Starting
Points for
your EPQ
Research
Cedars Upper School
Library & Resources
Centre
Mrs. M. Perrott, School
Librarian
EXTENDED PROJECT QUALIFICATION : STARTING POINTS FOR
RESEARCH
Libraries & Library Catalogues
Bedfordshire Public Library http://www.galaxy.bedfordshire.gov.uk/cgi-bin/vlib.sh
- make sure you join to access the print and online resources, eg. mewspaper databases such
as the Times Digital Archive, NewsUK, magazines and journals at
http://www.galaxy.bedfordshire.gov.uk/webingres/bedfordshire/vlib/0.information_reference/info
_online_resources.htm
Milton Keynes Public Library http://www.miltonkeynes.gov.uk/Library_services/home.asp - you can join the MK public library, very
useful reference source and good online resources
Open University Library http://library.open.ac.uk/ See also a guide to starting your
research at http://library.open.ac.uk/services/?cat=22&SubmitFlag=1&bsubmit=go
and freely available Open University course materials at
http://www.open.ac.uk/openlearn/home.php
British Library Integrated Catalogue http://catalogue.bl.uk/F/?func=file&file_name=login-bl-list - The British Library is a
copyright library and receives a copy of everything published in the UK and Ireland, so a very
comprehensive source. It is also possible to visit it and look at material if you can’t find it
elsewhere.
COPAC National, Academic & Specialist Library Catalogue -http://copac.ac.uk/ - A
merged online catalogue of most of the major University, Specialist, and National Libraries in
the UK and Ireland. Very useful means of tracking down books and journals in your topic area.
E-books
Project Gutenberg - http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page - largest single
collection of free electronic books, or eBooks, over 33,000 to download, both fiction and nonfiction.
Books & Journal Articles
Google Scholar http://scholar.google.co.uk/ - a simple way to search for scholarly
literature. From one place, you can search across many disciplines and sources: articles,
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theses, books, abstracts and court opinions, from academic publishers, professional societies,
online repositories, universities and other web sites
Internet/Information Skills Tutorials/Plagiarism
SAFARI http://library.open.ac.uk/services/libcourses/index.cfm?id=6442 - the Open
University’s information skills tutorial
Intute Virtual Training Suite http://www.vts.intute.ac.uk/ - a series of subject based
information skills tutorials designed to help you find key resources in your subject areas and see
here for a tutorial on finding images on the Internet
http://www.vts.intute.ac.uk/tutorial/imagesearching/?sid=3118519&itemid=8
Internet Detective http://www.vts.intute.ac.uk/detective/ - helps to develop the critical
thinking required when using the Internet for research and offers practical advice on evaluating
the quality of web sites.
Plagiarism – what is it and how do I avoid it? http://www.plagiarism.org/ - useful
guide to avoiding plagiarism and incorporating quotes in to your work
Plagiarism Tutorial - http://library.acadiau.ca/tutorials/plagiarism/ - 10 minute tutorial
on how to avoid plagiarising (ignore references to MLA reference style, you need to use Harvard
style referencing!)
Bibliographies and Citation & Citation Tools
Open University Library Referencing Guide
http://library.open.ac.uk/help/howto/citeref/index.cfm - a comprehensive guide to citing
references
Neil’s Harvard Toolbox - http://www.neilstoolbox.com/bibliography-creator/ - an
easy to use Harvard reference style generator
Selected Web Resources
Intute http://www.intute.ac.uk/ - a searchable collection of good quality evaluated web
resources on all subjects
Choose the Best Search For Your Information Need
http://www.noodletools.com/debbie/literacies/information/5locate/adviceengine.ht
ml - guide to finding the best search engines or databases to find relevant information or
specific information types. American bias, but nonetheless useful.
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Essay/Report writing
Useful essay words and phrases http://www.leeds.ac.uk/arts/studyskills/new/writtenassignments/usefulessay.html
- very handy list of words and phrases to help you write your report/essay, develop your
argument and quote ideas/facts from other sources
Surveys and Interviews
Survey Monkey - http://help.surveymonkey.com/app/tutorials/categorylist includes a tutorial on designing/creating a survey
Guidelines on Conducting Interviews http://managementhelp.org/evaluatn/intrview.htm - some starting points for conducting
interviews as part of your research
Getting Organised
Evernote - http://www.evernote.com/ - use this software to help you make a note of things
as you see them using your computer, phone, and the web
http://www.stsci.edu/stsci/meetings/lisa3/cartoon.gif [accessed 7/10/10]
REMEMBER! Ask your Librarian for help if you need it!
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