Current and Completed Research Projects Database CCRPD

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Current and Completed Research Projects Database
(CCRPD)

• Basic Search

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Current and Completed Research Project Database

• Introduction
• Nexus home-page
• Scope of databases
• Benefits of the Current and Completed Research
  Project Database (CCRPD)
• Search interfaces
• Navigation
• Basic search interface

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Nexus home-page
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Scope of databases

• Current and Completed Research Projects
• This database includes South African
  dissertations and theses. It provides information
  on all fields of science since 1919. English
  titles are given for projects not in English. It
  also includes abstracts. A limited number of
  records contains links to the full-text.
• NRF Funded Projects
• It contains NRF Funded Projects since 2000. This
  database contributes to knowledge generation for
  the support and promotion of research
  development. Forthcoming Conferences databases
• Forthcoming Conferences databases
• It facilitates access to 10 international
  databases that announce forthcoming conferences.
• Professional Associations in South Africa
• This database facilitates access to South African
  Professional Associations.

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Benefits of the CCRPD

• Facilitate access to bibliographic information on
  grey literature e.g. dissertations, theses and
  research projects
• Assist students with the
• Identification of gaps in a research field
• Consultation of similar studies to assist with
  research methodology
• Identification of recommended research included
  in the theses or dissertations that provides
  opportunities for further investigations
• Evaluation and analysis of completed studies in
  order to arrive at new solutions, policies, etc.
  (Literature reviews)
• Provide information to identify experts in a
  specific field of study
• Stimulate research in neglected areas
• Encourage networking and collaboration between
  researchers
• Facilitate research capacity development
• Facilitate informed decision making and strategic
  management

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Search interfaces

• Basic
• It facilitates a quick method of searching with
  the use of indexes. Click on the HELP Button of
  the search screen to obtain detailed assistance
  on how to use the basic search screen.
• Advanced
• The Advanced Search facilitates searching
  according to various fields including the
  defining of relationships between terms and
  phrases using Boolean and/or Proximity operators.
  The list box in front of each entry box allows
  you to select the search field in to which you
  would like to execute the search you have entered
  in the entry box. You are given three entry boxes
  in which to enter your search terms which you may
  combine with appropriate Boolean and/or Proximity
  operators.Click on the HELP Button of the
  Advanced search screen for assistance on how to
  use the interface.
• Professional
• It is a command driven search interface. You can
  build your search line by line. Once you have
  built up your search, you can combine search
  lines with Boolean operators as illustrated in
  the saved search "NEXUS example 1". Click on the
  Recall Search Button and select NEXUS example 1
  and click on the OK button.

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Navigation
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• 1. Nexus databases
• 2. Navigation options within a specific database

• 3. Actions
• Click on Search and Display to execute your
  search and display the records retrieved
• Click on Update Hit Count to execute your search
  and review the results at the bottom of the
  screen
• By clicking on the New Search Button the systems
  memory will be cleared of previous search results.

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Basic Search Interface

• How to enter a search
• Limit your search by years
• Hit Count
• Maximum number of records to display
• Display search results
• Report formats
• Use of indexes

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Basic Search Interface
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How to enter a search

• Separated words or phrases by a semi-colon
• Enter hyphenated phrases as separate words
• Truncation is allowed. For example the word educ
  will retrieve education, educators, etc.
• To start a new search click on the New Search
  button
• NOTE Each search line is ORed

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Limit your search by years

• Allows limitation of a topic by years
• Provides opportunity to limit search in sets, if
  a search retrieves more than 500 records
• Entering years will retrieve both completed
  projects and projects that are still ongoing and
  not completed (current)

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Hit Count

• Your search results are displayed at this point
  by clicking on Update Hit Count in the action
  navigation line after you have entered your terms
• It will facilitate the refinement of your search
  strategy before displaying the search results
• You may also directly click on Search and Display
  action after you have entered your search topic.

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Maximum number of records to display

• Maximum number of records to display
• The system displays a list of number ranging from
  50 to 500 with the default on 200
• The browser will display the number of records
  that you have selected (try when response is
  slow)

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Basic Search Interface
Display
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Display search results
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Report formats

• The system provides the following reports
• Short report format
• Full report format
• More report click on title (hyperlinks)
• Print friendly report
• E-mail report in plain text (ascii format) or
  html or pdf format
• It is important to select the records before you
  use the e-mail facility

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Display search results
View specific record Click on title
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E-mail search results
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Use of indexes
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Practical session

• Research on fishes during 2005 until 2007

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Practical session

• Education and learning

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Practical session

• Mathematics in primary schools since 1994

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Practical session

• Research at the University of Pretoria during
  1994

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Thank you

• http//www.nrf.ac.za/nexus
• nexus_at_nrf.ac.za