Searchguide – BTH English

It is treacherously easy to find information on the Internet, you will always find something. But surfing through numerous amounts of not so great search results is not very nice and above all very time consuming. Making more effective searches is fully possible though, by learning to handle the search tools better.

In this section about the Internet we will deal with different types of search engines and subject catalogues. We will discuss the invisible web and how to navigate there.
Scientific resources are given a special episode, and so is social navigation.

How can you tell if the information you find on the Internet is reliable?
Are there any tips on how to evaluate information critically?

Laws and regulations for publishing and using material on the Internet are also treated.

Read more:

http://searchenginewatch.com/

Eva Norling
2005-06-21

Criticism of the sources is

• to evaluate the source critically
• to evaluate the credibility
• to find out who or what is the source
• to establish the authenticity of the source
• to check its information

Why evaluate critically?

The purpose of critical evaluation is to try to establish whether the source treats what it claims to treat, if it is relevant and reliable. You can begin by sorting your material from these criteria. Even though it might be difficult to get a clear answer for each item on the list, it is important though to evaluate your sources based on these criteria.

When you have sought information and found material it is time to evaluate what you have found critically. Does the material answer your questions? Is it enough, or do you need more information? Is it credible? In order to be able to establish this you must wear ”critical evaluation glasses”. Here are some issues you should consider when you check the credibility of your material.

• Can you establish publisher and originator? Are they trustworthy?
• Who is the author and what is his background?
• Has the author published anything in that subject field before?
• Has the publication gone through some kind of quality examination?
• Is the information up-to-date? Information ages quickly in certain subject fields.
• Are sources and references stated correctly? Do they refer to up-to-date and relevant literature?
• Which is the main result? Is method and material accounted for?
• Does the information contain facts or opinions? Is it the author’s own opinions which are presented or is it a compilation of other people’s thoughts.
• What is the author’s purpose of the published information?
• Do facts from different sources correspond?
• Does the publication seem credible? What do others say about the publication? Are there any reviews?
• Is this something you can use in your work?

The main rule that applies is that you should consider all information with critical judgment, and use common sense for the evaluation.

Anne-Marie Pettersson
2010-02-04

The overall objective of research is to gain knowledge in order to better understand the world we live in and in order to, if possible, change it for the better.

(God sed i forskningen, SOU 1999:4, my translation)

Where is research conducted?

Research is carried out at the large, long since established universities like for example Uppsala, Lund and Gothenburg, as well as at the new universities who have received university status relatively recently. In addition to this, there are some university colleges who are entitled to conduct research in a particular discipline and some who are not. Among those university colleges who are entitled to conduct research in a particular discipline we find Blekinge Institute of Technology.

Research is also conducted at state as well as private research institutes. At the research institutes research and development is often conducted in close cooperation with trade and industry. They carry out research in a certain line of business, or in a certain field, and constitute an important resource for the transferring of knowledge to small and medium size companies among others.

Basic research / applied research

When we talk about research there is basic research and applied research. A person who does basic research often does not have a preconceived opinion about how the research he is conducting will be used. The search is free. It is rather like heading out for unfamiliar waters to try to seek explanations for different phenomena. Basic research is important for the general knowledge development in our society.

Applied research on the other hand is devoted to finding solutions or explanations for specific problems. Already from the beginning the scientist knows what the research results are going to be used for. A great deal of the applied research is conducted in trade and industry or at research institutes, often in cooperation with scientists at universities and university colleges.

Dissemination of research results

The purpose of research is to increase our knowledge in different fields and thus it is important that research results are accessible. There are a number of different ways to present research results. They can be presented in journal articles, research reports, books or dissertations. It is also common for research results to be presented orally at conferences and to be published in so called conference proceedings. At conferences and seminars, posters can also be one alternative for disseminating results. Another way to quickly shed light on your research can be so called preprints, i.e. scientific articles published electronically on the Internet. Dissemination of results also happens between colleagues at seminars and through more informal communication in discussion lists and news groups on the Internet.

Anne-Marie Pettersson
2010-02-04

A database is a collection of data systematically stored so that they are easy to retrieve.

One example of a database is the Library catalogue, which contains information about the library’s books and makes it possible to find a particular book quickly.

There are different kinds of databases for different purposes, and in this chapter you can read about how they work and in what contexts they are useful. The structure of a database, and the search facilities offered, differ greatly depending on what type of material the database covers.

Searching for information in databases is different from using Internet search engines. In the Search guide section there are many great tips on how you can make better and more effective database searches, see for example the texts about search terms and search technique.

Many databases are freely available on the Internet like the Library catalogue, but some are commercial and subject to a charge. Students and staff at Blekinge Institute of Technology have access to a number of databases which the Library subscribes to. When you use a computer on campus you automatically have access to all information resources. In the text Searching from home in the Search guide section you can read more about how to access the Library’s information resources from home.

Jenny Löfkvist
2005-06-28

The copyright law states how you may use material that somebody else has created. The law protects texts, pictures, photographs, music, films, computer programs etc. Copyright means that the person or persons who create a work have the right to control how it is used.

Copyright law

Copyright regulates a creator’s sole right to artistic and literary works, music, art, photographs, computer programs etc. The originator has the sole right of disposal for these. The Swedish copyright law (SFS 1960:729) gives all originators, regardless of nationality, the same protection. If you want to use something that somebody else has created, you should or must often ask permission from the copyright owner first.

How long is a work protected?

Copyright lasts 70 years after the death of the originator. If the work is anonymous, copyright lasts 70 from the publication of the work. Read more about this in the copyright law § 43-44, 49a

What is protected by copyright?

Regarding text material, for example novels and poems, as well as translations are protected. Also articles from journals and newspapers are comprised by the law.

Works of art such as paintings, sculptures, drawings, pictures and photographs are also protected. All photographs are protected by copyright law. The law separates photographic work from photographs though. The more artistic pictures count as photographic works. Also building plans and utility articles such as furniture are included.

Databases and catalogues have a special protection which is valid for fifteen years. Computer programs on the other hand are protected by copyright law. Read more in the Copyright law § 26 g-h.

Are you allowed to make copies?

You have the right to make single copies for private use of works that have been made public. Private use means that apart from making copies for your own use you can also make single copies for your family and a close circle of friends. Copying is only permitted for limited parts of books or other literary works.
You must not on the other hand make copies of computer programs and databases. Read more in the Copyright law § 12.

Are you allowed to quote somebody else’s work?

You are allowed to quote from publicized works “according to custom” and to an extent which is motivated in the context. “According to custom” means that quoting is only allowed if it is motivated by the purpose. For example, it can be considered to be permitted to quote from a work in connection with the writing of a review, or when writing a scientific text. The originator should always be named when his work is used. Read more in the Copyright law § 22.

What happens if you violate the copyright law?
A person who violates the copyright law can be sentenced to pay damages. If you commit an intentional violation of another person’s copyright you can be sentenced to a fine or to prison. Read more in the Copyright law § 53-54.

Copyright and the Internet

Copyright also comprise documents which are published on the Internet. This means that the copyright limits the rights for how you can use documents on the Internet, even if you have access to them from your computer.

When a computer user copies and permanently stores a work protected by copyright this means that it is a production of a copy. Multiplying documents on the Internet therefore requires the permission of the copyright owner. The automatic, temporary copy that many computer programs produce when the computer user reads a document on the Internet is not considered to be a reproduction however.

An Internet user has the right to make a copy of an Internet document without the permission of the copyright owner, on condition that the copy is for personal use or a small circle of family and friends. The copy must not be used for other purposes. This exception does not concern computer programs. They must not be copied.

The right to quote makes it permitted to cite from a copyright protected document on the Internet, under the presupposition that it is done according to good practice and only to the extent that is motivated by the purpose. The source must be stated correctly and the quote must not be too long. However, you must not use e.g. a quote from a work of fiction in an advertisement or to sweeten your own work.

Copyright and full text resources

Copyright also comprises those resources available in full text from the Library web site. The regulations that apply to those resources Blekinge Institute of Technology subscribes to are specified in special license agreements.

Generally speaking, these rules can be summarized according to the following:
“This service includes licensed data only intended for use in scientific work, research, education and for personal use. To alter, make compilations, copy system- or software, resell, redistribute, publish or republish data is not permitted.”

A new copyright law came into force July 1st 2005.

Anne-Marie Pettersson
2010-02-04

Scientific documents that you find through the common search engines are mixed with commercials and personal opinions on the Internet. How do I know that the information I have found is useful? How do I check who has published the information and its origin? In the following text you will find some advice for criticism of the sources.

What is the URL of the web page?

Here you can often see if the page was made by a university, a company or a private person.

The top domain is the highest level in the Internet domain system, i.e. in a web or e-mail address, and it is written in the form of a code. The part that is at the very right in a domain name is the top domain. This states either official authority, organization, special area of use or a certain nation. For example www.who.org has the top domain .ORG. Swedish web sites have SE for top domain.

Who made it?

Are there any references in the background information about the creator of the web site? Check if it is possible to contact the institution or person behind the page. Does the originator know much about the subject which is discussed on the web page? Can you find previous publications from the same person? Is it is a well-known name in the field? Never trust an anonymous web page!

If you can not find information about the origin of a web site, this is a useful piece of advice:

It is not uncommon for unreliable people or organizations to try to spread their message in the light of a serious organization or authority. You need to be observant when you come across pages where the contents are not what you expect it to be. Many web sites have addresses that can only be told apart from the original by the top domain of the address. For example compare the following web sites:

One of the following pages has The Living History Forum as originator. The other has a completely different origin.
http://www.levandehistoria.com/
http://www.levandehistoria.org/

One of the web sites below belongs to the White House while the other offers information on education.

www.whitehouse.gov
www.whitehouse.com

On one of these addresses you will find the official website of the World Trade Organisation.
www.gatt.org
www.wto.org

How old is the web page?

Information can become outdated quickly. Because of this it is important to see how old it is. Are the contents and the links of the webpage updated continuously? Does it matter if the material on the web page is old? Historical information does not age as quickly as medical information.

Is the material on the web page fact or advertisement?

Corporate pages often contain facts as well as advertisements. You need to be observant about what parts are facts, and what parts are advertisements.

What is the appearance of the web page?

Is it clear and structured? Are the links updated? Is the language polite and proofread?

Do the contents of the page match your need?

Is the material found on the web page relevant for your studies?

Is there a list of works cited and references?

Is it clear what sources the page is based on? Are statements supported with references to up to date and relevant literature?

—————

Anne-Marie Pettersson
2010-02-05

To write successfully is to a great extent about capturing and keeping the reader’s interest. This can be achieved in different ways, for example by presenting your material in a clear, well-arranged manner, and by avoiding to use difficult and complicated language.

Writing a report or a paper is a time consuming and delicate task. You need to be well prepared and know a lot about the subject you intend to write about. Preparations such as literature searches and/or interviews in order to orientate one self on what has been published on the subject is one important part.

To critically evaluate and examine the results that have emerged is another important part of the essay writing process.

It is also important to know about how to make a correct disposition, plus to know how to quote other authors and how to state references correctly.

The language of a scientific report is important, because the text should give a serious impression in order to be taken seriously. A language which is too easy-going and informal can give a totally wrong impression of the text. There is also the risk of using too stilted and complicated language. Ask yourself: Who am I writing for? Try to be matter-of-fact and informative and it will hopefully turn out all right.

Anne-Marie Pettersson
2010-02-04

Thanks to the fact that many databases are now offering automatic literature coverage it is easier to keep up-to-date with the latest research findings in a subject.

Selective dissemination of information (SDI)

A standing SDI will give you an overview of news in your area of interest. You create a search profile that is run regularly in the database, and if a new document matches your search query you will get a reference to the new document by e-mail. E-mail alerts are often free of charge, but you must find the full text of the article yourself.

Table of contents (TOC)

Many publishers, with both electronic and printed publications, offer the possibility of a subscription for the table of contents pages from recently published journal issues. In addition to the table of contents you often get short summaries of the published articles. All you need to do is register your e-mail address and what subjects / journals you are interested in.

The ultimate search profile

Take into account the fact that it often takes some time to find a good search profile / search query. At first it is easy to make too wide searches and your inbox will quickly fill with material that is not quite interesting, and which you do not have the time to go through. To avoid this you might create a very narrow search that never gives any results. It is advisable to spend some extra time to find the right search profile.

In the long run it pays off to have effective subject coverage. Unfortunately you cannot count on using the same search query in all databases. Neither the search language, nor indexing or thesauri are standardized.

Accept the fact that it takes some time to find an effective search profile. Check what special features the databases you are interested in have (read about search technique in the database help pages), reflect over the search results. Are you satisfied with the result or do you want to make some adjustments in the search query?

Eva Norling
2005-06-21

Reference management is about keeping track of references for books, articles and other material you want to refer to. It is also about presenting the references correctly, both in the text and in the bibliography. Reference management software can help you manage your references during the whole writing process, from information gathering to publishing.

When you are in the process of writing a scientific text you discover how difficult it can be to keep track of the references for the material you want to refer to. Another problem will usually surface when you are about to publish your text; there is an enormous amount of different styles for writing references in the text as well as in the bibliography and it is time consuming work to achieve a correct result.

Read the rest of this entry »

Keep three things in mind:
Be critical, build networks and list good scientific resources

If you are looking for free scientific resources on the web you should keep at least three things in mind:

1. Be critical and try to evaluate critically the resources you seek out.
2. Try to build some sort of knowledge or information network from which you can gather information about the dynamic and ever changing web, where possibilities and resources come and go. Try to keep up-to-date through books, articles and well-informed colleagues and friends, and last but not least – use news letters and e-mail lists.
3. Not everything on the web is accessed by clicking one button on search tools such as Google and AltaVista etc. Many resources are invisible for those search tools for many reasons. A great part of the information on the web is found in dynamic databases invisible to ordinary search tools. The information can be stored in formats search tools have difficulty to interpret, such as PDF or PostScript files, or the information is simply protected by passwords. We are focusing on free scientific resources, so the last mentioned problem does not concern us in this context, but there is consequently no harm in making a list of good free scientific resources and then to expand from there.

A great part of the free scientific information on the web is examined and objective but that does not prevent you from critically evaluating the resources you find. One of the most important criterions for a critical attitude is to check who the author is. Who is the authority behind the information? Is he a well-known person in the subject field? Check if the author has written other articles or texts. What is the author’s position, what organization does he/she belong to? The minimum criterion for trusting the author is that his address and phone number plus e-mail address is available. If you find a publisher’s name that you recognize it can be a valuable sign that the information is reliable. The same rule applies if the document is on a server belonging to a well-known organization. If the document is stored on a personal Internet account – be careful! Always ask yourself if the document has a scientific structure. Is there a reference list? Is the method and approach described scientifically? In order to find and keep track of existing resources, and resources in the making, there are several good news letters. Below you will find an annotated list of a couple of such news letters.

The Scout Report

In the web site it says “Since 1994, the Internet Scout Project has focused on research and development projects providing better tools for finding, filtering and presenting information and meta data online.
The scout server is at the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus and it is published every Friday, on the web or by e-mail. It is an accessible way to keep informed of valuable Internet resources and the service is provided by librarians and information scientists which is a guarantee for high quality. Check out subscription options at: http://scout.wisc.edu/

Librarians´ index to the Internet

The Librarians’ Index to the Internet is a well organized starting point for those who seek a reliable and well organized index for selected Internet resources. The service is a searchable annotated subject index of more that 12 000 Internet resources selected by librarians at public libraries. But, although the service is directed to public library users there is a large selection of good scientific resources as well. The service is very similar to Yahoo in its structure. You can subscribe to newsletters which notify you when new resources are added to the service. http://lii.org/

Free Pint

Free Pint is a newsletter which is based on a network of nearly 70 000 information specialists around the world. The newsletter is free and consists of a number of sections that deal with different subject fields. Free Pint is valuable because it counterbalances the dominance of American resources by favoring European and other sources. Another good thing about Free Pint is the “bar” where you can ask tricky questions about the web or have a discussion with or help other bar guests with their problems http://www.freepint.co.uk/

SPARC Open Access News Letter

If you are looking for news on what is happening in the Open Access movement the Sparc Open Access News Letter (SOAN) by Peter Suber is a must. SOAN has existed since 2003. Subscription for the newsletter and access to the discussion forum is free of charge.
http://www.arl.org/sparc/soa/index.html

BioMedCentral

If you are interested in following biomedical research and finding free resources in this field you should register for free continuous information through Biomed Central which is one of the oldest and most widely used resources in biomedicine in the world.
http://www.biomedcentral.com/

Open Archives Initiative

Open Archives Initiative offers two mailing lists. One is a channel for discussing non technical problems and the other works as a forum for technical discussions on different OAI protocols among other things.
http://www.openarchives.org/community/index.html

OAIster

Is a search tool developed at the University of Michigan and run by OCLC which provides access to about 1000 free scientific archives around the world. Together they hold more that 25 million records.
http://oaister.umdl.umich.edu/o/oaister/

Peter Linde
2010-09-06