Davidkoech

AM STILL WORKING ON MY ARTICLE,REFERENCING AND CITING.ACADEMIC INFORMATION SEEKING.#1LIB#1REF

according to (meriam-webster1828) information is considered an important resource that is fundamentally needed in all human endeavours. Information is a message that changes an individual’s knowledge by adding to existing knowledge or filling in the gap, hence information significantly enhances the existing knowledge of the user. For a learners to perform academically, it is necessary for the learners to make use of relevant and pertinent information to ensure his or her success. Learners are expected to build their knowledge through engaging with a wide range of information resources. information seeking in other words is all about carry out a comprehensive literature searches based on your own research assignment through information seeking steps from identifying the key concepts ,defining your search terms,finding relevant sources ,thinking about and constructing search for each source, evaluating your search results. and finally , documenting your search process and citing your sources.

This will enable our students to;

• Identify their information need

•Evaluate databases and other information resources

• Set up search strategies and use various search techniques

• Formulate search strings based on your own research assignment

• Identify relevant material types

• Undertake critical evaluation of your sources

• Search more efficiently on the internet

• Avoid plagiarism by citing correctly their search assignment

• Work with reference management

• Document your search process

SOURCES OF RESEARCH TOPICS

Many students experience difficulty in choosing topic for research, your instructor may assign a

general or specific topic or you may be expected to choose one by your selves

These are the sources:

 Current periodicals-scholarly journals give most current and specific information .they

contain articles that outline new directions I various fields ,past issues are also important in

that the show how a subject was treated in the past

 Browsing the library collections-browse through titles in your subject areas.

 course outline

 Reference sources

 Areas of your interest

IDENTIFYING INFORMATION SOURCES

The following are some of the areas researchers may find relevant in identifying

information sources for their term paper.

 Libraries, library websites library catalogues

 Bibliographical databases e.g. OERS

 Search engines e.g. Google scholar

OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES (OERS)

Search for open educational resources (OERS).this offer free and unlimited access to entries on a

wide variety of topics

Google scholar

This a search engine that include large amount of scientific literature including per view articles ,pre

and post prints thesis, textbooks ,book chapter,conference,proceedings reports among others.

To optimize your searches, in Google scholar, you can add library links that make it easy for you to

access full text articles that library subscribe to.

TYPES OF INFORMATION SOURCES IN THE LIBRARY

Academic library has various types of information resource that can be used to accomplish your term

paper assignment.

 Reference books e.g. encyclopaedias which provide back ground information on your topics

 General collections of books which are relevant to your research

 Periodicals/journals and newspapers in form of current issues and back issues

 Government publication e.g. session papers ,statistical abstract and economic surveys

 Archival materials

 Internet based information source e.g. e-journals and e-books

INFORMATION PROFESSIONALS THE LIBRARY

Librarians are information specialist trained to ensure proper development of libraries and

their useful utilization by its target group

First, they organize the e collections such that information can conveniently be found by

faculty members, students and researchers

Secondly they facilitate the use of information sources through instruction, reference and

research services

Library staffs are more informed about the location of certain information in the library,

consequently, you will find if it’s useful to consult them whenever you experience difficulty

in finding some information

REFERENCING STYLES

In writing your term paper you must acknowledge the materials which you have borrowed from other

sources

Reference (citation or documentation) your sources is important because;

 You acknowledge the work of others writers and researchers

 Assist other researchers to trace your sources for more information to their research

SYSTEM OF DOCUMENTATION OR CITATION

 Modern language association (MLA) style

 American psychological association (APA) style

 Harvard style

 Chicago style

RESPECTING COPYRIGHT

When downloading materials such as an article or a book from any database that your library has

already offered access to, the library has cleared the right to the document through licence agreement

that has been negotiated with publisher or copy right owner.

When you find literature on the internet, however for instance through Google or various file sharing

services it is your responsibility to make sure you have the right t to use it .

COPY RIGHT PITFALLS TO AVOID

Use of illegal uploaded materials found on the internet and use of picture found on the internet.

If you violate on the peoples copyright, it may have a legal consequences.

They are regulated by international convection and agreement that protect the copyright of the work

owner no matter in the world his/her work is being used.

It can be very difficult to determine if a given document has been uploaded legally or not and if you

find an article through a file sharing service or closed or private group for instance Facebook,

One way of avoiding in getting in copyright troubles is to search for open access literature

Open access removes price barriers such as subscriptions, licencing fee and pay per view.

NB in open access ,you can access more than 10000 per viewed journals covering all the major

science areas .If your own library does not have access to the database, you need for your

project,Doej.org will always be an alternative, for books go to www.doabook.org.

AVOIDING PLAGIARISM

Rapid technological development especially digitization means that we have become used to finding

and accessing information quickly and easily.

At the same time the risk of plagiarism has increased accordingly because it has become easier to

copy and paste from the internet.

It is important to make distinction in your paper between the information that you have created and

information that is derived from your sources.

But what is plagiarism?

Plagiarism is cheating.

It is conscious and unconscious use of other people’s intellectual work without giving the proper

credit.

On the website, stop plagiarism, you can see some examples of plagiarism

DEGREE OF PLAGIARISM

Copying and pasting entire section of other people text into your own paper and pretend to have

written them themselves.

Other neglect or forget to cite their sources correctly.

NB you can avoid plagiarism if you consistently cite all sources you use in your paper.

Many universities respond to plagiarism by using detection tools to screen your paper and assignment

If you are caught plagiarizing, you may face administrative or academic sanction.

In mild cases, universities may issue warning or neglect to give you credit .It may also lead to

suspension or being expelled.

NB cite correctly and consistently .using reference management tools like mendeley will help you

administer and assess your source which in turn will help you avoid plagiarism.

REFERENCE MANAGEMENT TOOLS

But why should you concern yourselves with reference management in the first place?

 It will improve the quality of your academic papers

 It will make your work more efficiently

NB sound academic work is characterised by consistent use of reference

The following are reference management tools commonly used.

 Mendeley

 Zotero

 Endnote

 retworks