doing a literature search in sociology

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Doing aLiterature Search

in Sociology

SC2101 Methods of Social Research Tutorial

Presented by Hayati Abdul

clbha@nus.edu.sg

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Objectives of session

• To help you:–Search Sociological databases

effectively using various search strategies

–Access resources and services via the Library portal

–Search LINC, the Library catalogue

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Today’s outline

• What is a literature search?• Identify Sources in Sociology• Build your Search Strategy• Search Electronic Indexes &

Abstracts in Sociology• Search LINC• Citing references

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What is a Literature Search?

• A comprehensive survey of publications and information on a specific topic– Identifies what has already been written on a

topic

– Increases your own knowledge of the subject

• How to go about a literature search?– Which sources to search?

– How to search them effectively?

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Identify Sources in Sociology

• Search for Sources• Encyclopaedias & Dictionaries• Journal articles

– Indexes & Abstracts

• Understanding references

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Search for Sources

Book chaptersConference papers

Journal articles

Books Journals

Multimedia items Theses

LINC

E-Resources

Types of sources Search Tools

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Reference Books: Dictionaries & Encyclopedias

For background information, definitions, short bibliographies:

General• The Sage encyclopedia of Social Science

research methods• International encyclopedia of Social

and Behavioral Sciences

Specialised• Men and masculinities : a social, cultural

and historical encyclopedia• Dictionary of race, ethnicity and culture• The encyclopedia of suicide

Location: CLREF2

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Journals: Scholarly Journal Articles

Why are these sources important?• More specialized, research based

• Purpose is to extend scholarly knowledge in the field

• Represent most current research in a field

• Written by researchers, scholars, experts

• Are peer reviewed forresearch value, scholarlymerit and accuracy

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Electronic Journals

• Electronic full-text of journal articles

• Accessible via E- Resources• Select E-journals

• Search by Title/Subject/Publisher–e.g. by Subject: Sociology & Social Work–e.g. by publisher: Jstor

• Articles can be printed or downloaded

No Excessive downloading

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Searching Journal Articles: Indexes & Abstracts

• List journal articles (including book chapters, conference papers, reports) pertaining to current literature in a subject

• Provide bibliographic citations, abstracts, summaries• Cover hundreds of journal titles

Electronic indexes & abstracts• More search options available• References can be e-mailed, downloaded or printed• Some databases provide links to full texts of articles

Electronic access via E-ResourcesFor CD-ROMs, request at Loan Desk

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Indexes & Abstracts in Sociology

• Available in E-Resources• Sociological Abstracts• Social Sciences Citation

Index (SSCI) via Web of Science• Social Sciences Abstracts• International Bibliography of Social

Sciences• Perind• Expanded Academic ASAP Index

Pertaining to Spore, Malaysia, ASEAN & Brunei

Most frequently used databases

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Things to note when usingIndexes & Abstracts

• Determine most appropriate indexes• Select years to search on• Use Boolean operators to narrow,

broaden or refocus search• Note citation details

(author, title, source, vol., pp…)• Check LINC for availability

of citations retrieved• Look for links to electronic full-text of

articles

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Understanding References

Neuman, William Lawrence. 2003. Social research methods: qualitative and quantitative approaches. 5th ed. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

Sadasivan, Balaji. 2004. Challenges facingSingapore: borderless threats, boundlessenemies. Singapore Institute ofInternational Affairs Reader 4(1) : 1-9.

Jeffreys, Elaine. 2004. Feminist prostitution debates: are there any sex workers in China? pp.83–108. In Chinese women, living and working, editor, Anne E. McLaren, London: Routledge Curzon.

References Material Type

Book

Journal article

Book Chapter

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Evaluating Search Results

•Authority–Author–Publisher

•Review process–Peer reviewed–Frequently cited

•Accuracy –Factual–References

•Suitability–Information required–Language

•Objectivity & Purpose

–Biased–Scholarly

•Timeliness –Date–Period covered

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Build your Search Strategy• Determining Search Terms

– Keywords, Subject terms

• Organizing search terms– Boolean operators,

Truncation, Search statements

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Determining Search Terms: Keyword vs. Subject Search

Keywords– Can appear anywhere

– Retrieve more results that may be appropriate or irrelevant

Subject terms– Created & pre- assigned

– More precise

– Must be entered correctly

Most databases allow different fields to be searched: Author Abstracts Title Keywords Subject terms References (when available)…

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Determining Search Terms: Keywords & Concepts

• Break down topic into main Keywords & ConceptsTopic: Who should take care of the elderly:

the family or the government?

Care | Elderly | Family | Government• List synonyms, broader, narrower terms, variant

spelling• Care -- Medical care, home care, caregiver*

• Elderly -- Aged, older people, aging parents

• Family -- Filial piety, family relationships

• Government -- Policies, policy, planning

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Determining Search terms: Subject Headings

• Search using Subject Headings or Thesaurus terms when you are:– not sure what keywords to use– looking for current terms, definition,

related terms

• Subject search in:– LINC, use:

Library of Congress Subject Headings– Sociological Abstracts, use:

Sociological Thesaurus

Library of Congress Subject HeadingsLibrary of Congress Subject Headings

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Determining Search Terms: Thesaurus

Sociological Thesaurus

Social Sciences Abstracts Thesaurus

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Organizing Search Terms:

Boolean Operators (OR)

• OR is used to:–indicate that either terms may be present–broaden search

Elderly OR Aged

AgedElderly

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Organizing Search Terms: Boolean Operators (AND)

• AND is used to:–indicate that both terms must be present

–narrow search when too many records retrieved

Aged AND Housing

Aged Housing

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Organizing Search Terms: Boolean Operators (NOT)Boolean Operators (NOT)

• NOT is used to:- exclude terms- narrow search when too many records are retrieved

Casino gambling NOT Internet gambling

Internet gambling

Casino gambling

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Asterisk retrieves all terms with part of word specified– Right-hand truncation

• polic* retrieves policy, policies, policeglobal* retrieves globalization, globalisation, globally

– Internal truncation

• Organi*ation retrieves organization, organisation

• Wom*n retrieves women, woman

Organizing Search Terms:

Truncation

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Organizing Search Terms: Parentheses ( )

• Round parentheses ( )– used to group words to be searched together

• (aged OR elderly) AND (care) Retrieves

–care of aged–care of the elderly

• (fertility OR birth) AND (policy OR planning) Retrieves

–fertility policy, fertility planning,–birth policy, birth planning

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Organizing Search Terms: Search StatementsTopicPolicies for the care of the elderly

Search statements(aged or elderly) and care and (policies or planning)

Power of maids and their influence on the family

(maids or domestics) and family

Representation of the male body in popular magazines

males and (body or masculinity) and magazines 25

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Search Electronic Indexes & Abstracts in Sociology

• Sociological Abstracts• Social Sciences Citation Index (via Web of Science)• Social Sciences Abstracts• Perind

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Search Topics

1. Aged in Singapore

• (aged or elderly) and singapore

2. Representation of the male body in popular magazines

• males and (body or masculinity) and magazines

3. Asian values in Singapore

• “asian values” and singapore

• asian and values and singapore

4. Economic or social implications of gambling in casinos

• (economic or social) and gambl* and casino*

5. Charitable institutions or charities or fund raising in Singapore

• (charit* or fund raising) and singapore

6. Maids in Singapore

• (maids or domestics) and singapore

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Accessing Indexes & Abstracts through Library Portal

Library Portal

• To access Indexes & Abstracts through:– E-Resources– Major Databases

• To set my preference to:– Reference Databases

• Sociology & Social Work

Click Click LOGINLOGIN

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Sociological Abstracts

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Sociological Abstracts

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Social Sciences Citation Index (via Web of Science)

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Social Sciences Citation Index (via Web of Science)

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Social Sciences Abstracts

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PERIND

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Search Books, Journals, Theses, Multimedia items, Conference proceedings… • Library Integrated

Catalogue

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• Author/title • Table of contents • Subject

By Collection• Theses • Periodicals • Newspapers on microform • Audiovisuals • Music instruments• Music scores

• Call number • Limit this search • Mark and Save • Setting Alerts for New

Books • Truncation and Boolean

Use specific field prefixes to narrow search further:

a: for authort: for titles: for subject

Advanced Features

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Citing References• Why Cite?

• Citing Books, Journal Article, Book Chapter

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Citing References: American Sociological Association

Guides• American Sociological Association. ASA style guide• Quick style guide for students writing Sociology papers• A guide to writing Sociology papers

Show research done

Help readers verify your claims

Back-up your arguments

Acknowledge intellectual debt

Why Cite?

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Citing Book

Author TitleEdition

Publication details

Year

Aby, Stephen H. 1997. 2nd ed. Sociology:

a guide to reference to reference and

information sources. Englewood,

Colorado : Libraries Unlimited.

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Citing Journal Article

Page nos.

Author of article Article title

Source title Volume, issue no.

Source year

Ho, Kong Chong. (2000). “Mixed emotions: negative and positive consequences of our enthusiasm for the internet”. Innovations 1(1): 54-55.

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Citing Book Chapter

Source yearAuthor Chapter title

Publisher

Parminder Bhachu. 2004. “It's hip to be Asian: the local and global networks of Asian fashion entrepreneurs in London.” Pp. 40-59 in Transnational spaces, edited by Peter Jackson, Philip Crang, and Claire Dwyer. London : Routledge.

Page nos.Source Title

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HELP!• Library Instruction

ONline (LION)–Help on how to search

LINC, databases…

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Online Help! Library Instruction ONline

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Need any HELP?

• Formulating your research topic; using indexes & abstracts; identifying sources of information

• Approach us in person,by phone or email• 68742028• clbha@nus.edu.sg• askalib@nus.edu.sg