

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