Library Mission Possible

An interactive approach to teaching effective use of library resources

Archive for the ‘Articles/Databases’ Category

Finding a particular article #2b

Posted by Jamie Holmes on May 31, 2008

Learning Objective(s): After completing this challenge, you will be able to easily figure out how to get the full text of any article.

Challenge: The article your professor suggested was an excellent source of information for your paper. You know that a good way to find out more about a topic is to read some of the references listed at the end of a helpful article or book. You highlight five articles on the list and have to figure out how to get at least three of them in next seven days. Remember that ILL can take up to two weeks. Click here to get the list of articles you highlighted.

Write a comment to this post that tells the author of the 3 articles you could get in the next 7 days, along with where each can be found.

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Finding a particular journal article #2

Posted by Jamie Holmes on May 31, 2008

Learning Objective(s): After completing this challenge, you will know where to look to determine whether a particular article is available online

Challenge: Your instructor has given you a citation for an article he thinks will add to your research proposal. There is more than one way to find the article, but some are better (and quicker) than others. Use the hints below if you need to by clicking on the link.

Here is the citation:

Kuhlemeier, H. (2007). The impact of computer use at home on students’ Internet skills.

Computers and  education, 49(2), 460-480.

Is this article available online through NSU Libraries? Add a comment to this post that describes how you find out (tell me how you figured it out: list your pathway and search terms, if appropriate), then answer the following questions:

1. Is it available online?
2. If not, is it available in print at NSU?
3. If not, how can you get the article?

Hint #1: Elements of a journal article citation
Hint #2: Difference between a library catalog and a research database
Hint #3: Some useful tools : online journal search, catalog search

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Finding a Particular Article – 1

Posted by Jamie Holmes on May 29, 2008

Learning Objective(s): After completing this challenge, you will know where to look to determine whether a particular article is available online or in print at our library.

Most research articles will have a reference list at the end.  Look at the reference list in the article you found and select three that might be helpful to your research.  Then, use one or more tools on the library home page to determine if any of them are available online.

Submit a comment to this post, listing:
1) The tool you used to check
2) The journal title and date of each article & whether or not you could access it online

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Database Searching 1

Posted by Jamie Holmes on May 29, 2008

Learning Objective(s): After completing this activity, you will be able to select a database (or database set) appropriate to your topic and effectively construct a search strategy using a keyword (or combination of keywords) to find an article on your topic. If you don’t know where to start, click here to view a brief tutorial on navigating to and searching a database.

Challenge: Work with your team to complete the following:

1. Select one of the available topics and determine the keyword(s) you will type in the search box. (Hint:  Write a question you have about your topic and select the important nouns and/or verbs from that.)

2.  Navigate to a database set, choose database(s) to search and perform a search for a full-text, peer-reviewed article on that topic. (Hint:  Start at the library home page and click on what you want to find – articles.)

3. Examine your first page of results and refine your search, if necessary. (Hint: Notice the box on the left side of the results screen – it contains terms you might use to focus or re-direct your search…you can either click right on one or type “and ____” into the search box.)

Keep your results list window open – you will need to get back to it later

4. Click on “No Comments” at the bottom of the blog post and report the following:
State your topic sentence or question.  Database searched, keyword(s) used, did you find a good full-text article? – if no, why not? – Review your process and try to determine what went wrong.  (Hint:  Check your spelling, make sure you used only nouns and verbs separated by and or or, try making your keywords less specific OR if your list was too long and general, try making your keywords more specific.)

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