IS2 Citation Database Search Skills

Beginners

A ‘recommended’ optional course that introduces all the relevant online databases available to you in the university: citation databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed, which index all the scientific literature that is published, as well as chemistry and related subject-specific databases. You will be guided on how to search citation databases effectively and the session includes a hands-on element where you can practise searching using the PCs available. You are welcome to bring your own laptop.

The session will be most suitable for those who are new to searching citation databases or would like a refresher.

Please note that this session will not cover searching the databases Reaxys and SciFinder. These are covered by IS5.

1st year Chemistry Postgraduates

Number of sessions: 1

After attending this session participants will be able to:

• Evaluate which database or combination of databases are the most suitable to use for your particular research topic
• How to search a database by journal article title, author name, DOI, and other terms
• Access the full text of journal articles
• Find the correct author
• Find metrics for a journal, journal article, or author
• Refine searches using the search operators available and by combining searches
• Create bibliographies, save, email and print your results
• Export results to reference managers
• Receive alerts every time a particular citation or search (term) finds new results
• Develop an effective search strategy that aligns with the needs of your research topic

This session covers:

• Introduction to the online databases available for chemical literature and structure searching, including citation databases (Web of Knowledge, Scopus, PubMed) and search engines such as Google Scholar
• The best routes for access to databases within the University network and offsite
• How citation databases differ in content - their strengths and weaknesses in covering journal articles, conference proceedings, abstracts, patents, date coverage, books, chemical structures
• Search operators used by different databases
• Advantages and disadvantages of Google Scholar in comparison with citation databases
• Narrowing, widening, and combining searches
• Managing your results list
• Metrics
• Cited reference searching
• Citation alerts
• Unique author identifiers
• Using subject thesauri
• Opportunity for hands-on searching

One 2 hour session