Assessments

Reflection

  • Structured self reflection of what I have learnt

Portfolio

  • Annotated showcase of my work
  • 2-stage submission

Project Proposal - Report & Presentation

  • Work in teams
  • Identify a solution (can be a modification)

Global Problems

  • “Problems that affect the global community or environment”
  • Research is incremental by nature - one small step
  • Have a realistic goal

Introduction to Searching

Sources

Journal Articles

  • Report on research
  • Has a specific focus
  • Written by experts
  • Provides references
  • Usually recent

Books and Book Chapters

  • Provides a good overview of a topic
  • Introduces or explains established theories

Reports

  • Provides detailed descriptions on a particular issue
  • Produced by gov. departments, companies, etc
  • Not always scholarly - data though
  • May contain bias

How to Access

  • Search via the library system (log in)

Library Catalogue

https://www.curtin.edu.au/library

  • Can limit by medium, language, date, peer-reviewed, etc

Library Databases

https://databases.library.curtin.edu.au

  • Basic, general DB - “ProQuest
  • Add a single concept per row
  • Add alternative terms using “OR” inline
  • Best to choose “Anywhere except full text”

Google Scholar

  • ALWAYS GO THROUGH THE LIBRARY DB PAGE
  1. Identify keywords
  2. Search the keywords in the library catalogue

Also:

  • Think about synonyms, alternative terms - use a table
  • Combine search terms - AND, OR, NOT
  • Use “phrase searching” (use of ")
  • Truncation - * - e.g. agricultur* agriculture, agricultural
  • Read abstract first

Uni Skills

https://uniskills.library.curtin.edu.au/

Referencing

  • REFERENCING - Vancouver - CHANGES FOR DIFFERENT UNITS