MPC Library Research Colloquium
Part One
Oct 2nd, 2012
Before we Start
• Lets set up a RefWorks account if you don’t
already have one
• Go to RefWorks login
• Click sign into a new Account
• (Write down your password and save it for
later if it is new)
Lets talk About Databases
• A library database is an electronic catalog or
index.
• Library databases contain information about
published items.
• Library databases are searchable.
Most library databases index articles from:
• Journals/Magazines
• Books
• Newspapers
Basic Searching Techniques
• Boolean Basic: AND
OR
NOT
Lets look at: AND
Result Includes both terms or multiple terms.
Useful when needing to narrow a search to
include for example:
Toronto and internet and user
Basic Searching Techniques
• Let’s Look at: OR
Includes both Terms or all terms if search
includes multiple terms
USEFUL is you have a number of terms used to
describe similar things
“electronic OR digital OR on-line”
Basic Searching Techniques
• Let’s Look at NOT
• NOT excludes the term that you do not want
• Useful when needing to eliminate a common
usage like:
• “Java programming”
Try Java NOT coffee
More Advanced Boolean: NESTING
• Combining AND OR NOT in a single search is
called NESTING
• You often need to help a database when
combining multiple operators AND OR NOT
• Let’s Look:
• Use Parentheses
• For best results always enclose your multiple
OR operators in (Parentheses)
More Advanced Boolean: WildCard
• If you want to hit all variations of a commonly
used word you can use what is termed a wildcard
at a particular truncation of a word
• A wildcard symbol looks like this: * and
sometimes !, ?, or #
• For example: if you want to get social, society,
socialization, try soci! This will get all spellings
• OR anthropological, anthropology, anthopologist,
try anthropolog*
More Advanced Boolean: Phrase
• Quotation marks around a phrase or term that
is linked together to give it meaning
• Example: “social media”
• (social and media) would give a much broader
search result than the more specific “social
media”
Keywords vs. Subjects Headings
• Keywords are usually where we as searchers
start
• Keywords, and synonyms use words and
phrases that describe our topic
• Such as “social media” twitter “open access”
internet “user generated content” canada
Keywords vs. Subjects Headings
• Subject headings are terms that the database
imposes upon the searcher
• Subject headings are how the database organizes
its information
• You can find subject headings in various ways:
Online thesaurus, specific article keywords and
terms, database suggestions
• For example “social media” may be “internet
community” or “social networks” in a database
Let’s look Research Question #1
• What are the main characteristics of freedom
of speech pertaining to technologically
mediated communication?
• Keywords “freedom of speech”
communication mediated technology
• 1) “freedom of speech” communicat*
technolog* internet
• http://library.ryerson.ca/
Key Search Principle
• Go from general to specific
• If you start specific you may miss many articles on your
topic
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Choose your databases wisely
Academic Search Premier
Communication and Mass Media Complete
Proquest
Let’s Look at Research Question #2
• How do users of organizational social media
use value frames when communicating their
responses?
• Keywords “social media” value communicating
users organizations
• 1) organization* social user* valu* internet
OR “Social media” “user generated content”
“organization*”
Proquest
Let’s Look at Research Question #3
• Can a comparison between the shift from
traditional print to digital media provide
insight into current social and cultural
patterns?
• “shift” “traditional print” “digital media”
“social patterns” “cultural patterns”
• 1) Soci* “print media” “new media”
• OR cultur* “print media” “new media”
Other Useful Services
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Journal List search http://library.ryerson.ca/
Search everything
Services for Grad students
Subject Librarian Appt service
Virtual Reference ASK service
Racer account
REFWorks
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Write and Cite
Bibilographies
Abstract lists
Catalogue importing
Sharing research
RSS feeds
RefWorks Basics
• Write and Cite while you work in word
• Making a reference list (you were doing it as
we clicked and added articles)
• Adding References manually
Advanced RefWorks
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Sharing folders
Adding material from other catalogues
RSS Feeds
Editing records and adding Attachments
Wrap Up
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Questions?
Stay for a lab
Your subject librarian is Jay Wolofsky
Remember the reference desk is open 10-7
Monday - Thursday, 10-5 Fridays, and 12-5 on
weekends.
• Ask Reference is open 10-10 Mon. Thursdays,
10-5 Fridays, and 11pm – 5 Pm Weekends