Monash University Library
Academic research on the internet
Finding sources
Use this document as an alternative to the online interactive
tutorial
Description
Welcome to tutorial 2, Finding Sources. This will help you to choose the best way
to search for your academic information on the internet.
Contents
Academic research on the internet ..........................................................................1
Finding sources........................................................................................................1
Screen 1 - Welcome to tutorial 2. Finding Sources ..............................................2
Screen 2 – Effective ways to find quality sources on the internet .........................3
Screen 3 – Site specific searching .......................................................................5
Screen 4 – Reserve Bank of Australia ..................................................................7
Screen 5 – Advanced search options in search engines ......................................8
Screen 6 – Searching using domain and file type pdf ..........................................9
Screen 7 – Custom search engines ................................................................... 10
Screen 8 – Accessing full-text articles through search engines ......................... 11
Screen 9 – Research and statistical databases ................................................. 12
Screen 10 – Finding statistical information ......................................................... 13
Screen 11 – Searching open-access.................................................................. 14
Screen 12 – Selecting appropriate sources for information ................................ 15
Screen 13 – Final slide in module ...................................................................... 16
Appendix – Quiz Answers .................................................................................. 17
Monash University, Clayton Campus, Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
Telephone +61 3 9902 6000 Facsimile +61 3 9905 4007
www.monash.edu/library
1
Monash University Library
Screen 1 - Welcome to tutorial 2. Finding Sources
Welcome slide to Finding Sources including an image of a magnifying glass over
the word research
Welcome to tutorial 2, Finding Sources. This will help you to choose the best way
to search for your academic information on the internet.
Click START to continue the tutorial.
Monash University, Clayton Campus, Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
Telephone +61 3 9902 6000 Facsimile +61 3 9905 4007
www.monash.edu/library
2
Monash University Library
Screen 2 – Effective ways to find quality sources on the internet
Slide has information about different ways to find quality information on the internet
with roll-overs giving more detailed information for each method.
Slide includes image of a lady with a text box containing:
Check out the Developing a search strategy E-Module for more information on
effective search strategies. (links to the Library online tutorial for Developing a
Search Strategy)
Once you have established that the internet is the appropriate place to find your
resources, you can start searching. There are a number of effective ways to find
quality information on the internet. These include:
Site-specific searching
General internet search engines (Advanced options)
Website database searching
Open access repositories and search engines
Custom search engines
These search methods are not exclusive. For a truly comprehensive search you
will use most or all of these methods, in combination with search strategies such as
Boolean and phrase searching. Use a combination of methods and strategies
relevant to your topic and to the type of material you are seeking.
Monash University, Clayton Campus, Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
Telephone +61 3 9902 6000 Facsimile +61 3 9905 4007
www.monash.edu/library
3
Monash University Library
5) Rollover Caption : Different ways of combining your keywords to find the most
relevant results from your search.
6) Rollover Caption : ...helpful for searching within particular types of resources,
such as journals, books or research papers.
7) Rollover Caption : ...useful for finding articles, theses and other open access
research.
8) Rollover Caption : ...helpful for finding research and statistical information
provided by governments and other organisations.
9) Rollover Caption : ...useful for searching multiple government or organisational
websites simultaneously.
10) Rollover Caption : ...helpful for finding information within a specific government
or organisational website
Monash University, Clayton Campus, Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
Telephone +61 3 9902 6000 Facsimile +61 3 9905 4007
www.monash.edu/library
4
Monash University Library
Screen 3 – Site specific searching
Slide contains logo images of Australian government department of health and the
World Health Organization with rollover explanations, and a Show Me video option
to click and view.
The most important thing about site-specific searching is choosing the appropriate
site to search. Look for a Websites tab in your Library Guide to find some useful
websites. Ensuring the quality of a website is just as important as finding the
information within it.
Once you have identified the website of an organisation, institution, journal or
government department that is responsible for publishing the information you
require there are three main ways to search within it:
Navigate using the menu buttons.
Use the search options built into the site.
For more search functionality use a general search engine’s advanced options to
search within an individual site.
1) Rollover Caption : This option is useful for finding information on a particular
topic within a website. Unfortunately these search options are usually
very limited. Choose the Advanced search option if it is available.
Monash University, Clayton Campus, Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
Telephone +61 3 9902 6000 Facsimile +61 3 9905 4007
www.monash.edu/library
5
Monash University Library
2) Rollover Caption : Look out for keywords such as publications, statistics,
resources or issues. This is useful when searching for any information
published by the organisation or department.
3) Image : World Health Organization logo
4) Rollover Caption : International organisation that is a recognised leader in global
health Click Box
5) Image : Show Me Video clip
6) Rollover Caption : Click to view an example with more practical tips..
7) Image : Australian Government Department of Health logo
8) Rollover Caption : Government department concerned with public health in
Australia.
Monash University, Clayton Campus, Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
Telephone +61 3 9902 6000 Facsimile +61 3 9905 4007
www.monash.edu/library
6
Monash University Library
Screen 4 – Reserve Bank of Australia
Slide contains image of Reserve Bank of Australia homepage. Three buttons to
click and reveal three places on website to find relevant information.
On the Reserve Bank of Australia website below are three places to find relevant
information. Consider what these are and click on the 3 numbered buttons below to
reveal them.
Monash University, Clayton Campus, Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
Telephone +61 3 9902 6000 Facsimile +61 3 9905 4007
www.monash.edu/library
7
Monash University Library
Screen 5 – Advanced search options in search engines
Slide contains two images of logos for Google Advanced Search and Bing
Advanced Search. Rollover information for Domains and File types.
Using the advanced search option in general search engines can be very helpful in
focusing your search. Popular advanced search functions include more options for
defining the content of the search such as limiting to domains (or sites), file types,
date ranges and languages. As most online publications are PDF documents these
advanced search options can be very useful.
Refer to the online help documentation and tutorials usually provided by general
search engines. If in doubt, ask your librarian.
Monash University, Clayton Campus, Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
Telephone +61 3 9902 6000 Facsimile +61 3 9905 4007
www.monash.edu/library
8
Monash University Library
Screen 6 – Searching using domain and file type pdf
Activity slide to fill in appropriate search options to refine a search by domain and
file type
Fill-In-The-Blank
Sally is searching for Australian organisational reports and publications about
public health policy in Australia. To find this information she could conduct an
Advanced Search in a general search engine using the keywords “public health”
AND policy and limit her search by the file type <1> and the domain <2>
1) Text Caption : Choose the appropriate option from the drop down lists and click
Submit.
1: doc, xls, pdf
2: .gov.au, .org.au, .gov.au OR .org.au, .au
Activity answers are provided in the Appendix.
Monash University, Clayton Campus, Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
Telephone +61 3 9902 6000 Facsimile +61 3 9905 4007
www.monash.edu/library
9
Monash University Library
Screen 7 – Custom search engines
Slide contains logo images of Google Scholar and BizNar with rollover information
and a Guide Me video available to click and view
Custom search engines are purpose built to search within particular parameters or
websites. Two main types are:
 scholarly search engines, which only find scholarly results such as books, ebooks, journal articles and grey literature, and
 subject-specific search engines, which search for all resources on a particular
subject.
Many of the academic and scholarly resources on the internet are not free. If the
website or database requests payment, try checking your library Search engine or
databases for the article or publication instead.
1.
Image of Google Scholar logo - Rollover Caption : Scholarly search
engine focusing on book and journal article content.
2. Image of BizNair logo - Rollover Caption : Subject-specific search engine for
Business includes blogs, research, news and statistics.
3. Image of Guide Me video box - Rollover Caption : Click to complete a
simulated search in Google Scholar
Monash University, Clayton Campus, Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
Telephone +61 3 9902 6000 Facsimile +61 3 9905 4007
www.monash.edu/library
10
Monash University Library
Screen 8 – Accessing full-text articles through search engines
Activity slide with multiple choice answers to a question about the best way to
access the full-text of an article found through a search engine that requests
payment for viewing.
George is a student at Monash University. He has found an interesting research
article through a custom search engine. George would like to read it, but the
database is requesting payment before the full text can be accessed. What should
he do?
 Search for the article through Monash University Library Search engine
or databases
 Pay for access to the article or journal
 Search for the journal through open access repositories or search
engines
 Use the abstract as a source for his research
1) Text Caption : Select the appropriate answer and click Submit.
Activity answers are provided in the Appendix.
Monash University, Clayton Campus, Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
Telephone +61 3 9902 6000 Facsimile +61 3 9905 4007
www.monash.edu/library
11
Monash University Library
Screen 9 – Research and statistical databases
Slide contains text information and logo images of AUSTLII, Australian Bureau of
statistics and The World Bank. Rollover boxes provide information about each
database.
The majority of research and statistical databases require a subscription. The
library provides free access for Monash staff and students to over 1000 individual
databases.
Some databases are freely available over the internet. These are usually provided
by industry bodies, educational institutions, non-profit and international
organisations or government departments.
These databases are usually subject specific, or provide a specific type of
information. The search options provided are often unique to the databases and
their content. Check out the tutorials or help provided by each database to learn
how to use it effectively. If in doubt, ask your librarian.
1) Rollover Caption : The World Bank-International organisation that generates
databases of financial research and analysis for developing countries.
2) Rollover Caption : Australian Bureau of Satistics-Government department that
provides a database of raw census and other Australian statistical information.
3) Rollover Caption : AUSTLII-Educational collaboration that maintains a database
of Australian and international legal materials, including Australian cases, law and
other legal matters.
Monash University, Clayton Campus, Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
Telephone +61 3 9902 6000 Facsimile +61 3 9905 4007
www.monash.edu/library
12
Monash University Library
Screen 10 – Finding statistical information
Activity slide with multiple choice answers for finding statistical information.
George is trying to find statistical information for his research. What is the most
appropriate search method for him to use to find this information?




Statistical databases
Custom search engines
General search engines (Advanced options)
Open access repositories or search engines
1) Text Caption : Select the appropriate answer and click Submit.
Activity answers are provided in the Appendix.
Monash University, Clayton Campus, Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
Telephone +61 3 9902 6000 Facsimile +61 3 9905 4007
www.monash.edu/library
13
Monash University Library
Screen 11 – Searching open-access
Slide contains text block information and images of logos from Directory of Open
Access Journals and Monash University Research Repository. Rollover boxes with
more information.
The tools that can be used to discover and search open access journals and other
research publications are evolving alongside the development of open access
models of publishing. They currently include:
open access directories, which often contain searchable lists of individual journal
titles,open access repositories, which are mainly produced by universities and
other educational institutions and usually contain institution-specific content such
as theses and working papers, and
some open access search engines that are still in development, including Google
and Google Scholar, where coverage is not yet comprehensive, but still being
improved.
1) Rollover Caption : An open access directory which contains a searchable list of
open access scientific and scholarly journals.
2) Rollover Caption : A digital archive of selected content from Monash University's
research activity including journal articles, research papers and theses.
Monash University, Clayton Campus, Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
Telephone +61 3 9902 6000 Facsimile +61 3 9905 4007
www.monash.edu/library
14
Monash University Library
Screen 12 – Selecting appropriate sources for information
Activity slide matching the correct information type with the correct information
source. Images of logo for Monash Library Search, Australian Bureau of Statistics
and Google Advanced Search.
Matching
Where would be the best place to start searching for these types of information?
Column 1-Type of Information
Column 2- Source of Information
Books and e-books
1) Monash Library Search
Data sets and statistical reports
2) Australian Bureau of Statistics
Government reports and publications
3) Google Advanced Search
Scholarly journal articles
Organisational research and analysis
1) Text Caption : Match the item in Column 1 to the corresponding item in Column
2 using the drop-down lists and click Submit.
Activity answers are provided in the Appendix.
Monash University, Clayton Campus, Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
Telephone +61 3 9902 6000 Facsimile +61 3 9905 4007
www.monash.edu/library
15
Monash University Library
Screen 13 – Final slide in module
Slide with text and an image of 3 circular buttons each representing a different
destination: Return to the Main menu; Continue to the next tutorial Evaluating
sources; Repeat this tutorial, Getting started.
Congratulations. You have completed the Finding sources tutorial for Academic
Research on the Internet. You should now be able to choose the best way to
search for your academic information on the internet.
Click the Main menu to return to the start page, Evaluating sources to continue to
the next tutorial or Finding sources to restart this tutorial.
Monash University, Clayton Campus, Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
Telephone +61 3 9902 6000 Facsimile +61 3 9905 4007
www.monash.edu/library
16
Monash University Library
Appendix – Quiz Answers
Screen 6 Refining searches with Google advanced
Fill-In-The-Blank
Sally is searching for Australian organisational reports and publications about
public health policy in Australia. To find this information she could conduct an
Advanced Search in a general search engine using the keywords “public health”
AND policy and limit her search by the file type <1> and the domain <2>
1) Text Caption : Choose the appropriate option from the drop down lists and
click Submit.
1: doc, xls, pdf –Correct: pdf
2: .gov.au, .org.au, .gov.au OR .org.au, .au –Correct: .gov.au OR .org.au
Screen 8 Accessing full-text of articles found through search engines
George is a student at Monash University. He has found an interesting research
article through a custom search engine. George would like to read it, but the
database is requesting payment before the full text can be accessed. What should
he do?
1) Text Caption : Select the appropriate answer and click Submit.
 Search for the article through Monash University Library Search engine
or databases-Correct
 Pay for access to the article or journal
 Search for the journal through open access repositories or search
engines
 Use the abstract as a source for his research
Screen 10 Finding statistical information
George is trying to find statistical information for his research. What is the most
appropriate search method for him to use to find this information?




Statistical databases-Correct
Custom search engines
General search engines (Advanced options)
Open access repositories or search engines
1) Text Caption : Select the appropriate answer and click Submit.
Monash University, Clayton Campus, Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
Telephone +61 3 9902 6000 Facsimile +61 3 9905 4007
www.monash.edu/library
17
Monash University Library
Screen 12 Selecting appropriate sources for information
Matching
Where would be the best place to start searching for these types of information?
1) Text Caption : Match the item in Column 1 to the corresponding item in
Column 2 using the drop-down lists and click Submit.
Column 1-Type of Information
Column 2- Source of Information
Books and e-books-1
1) Monash Library Search
data sets and statistical reports-2
2) Australian Bureau of Statistics
government reports and publications -3
3) Google Advanced Search
scholarly journal articles-1
organizational research and analysis-3
Monash University, Clayton Campus, Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
Telephone +61 3 9902 6000 Facsimile +61 3 9905 4007
www.monash.edu/library
18