Problem Based Learning and Research Methods BUIL 3003
Information Technology, Engineering and the Environment (ITEE)
Introduction
This Assignment Help web page is a guide to locating articles from research journals for Assignment two Research methods: annotated bibliography, synthesis and evaluation. You need to read the assessment details for assignment one before starting your research.
For assignment one you need to:
- identify three academic research journals, two from the list provided in your course information booklet and a third either from the list or from an academic research journal of your choice.
- locate six research papers/articles within the three journals that relate to the particular set of issues and challenges that you have selected from Section 3 of Agenda 21.
To locate these research papers/articles within the listed journals you can either conduct a database search or a catalogue search. Both methods are outlined below
Database search method
In the Library, databases are indexes of literature and help you find references/citations to journal articles, conference proceedings and reports.
The Compendex database indexes most of the journals that are provided in the list in your course information booklet. You can search Compendex using keywords that you have determined from reading Section 3 of Agenda 21 and combining those keywords with the journal/serial title/s you have chosen. The guide Strategies for searching ITEE databases (PDF 70kb, opens in new window) will assist you to construct your search.
For example your search may include:
sustainable [keyword]
AND
building OR construction [keywords with a similar meaning combined with OR]
AND
{Construction Management and Economics} [a journal/serial title chosen from the list]
NOTE: journal titles may be called serial titles or periodicals in some databases
Locating the full text of the article
Compendex will provide you with the reference/citation for the articles you require, but not the full text of the articles. To locate the full text you can:
- Click on the FindIt link. Sometimes the Findit software will locate the reference and provide links to the full text of the article
- If no link to the full text is displayed, click on the UniSA Catalogue Journal ISSN search, as the journal may still be available electronically or in print
- If the journal is still not located, open the Library catalogue and search the catalogue for the journal title
For more information on database searching see Strategies for searching databases
Catalogue search method
The library is currently providing the choice of two new catalogue interfaces: the New Catalogue and the Standard Catalogue. The catalogue (opens in new window) contains information about the books, journals and other resources that are held by the University of South Australia Library. These include books and journals in both print and electronic format. The catalogue does not include references or citations to journal articles.
To locate a journal from the list use the Standard Catalogue:
- Access the catalogue
- Select Journal title from the Search within drop down options
- Type the title of the journal
- If the journal is only available in print format, write down the call number and locate the relevant volume/issue in the Library
- If print and electronic records are displayed, select the record with the location Electronic Journals Collection
- Check the full text availability dates next to the Linked Resources heading
- Select the appropriate link, if more than one is displayed
- You may be directed to either a database which has the full text of the journal or to a publisher's website
- Search the database or publisher's website to locate an article relevant to your assignment
How do I determine the quality of a journal?
Many academic journals organise for articles submitted to the journal to be evaluated independently by experts in the discipline. Journals that do this are called peer reviewed or refereed journals. Determining whether a journal is peer reviewed or refereed is one way of locating a quality journal. Ulrich's International Periodicals Directory provides information about journals, including whether they are are peer reviewed or refereed. T
o search for a journal in Ulrich's International Periodicals Directory
- Access Ulrich's International Periodicals Directory
- Choose title keyword in the drop-down box
- Type the name of a journal in the Search for box
- If the record for that journal has the icon for "refereed" (the legend box on the right hand side will show you the icon) this means that journal is peer reviewed or refereed
For information on finding academic journals see Finding and using academic journals
Other resources
- Annotated bibliography
- Referencing
- Managing references
- ITEE Information Search Methods workshop
- Online training
- Topic guides link you to useful collections of websites and online library resources in specific subject areas, for example, the Construction Management topic guide
Obtaining assistance
- Use the online Help screens
- Use the resources on the Library website
- Use the link Ask the Library for assistance
- Ask at the Library desk
- Contact the ITEE Academic Library Services Team by email