Research for Electrical and Computer Engineering Majors, B

Finding Published Research: for Senior Design Projects,
ECE 791 & ME 755, Fall '06

Parts of this talk: Intro; Strategies; Internet; Library Use; Citations; Overview

I. Thinking about the information you need

     Understanding and framing a question; thinking about the terms and context
     Specialized information needed? Use specialized sources
        A. Published: print materials (journal articles, conference articles, books -- texts, data compilations, etc.)
        B. Published: Internet sites, including Invisible Web -- require evaluation
        C. Unpublished: Experts (instructors, associations, info specialists)

II. What's true on the Internet?

"Urban Legends Reference Pages"

The Moon Landing Hoax

III.  Finding answers on the 'net

        A. Save time! Use recommended sites first (below). Then as needed, use:
        B.   Search engines or directories
        Who researches and compiles web pages for About.com?
        What about Google's directory?
        And Yahoo?

        C. Internet searching tutorials -- for smarter, more efficient retrieval

          1. In-depth tutorial (UC-Berkeley Library):
          Finding information on the Internet (http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/FindInfo.html)

          2. Various tutorials:
           Pandia resource list (http://www.pandia.com/resources/tutorials.html)

IV.  Be a critic: evaluate your sources

Evaluating Web Sites for Quality from the UNH Library's Reference Dept.
Some criteria:
        Accuracy
        Bias and Content: some thoughts...
        Why isn't information all free?
        Who's paying for your information?
  Advertisers?   Companies listed in the directory?
        Documentation and Editorial Control
        Who is responsible for this site? Mirages...
        And this one?
        Gut feeling
        Are they for real?

V. Recommended Internet sites
     A. Engr/Math Library, selected online engineering resources
     B. Adam Perkins' page
     C. Resource Discovery Network ("invisible web")
     D. UNH Library home page

VI. Save time by using information that has already been evaluated! Using the Library to find print materials
     A. UNH Library web site (http://www.library.unh.edu)
     B. Engr/Math Library web site
     C. UNH Library Catalog (http://library.unh.edu)
        1. Sample search: Introduction to C++ Programming
        2. Step-wise searching; "click" searches
        3. Reading call numbers line by line
        (TK 1076 .C55 1998: letters; number; "mixed" line; year)
        4. Requesting checked-out books
        5. Catalog features: renewals, searching collections, limits, exports

VII. Using library-based resources
     A. Finding articles: Online Databases & Indexes (UNH Library Master List) and Engr/Math Library . On either list, you can find these powerful resources:
        1. COMPENDEX and INSPEC to get citations of journal articles and conference papers, since 1969/70 (more comprehensive)
        2. Applied Science & Technology for journal articles only, since 1983 (less comprehensive)
        3. You can also try publisher-specific resources, like IEEE's Xplore and ASME's Applied Mechanics Reviews.
        4. Using Boolean logic
        5. Reading citations (journal abbreviations)
     B. Use the library catalog to locate the journal in which the article was published
     C. Finding your way to the journal article
        1. Interpreting the catalog record
        2. Storage requests
     D. When the UNH Library doesn't own a publication that you need: InterLibrary Loan (https://uofnewhampshire.hosts.atlas-sys.com/illiad/logon.html)

VIII. Citing your sources:

        A. Give credit: cite your source and use quotes if you quote.

        B. Citation styles
          1. For electrical and computer engineering, use IEEE citation style, pp.4-5.
          2. Another recommended style for sci-tech writing:
             Kate Turabian's
Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, available at the Library.
          3. Sample citation for a web site:

UNH Engineering, Mathematics & Computer Science Library.      University of New Hampshire; last updated 5 October 2005.      [Online]. Available:      http://www.library.unh.edu/branches/engmathcs.html

IX. Review:

Search strategies -- Keep track of your searches -- Sources -- Evaluation -- Citation

Steps to using the library (Courtesy of Dr. David Lane, UNH Biological Sciences Library)

X. I'm here to help you, and so is the rest of the Library staff.

Please feel free to contact us with questions as you look for information.

Emily Poworoznek * Engineering & Physical Sciences Librarian *
email: el @ unh.edu phone: 862-4168

Engineering, Mathematics & Computer Science Library:
862-1196 (Front Desk) or 862-1740 (Staff, Monday-Friday)

October 16, 2006.