SFU Library: Resources and
Research – CRIM 801
Presented by
Yolanda Koscielski,
Liaison Librarian – Criminology,
Computing Science, & Engineering
SFU Library: Resources and
Research
•New to SFU?
•Who uses subject headings (aka descriptors) in
their research?
•Who uses Google for research?
•Who uses RefWorks (or other citation
management software)
Agenda
• 1. Overview of the Literature Search
• 2. Search Tips & Where to Search
• 3. Key Resources and Services for
(Criminology) Graduate Students
What is a Literature Search?
“ A systematic and thorough search of all
types of published literature in order to
identify as many items as possible that are
relevant to a particular topic” (Ridley,
2008).
Purposes of a Literature Search
To identify the field and specific context in which your
work is situated.
It can assist you in identifying your approach to the research
and the methodology you wish to adopt.
It will help you identify the type of data you might collect
and use, sites of data collection, the sample size, and how
you might analyze this data.
Purposes of a Literature Search con’t
A means of extending your understanding of the
key concepts, theories, and methodologies in your field.
To find out what others have done in the area so as to
avoid duplicating previous work.
Identify key people, organizations, and texts which
are relevant to your research.
Getting Started
SFU Library Website = Your gateway to research
resources
Home page: www.lib.sfu.ca
Browse Research Guides
Also research guides for specialized information
(statistics, government information, primary sources, etc.)
Where to Search…?
Catalogue
Fast
Search
Library
Search
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Databases
Google
8
Some Google Strengths

1.Known-item discovery
2.Long-tail subject discovery
3.Times Cited tool (use with caution)
4.Books – out-of-copyright full-text access, locating
a quote
5.One search box
6.US case law
Some Google Weaknesses
1.Little
 Subject + author collocation
2.No comprehensive subject searching at broad level—
discipline-specific databases
3.Less search sophistication, e.g., setting limits, developing
search sets (e.g., PsycINFO) has limits for: age group,
population animal or human, and research methodology
4.Deep data, e.g., sensitive data sets – not there
5.Will charge you if you do not go through the library
website
6.Mysterious algorithms – what is covered? Are some
publishers favored?
7. Dirty data
SFU’s “Google” – Fast Search
•Books
•E-Books
•Journal Articles
•Newspaper Articles
•Images
•Videos/DVDs
•Music
•Maps
Includes journal
articles +
newspaper
articles – *many*
•Slides
•SFU
theses/dissertations
•Government
documents
•Sound recordings (CBC
Ideas)
Criminology 220
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FastSearch
Subject
Terms ≠
Subject
Headings
Use with
caution
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Fast Search
• Key advantages of Fast Search:
– Broad search can capture unique terms/proper
names across thousands of sources
– Tool for beginning research outside your
discipline
– 3 Branch availability
– Search for books and articles at the same time
– Easy + fun faceted searching
Library Search
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Library Search
• Searches 100% of Fast Search content, (which
contains 100% of the library’s catalogue)
• Divides Fast Search content by info type –
books & media, newspaper articles & more,
journal articles
• Additionally, includes:
– Summit, the Institutional Repository
– The library website – FAQs, Research Guides &
other web pages
– Course reserves Criminology 220
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Background Information
Encyclopedias, handbooks, reference resources online
Gale Virtual Reference Library (search across many
encyclopedias in all subject areas at once)
Sage eReference Library
Check research guides for subject specific recommendations
Look up an article to get the “big picture” (i.e. an
overview of your topic)
Use the bibliography to identify key articles, studies,
authors, etc.
Background Information
Oxford Bibliographies Online
E.g., Criminal Justice Ethics,
Routine Activity Theories
Sage Research Methods Online
(SRMO)
• SRMO is an online portal to research
methodology information in the social
sciences, critical and instructional
– 600 + online books
• Chapter: “Looking Forward: the Future of Qualitative
Research in Criminology”
• Chapter: “Doing Research on Crime and Justice: A
Political Endeavour?”
– Research Methods Map
– Videos
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Sage Research Methods Online (SRMO)
• Contains the Research Methods map with a
taxonomy of research methods
• Illustrates connections
between methodologies
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Articles – Multiple Ways to Get to the
Same Article…







LibrarySearch
Catalogue—Journal Search
Databases
Fast Search
Citation Finder
E-Journals Link
…
Articles cont’d
 Each database may have a slightly different look and
feel, but they all work in the same general way,
usually with subject headings/descriptors
 Check the subject headings/descriptors for
related material
 Stuck for keywords? Try the thesaurus tool!
 Where can I get this?
Search Tips
 Boolean operators AND and OR used to join keywords
in database searching (often automatic in search
forms)
 Use AND to narrow or focus the search (using key
words/terms)
 Example: technology AND literacy
 Use OR to expand your search results (using related
words/concepts)
 Example: literacy OR reading OR writing
Search Tips, cont’d
 Use quotation marks to search for an exact
phrase
 Example: “educational technology”
 Use truncation (*) to search for related words
 Truncation This expands a search term to include all forms
of a root word
 Example: technolog* will search for technology,
technologies, technological, etc.
What is the impact of media on the body image of adolescent
women?”
Search Tips
 Consider discipline specific language, as well as
historical terminology
 Consult databases in other relevant subject areas
 Bibliography mining and Times Cited feature
Key Resource #1: Theses
Check to see if any related theses have
already been published on your topic
Like journal articles, can be found in a
multitude of places
#2: Borrowing Outside SFU
 Obtain a COPPUL card from the loans counter – it’s
free and allows you to borrow material directly from
other area university libraries
Interlibrary loans – note
Articles usually arrive in 1-3 days (via email)
Books usually arrive in 4-8 days (print)
The length of the loan for ILL books is usually 3 weeks
Key Resource #3: Stats Can
SFU Library subscribes to a number of Statistics
Canada products:
CANSIM (Canadian Socio-economic Information
Management System)
CANSIM via CHASS (700,000 time series),
1901 +
PC Census on standalone computer in Bennett
Library
 Data Liberation Initiative - Additional Uniform
Crime Reporting Data
Key Resource #4: Research Data
Library
Located on the 7th floor of Bennett Library
Provides access to quantitative survey research data (+ GIS
and digital spatial data)
Help available: will assist with the location, retrieval, and
use of data files in our Data Collection, as well as assistance
with the acquisition of data files held elsewhere
Two main sources: DLI (Data Liberation Initiative) +
ICPSR (Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social
Research)
Microdata files – apply early!
#5: Search Alerts
 If you want to keep track of new articles published on
a particular topic you can set up a search alert within a
database
 Citations for newly published material will be emailed
to you on a regular basis (weekly, monthly)
Table of Contents Alert
Cited Reference Alerts
#6: Citation Management Software
Software which allows you store, organize and
work with your citations
Refworks
Zotero
Endnote
Mendelay
http://www.lib.sfu.ca/researchcommons/writing/referencing
Liaison Librarians
Workshops
Graduate Writing Services
Writing Consultations
Read Ahead Service
Research Data Services
Grad Cafe
Thesis Services
researchcommons.sfu
Further Research Assistance
Research Guides
Information Commons Service Desk
AskAway – online chat
 Subject Librarians
TextUs
Questions?