Choosing the right tools and sources
When you are looking for information to answer an assignment question, you can choose from a number of tools and sources:
Tools
Library catalogues: these will allow you to find books and other material physically located in the library.
Databases: these help you find specific journal articles written about your topic.
Web search engines: Google and Google Scholar make it easy for you to find information via the World Wide Web.
Sources
Teaching staff: your lecturer is often the best person to consult if you are looking for information. However, he or she will probably expect you to have a go first before asking for help.
Librarians: librarians and other information professionals can assist you in finding information quickly.
Library catalogues
Online catalogues tell you:
- whether an item is held by the library
- the location of resources
- whether or not they are available to be borrowed
- if a particular journal is available in full-text electronically
*Although journal articles are a useful source of current, authoritative information, they are not listed individually in library catalogues. The catalogue will tell you if a particular journal is available in the library or provide the link to online access, but it won't tell you the titles or authors of the individual articles in any particular volume. To find relevant articles, you need to make use of journal databases.
In this researching unit, we will explain how to use the CDU library catalogue in more detail.
Databases
CDU subscribes to a wide range of information services called databases. These provide access to journal articles; systematic reviews; conference papers; E-Books and more.
Databases are used to find information relevant to your topic. Some only provide references or citations - they tell you who wrote an article, what the article is called and (most importantly) where the article is published. Others include both citations and abstracts (these are brief summaries of what’s contained in each journal article). The majority now allow you to download; print or read online the full-text (complete) article.
In workshop 2, we will investigate how to use these databases in more detail.
Internet
The World Wide Web is a gigantic network of documents stored electronically on computers located all over the world. The range of information available can vary from holiday snapshots to complete encyclopedias. The main types of tools you can use to find your way through the maze:
- Search engines: these provide an index to the contents of Web pages. Examples are Google and Google Scholar.
- Subject guides and directories: these are more specialised Web indexes which arrange Web sites by subject area. Examples are Del.icio.us and wikis.
In workshop 3, we will investigate how to use the web in more detail.
Librarians
Ask at the CDU Library Information Desk or online via AskUs. Library staff are expert at finding information and in assisting students with their enquiries. You can also contact the Liaison Librarian for your subject.