How to Find Information A Guide for Researchers

by Rumsey, Sally

• ISBN13: 9780335214280
• ISBN10: 0335214282
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-10-01
• Publisher: Open University Press

Summary

What's the best way to find the information I need for my thesis / dissertation / project? How do I evaluate the relevance and quality of the information? How can I keep up to date in my subject? Anyone setting out to research a topic, whether undertaking a project, report, dissertation or PhD, needs to find appropriate resources to inform their work and support their arguments. This book enables researchers to become expert at tracking down, accessing and evaluating information.The book works systematically through the information-seeking process, from planning the search to evaluating and managing the end results: Formulating a search strategy to find and evaluate the most relevant resources Guidance for using online bibliographic databases and the Web Includes referencing, copyright, plagiarism, and keeping up with new developments in your field This concise and contemporary book covers all major areas of information seeking and selection for researchers. Written by an information professional, it is invaluable for anyone researching a topic including academics and students, public and government researchers and researchers in the private sector.

Author Biography

Sally Rumsey is E-Services Librarian at the London School of Economics and Political Science and formerly Academic Liaison Co-ordinator for the School of Arts at the University of Surrey Library. She has developed online training in library and information skills for undergraduate and postgraduate students. In 2001 she received the Daphne Clarke Prize for excellence in practitioner research.

Table of Contents

List of figures	vii
List of tables	viii
List of abbreviations	ix
Foreword	xi
Preface	xiii
Acknowledgements	xvi
1. The information-gathering process	1	(9)
2. Using a library	10	(28)
3. Formats of information sources	38	(15)
4. Finding information about existing research	53	(11)
5. Identifying the information need	64	(6)
6. Resource discovery	70	(23)
7. The online searching process	93	(37)
8. Citation searching	130	(9)
9. Resource location	139	(15)
10. Using the World Wide Web for research	154	(17)
11. Accessing materials	171	(15)
12. Evaluation of resources	186	(7)
13. Citing references	193	(9)
14. Keeping records	202	(7)
15. Intellectual property and plagiarism	209	(11)
16. The research community and keeping up to date	220	(10)
17. The changing landscape of research	230	(11)
Glossary	241	(3)
References and bibliography	244	(7)
Web addresses	251	(7)
Index	258