CUS115 Methodologies in
Cultural Research
"Using the Library Databases”
Lingnan University Library
Feb 2013
Terence Cheung – Reference Librarian
Tel: 2616 8572 Email: terencecheung@ln.edu.hk
What library service do you
use?
What sources do you use for
your research?
Any problems?
Today’s Contents
• Basic Research Concept
• Basic Research Techniques
• Library Resources
- 1-Search
- Consolidated database – ProQuest, EBSCO
- News database – Factiva, WiseSearch
- Local TV programmes
- Theses & Dissertations
- Google Scholar
• Q&As
Make the things right
at the beginning.
Good investment of
time.
http://tomfishburne.com/2012/11/creative-brief-2.html
Learning Outcomes
• Basic concept of doing research
• Fundamental research skills
• Knowledge of resources available in
the University Library
• Ability to locate appropriate
resources in doing research
What do you do before you do a
research?
What
Who
Why
Which
Where
When
Don’t need all the answers at the beginning!!!
Research Techniques
Boolean Operators
AND – both terms will appear in the
result. e.g. film AND fashion
OR –
at least either one of the terms
will appear in the result. e.g. film
OR movie
NOT– only find items that do not
contain the search term. e.g.
film NOT comedy
fashion AND film OR movie
What will you find?
Research Techniques
Parenthesis
( ) Use parenthesis ( ) to group words
together and set the order of the search
when using Boolean Operators.
e.g. use fashion AND (film OR movie)
will find items with fashion and film or
items with fashion and movie in the
result.
Research Techniques
Phase Search
“ “
Use quotation mark for the exact
phase.
e.g. use “national identity” will find
the exact phrase national identity
in the result instead of items
contains national and identity
separately.
Research Techniques
Wildcards
?
Use question mark for one letter
truncation.
e.g. use wom?n will find women or
woman in the result.
*
Use asterisk for several letters
truncation.
e.g. use behavior* will find behavior,
behavioral, behaviorist, behaviorism, or
behaviorally in the result.
Guides@LU
Guide for
research and
using databases
Guide for
Cultural Studies
We have over 260 databases.
Good and Bad!!!
Databases by types, subjects, A-Z
Use the database’s user guide
User Guide
1-Search
Input the search
terms
Click this
icon to
save the
article to
the list.
Narrow down
your search by
different criteria
Research Techniques
How to narrow down your search
Use more search terms
Limit the time frame
Limit to scholarly publications
Select appropriate content types
Select appropriate subject
Select appropriate sources
1-Search Advanced Search
Advanced
Search
Search by title, author, publication, etc.
Set up RSS feed
Click this
icon to
add the
search to
RSS feed
Set up RSS feed
Click to subscribe
this RSS feed
Set up RSS feed
Open RSS feed in Internet Explorer
Click to see the RSS
feed subscribed by
you.
ProQuest
ProQuest
ProQuest
Select the database you
want to search
ProQuest
ProQuest Advanced Search
Advanced Search
Creating alert or RSS feed
Create alert or
RSS feed, but
have to
login/register first.
EBSCOhost
EBSCOhost
EBSCOhost Advanced Search
Advanced Search
EBSCOhost Advanced Search
Creating alert or RSS feed
Create alert or
RSS feed, but
have to
login/register first.
Creating alert or RSS feed
Factiva
Factiva
Factiva
WiseSearch
WiseSearch
WiseSearch
Other useful databases
• JSTOR
• Wiley Online Library
• Cambridge Journal Online
• Project MUSE
• Art & Humanities Citation Index
• Social Science Citation Index
• More…
Local TV Programmes
Local TV Programmes
Dissertations
Dissertations
Google Scholar
Click
“Settings”
Google Scholar
Click “Library
links”
Search “Lingnan
University” & “WorldCat”
Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Findit@Lingnan links
will appear next to those
items which are held by
Lingnan University.
The next best thing to
knowing something is
knowing where to find it.
Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) British author.
Library Workshops
http://www.library.ln.edu.hk/services/workshops
Need Help?
Ask A Librarian
http://www.library.ln.edu.hk/research/ask-librarian
Integrated Helpdesk
Email: refstaff@ln.edu.hk, Tel: 2616-8571
Chat Reference Service
2pm-5pm, Mon-Fri
Research Consultation Service
http://www.library.ln.edu.hk/research-consultation-service
Thank you for your
time and the most
important, your
patience.