This book will be vital reading for anyone doing research, since using the web to find high quality information is a key research skill. It introduces beginners and experts alike to the most effective techniques for searching the web, assessing and organising information and using it in a range of scenarios from undergraduate essays and projects to PhD research.
Nigel Ford shows how using the web poses opportunities and challenges that impact on student research at every level, and he explains the skills needed to navigate the web and use it effectively to produce high quality work.
Ford connects online skills to the research process. He helps readers to understand research questions and how to answer them by constructing arguments and presenting evidence in ways that will enhance their impact and credibility.
The book includes clear and helpful coverage of beginner and advanced search tools and techniques, as well as the processes of:
@!critically evaluating online information
@!creating and presenting evidence-based arguments
@!organizing, storing and sharing information
@!referencing, copyright and plagiarism.
As well as providing all the basic techniques students need to find high quality information on the web, this book will help readers use this information effectively in their own research.
Nigel Ford is Professor in the University of Sheffield's Information School.
By:
Nigel Ford
Imprint: Sage Publications Ltd
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Edition: 1
Dimensions:
Height: 242mm,
Width: 170mm,
Spine: 20mm
Weight: 570g
ISBN: 9780857023643
ISBN 10: 0857023640
Pages: 256
Publication Date: 18 October 2011
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Primary
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Unspecified
Introduction Why Read This Book? The Book′s Underlying Rationale Search Tools Covered in this Book Learning and Critical Thinking: The Essentials Learning and Assessment Basics Essential Learning Components Summary Clarifying What Is Required of You Clarifying the Nature of your Assignment Planning your Assignment Summary Finding High-Quality Information Defining ′Authoritative′ Information Information Seeking Summary How to Do a Literature Review Initial Explorations Strategies for Finding High-Quality Academic Sources Summary Information Sources and Search Tools Types of information source Types of search tool Summary Mapping Search Approaches and Techniques to Information Needs Directory-Based Browsing and Searching Topic Similarity Searching Document Similarity Searching Filtering Citation Searching Boolean and Other Advanced Search Engine Operators Summary Scholarly Search Tools in Detail When to Use Which Search Tools Google Scholar SciVerse Scopus Web of Knowledge Incorporating Web of Science Summary Transforming Information into Evidence-Based Arguments Making Information ′Your Own′ Critically Evaluating Information Validity, Reliability, Objectivity and Generalisability as Critical Tools Developing Your Own Evidence-Based Arguments Summary Presenting Your Evidence Effectively Plagiarism Citing Your Sources Summary Keeping up to Date A New Document is Published on your Topic Documents in Which You Are Interested Are Cited in a Newly Published Document An Author is Cited by a New Document or Publishes a New Document A New Issue of a Journal in which you are Interested is Published A website in Which You Are Interested is Updated Summary Organizing and Sharing Your Information Mendeley Basics Importing Data from Google Scholar and Other Search Tools Adding PDF Files to Your Library Inserting References into Your Work Summary
Nigel Ford is Professor in the University of Sheffield′s Information School.
Reviews for The Essential Guide to Using the Web for Research
Ford offers the answers to the question of how to find interesting web material for your research and it is clear that here is where Ford's expertise comes through. Personally, I use mainly Google, Picarta and some catalogues of universities and research institutions. Ford offers a number of additions to my repertoire. In addition to Google, he includes SciVerse Scopus and Web of Knowledge and advises that a systematic search strategy should constantly be evaluated and, if necessary, adjusted. -- Raynald Bosch Well structured, thorough, accessibly written and presented, Nigel Ford uses lots of charts, diagrams and step-by-step guides to steer the reader... It is primarily targeted at undergraduate and postgraduate students who will definitely find it invaluable when setting out on their dissertations and theses...That said, this guide will prove equally useful for professional researchers in any field...Overall I consider this a very useful and timely book. Indeed I wish I'd seen it many years ago. Its key strengths are its pertinence to researchers' current needs, thoroughness, detailed discussions, accessibility, step by step approach and supply of handy techniques and tips.Berni GrahamSRA News