Dr Adam Gardner

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Online information resources for research in
physical geography

• Dr Adam Gardner
• Resource Guide Adviser for Geography the
  Environment

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What is the JISC?

• Joint Information Systems Committee
• Runs JANET
• Funds national data services
• Negotiates deals on publications, databases etc.
• Provides advice and guidance services

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Resource Guides

• Validated guide of key resources in digestible
  format
• Every resource approved for quality
• Operate on the principle free at point of use
• Staffed by a subject specialist
• Here to help!
• Seven subjects

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• FREE!

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Seven subjects

• Arts Humanities
• Engineering, Maths Computing
• Geography and the Environment
• Health and Life Sciences
• Hospitality, Leisure, Sport Tourism
• Physical Sciences
• Social Sciences

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But what's in the Guide.?

• Bibliographical information
• General reference
• Publications online
• Subject gateways
• Data and multimedia resources
• Learning teaching
• Support services

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Resource Guide output

• Website ð
• Printed guide ð
• Training materials events
• Key conferences exhibitions

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Sample resources

• ISI Web of Knowledge ð
• GEsource ð
• NBN Gateway ð
• UKBORDERS ð
• NASA Global Change Master Directory ð

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PhD literature resource search

• First steps? How did you start?
• "I just used Web of Science"
• "I just typed in my keyword to Google to see what
  I got"

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Yes, but there are problems with that

• WoS overload
• Not exhaustive search
• The "Google-plex" search return..

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Resource Guide for Geography and the Environment
QUALITY NOT QUANTITY
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Searching checklist

• Assume nothing you dont know it all!
• Devise search strategy
• Select appropriate resource
• Check for access e.g. Athens
• Internet Geographer
• http//www.vts.rdn.ac.uk/tutorial/geographer

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Devise a search strategy

• Define your topic in one phrase
• wetland habitat conservation strategy
• Split your phrase into concepts
• Concept 1 wetland
• Concept 2 conservation
• For each concept, list alternatives
• Concept 1 wetland, marsh, bog, fen
• Concept 2 conservation, management, preservation

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Gaining worthwhile results

• Remember
• Historical (palaeo) or contemporary perspective?
• Foreign (US) spellings
• Stem words
• geograph geography, geographer, geographers,
  geographical, geographic
• Terminology used in other disciplines
• Use on line help for specific tips

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Reflect during your search

• Review search results
• Refine search terms if necessary
• Refer to your search strategy
• Keep records of 'good' search terms
• Consult help for saving searches
• Index saved searches!

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Dealing with the results

• Think about quality - be selective about
  following links
• Scrutinise URLs expected? credible?
• Use bookmarks don't be distracted, go back later
• Impose 'click-limits' when navigating through a
  site
• QC of gateways does not extend far!

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Further information

• To learn how to evaluate internet resources, use
  the Internet Detective
• www.sosig.ac.uk/desire/internet-detective.html

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Contact

• www.jisc.ac.uk/resourceguides/geoenv
• Adam Gardner
• adam.gardner_at_man.ac.uk