The modules will teach you how to find and use scientific information.
These modules are intended for students and staff members of the TU/e and other library users.
The modules focus on the core skills, competencies, attitudes and behaviours important for information skills in higher education and research.
The modules can be used during courses embedded in the curriculum. Then the subject and search question is related to your course and the library offers support.
Also you can use the modules as guidance for efficient search steps.
- Introduction (10 min)
- a. Finding, using and judging information, overview
- b. Research methods
- c. What is important to understand before starting a search.
- d. Introduction video and power point
- The Publication Cycle and Information Sources (10 min)
- a. How Scientific Research is Conducted and Published (introduction; video and power point publication cycle)
- b. Primary and Secondary Resources
- c. Examples of information sources and overview
- Getting Started Making a Search Plan (30 min)
- a. How to find background information
- b. How to prepare a search, making a search plan
Steps for the search plan
- analyse your topic, use of the general description of the search theme,
- define your search terms
- combining search terms
- where to search, choice of databases
- c. Search Forms
- Database Search Tips (30 min)
- a. Why is Google not enough? Google vs. Library Search Tools (video)
- b. Narrow or broaden the scope of your search (video)
- Keyword, Truncation and Boolean Searching
- Subject and Field Searching
- Phrase searching
- c. Search History
- Evaluating Information (10 min)
- a. Using Scholarly Sources, differences in search results between databases
- b. Criteria to decide about inclusion of exclusion, what can the record tell you.
- c. Step by step evaluation: how to introduce criteria to decide about inclusion or exclusion
- Using Search Results and Creating Citations (10 min)
- a. Incorporating sources using summarizing, paraphrasing, and quoting. (video)
- b. Paraphrasing or citing, how to cite
- c. How to find the full text articles
- d. Citation styles and Reference manager
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Module | Subject | At the end of training: |
| introduction |
|
1 | determining information requirement | 1. you can specify what kinds of information are required in relation to an assignment.
2. you can analyse a search query into its various aspects.
3. you know where to find that information. |
2,3,4 | finding information effectively and efficiently | 1. you can compile a list of search terms for each aspect of a search query.
2. you know how to combine search terms and aspects using Boolean Operators.
3. you know how to use subject-specialized resource lists as starting point for resource selection.
4. you know what types of information may be found in catalogues, databases or reference works.
5. you know how information found may be retrieved in physical or digital form. |
5 | critical evaluation of information | 1. you are able to judge whether information found is reliable. (*)
2. you are able to judge whether information found is relevant.
3. you are able to select reliable and relevant information.
(*) Note: Qualifying information, e.g. as informative, commercial or scientific is what we consider at this level as the ability to determine reliability.
(*) Additional note: Information found in the TU/e Library catalogue and in databases from reputed publishers (included in A-Z list of databases) may be considered reliable. When using websites or other freely available data (from unknown sources) reliability checks must be performed. |
6 | processing and saving information | 1. you can tell difference between citing, paraphrasing and plagiarism.
2. you know how to cite and how to paraphrase correctly. (*)
3. you are able to compile bibliography or reference list in accordance with standards.
(*) Note: at this level we consider proper legal use of information as an aspect of correct citation/paraphrasing |
For a personal introduction to the library please make an appointment at the library information desk.
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Acknowledgements:
TU/Delft library, Library of Wageningen, SCONUL (Society of College, National and University Librarians UK) and MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA) for inspiration, texts and video’s.