Learning and teaching resources on the topic of finding good quality information and keeping up to date with new publications.

To use an individual resource in your teaching materials (in accordance with the terms of the licence), either link to it directly via the Preview button or click on the file download button. Cardiff University students can also access tutorials and some other resources via the Study Skills section of the Intranet.

Searching for information

Resource title and description	Type
Doing a literature review This tutorial has been developed to support your understanding about what a literature review is and how to undertake one. This tutorial will: Provide an overview of what a literature review is and why we write them Explain the process of carrying out a literature review including: searching for literature selecting papers analysing the literature synthesising the literature structuring your literature review.
Finding your recommended reading in LibrarySearch Video giving top tips on finding items on a reading list. The video can also be found on YouTube in English and Welsh. A transcript is also available to download. You can find a playlist for our LibrarySearch guides on YouTube. If you would like to repurpose this video for your own teaching, please contact us via ilrb@cardiff.ac.uk to request a package of the source video files.	Video
Researching your topic using LibrarySearch Video introduction on how to use LibrarySearch to research your topic. A transcript is also available to download. You can find a playlist for our LibrarySearch guides on YouTube. If you would like to repurpose this video for your own teaching, please contact us via ilrb@cardiff.ac.uk to request a package of the source video files.	Video
Using filters in LibrarySearch Video introduction on how to use filters in LibrarySearch. A transcript is also available to download. You can find a playlist for our LibrarySearch guides on YouTube. If you would like to repurpose this video for your own teaching, please contact us via ilrb@cardiff.ac.uk to request a package of the source video files.
Searching beyond your reading list using LibrarySearch A short online tutorial aimed at introducing key search techniques for researching a topic via LibrarySearch.	Tutorial
Using databases: basics Video introduction on how to navigate using databases. The video can also be found on YouTube as the first of a three-part series. Other videos are 'Using databases: accessing full text", and 'Using databases: advanced'. A transcript is also available. If you would like to repurpose this video for your own teaching, please contact us via ilrb@cardiff.ac.uk to request a package of the source video files.
Using databases: accessing full text Video introduction on how to navigate using databases. The video can also be found on YouTube as the second a three-part series. Other videos are 'Using databases: basics' and 'Using databases: advanced'. A transcript is also available. If you would like to repurpose this video for your own teaching, please contact us via ilrb@cardiff.ac.uk to request a package of the source video files.
Using databases: advanced Video introduction on using advanced features of databases. The video can also be found on YouTube as third of a three part series. Other videos are "Using databases: basics" and "Using databases: accessing full text". A transcript is also available. If you would like to repurpose this video for your own teaching, please contact us via ilrb@cardiff.ac.uk to request a package of the source video files.
Searching beyond your reading list using journal databases A short online tutorial aimed at introducing key search techniques and resources for finding journal literature.
Searching with keywords: Ovid Medline This video demonstrates how to search Ovid databases using keyword searching. A transcript is also available to download. If you would like to repurpose this video for your own teaching, please contact us via ilrb@cardiff.ac.uk to request a package of the source video files.
Searching with keywords in Scopus Video introduction on how to search with keywords in Scopus. A transcript is also available to download. If you would like to repurpose this video for your own teaching, please contact us via ilrb@cardiff.ac.uk to request a package of the source video files.
Accessing British Standards online Video introduction on how to access British Standards online. The video can also be found on YouTube. A transcript is also available. If you would like to repurpose this video for your own teaching, please contact us via ilrb@cardiff.ac.uk to request a package of the source video files.
Google Scholar – Essential tips This video shows top tips for getting the best out of Google Scholar: Tip 1 - How to focus your search Tip 2 - How to access the full text Tip 3 - How to set up email alerts Tip 4 - How to use the "Cited by" links Tip 5 - How to set up your reference management software If you would like to repurpose this video for your own teaching, please contact us via ilrb@cardiff.ac.uk to request a package of the source video files.
Google search tips A selection of simple tips and tricks to improve the accuracy and relevance of your results when searching via Google. The video is also available on YouTube in Welsh and English. A transcript is available. If you would like to repurpose this video for your own teaching, please contact us via ilrb@cardiff.ac.uk to request a package of the source video files.
Finding appropriate sources This Xerte tutorial is aimed at postgraduate taught level students. It covers: planning a search identifying the key information resources to use effective search techniques how to access full text of documents online, and how to use databases to keep up to date with new publications This tutorial is part of the ‘Writing at Postgraduate Taught Level suite.
Evaluating the evidence: finding good quality information online This Xerte tutorial, aimed at 6th form and further education students, covers: defining the scope of your research topic, search techniques for getting the best out of Google and search tools and web sites for finding good quality, freely available information. This tutorial is part of the Evaluating the Evidence suite created to support schools offering the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate.
Using generative AI for finding literature This resource aims to help you understand the benefits and limitations of using generative AI for finding literature to reference in your academic work. It includes useful tips on prompting, using GenAI to help develop database searches and gives an overview of some of the current tools. If you would like to repurpose this video for your own teaching, please contact us via ilrb@cardiff.ac.uk to request a package of the source video files.
Bibliometrics 3 – Finding data for publications This is the third in a series of four tutorials introducing Bibliometrics and Altmetrics, explaining how they are used in research evaluation. This tutorial introduces you to some of the databases available at Cardiff University for retrieving bibliometric data.	Tutorial

Keeping up to date

Resource title and description	Type
Keeping your research up-to-date This tutorial guides you through the basic procedures for optimising current awareness in your research field. It demonstrates how to set up various types of alerts and highlights a range of other tools and resources to ensure you keep up to date efficiently and effectively.	Tutorial
Scopus keyword alerts Video guide on how to set up keyword alerts in Scopus. A transcript is also available to download. If you would like to repurpose this video for your own teaching, please contact us via ilrb@cardiff.ac.uk to request a package of the source video files.
Scopus citation alerts Video guide on how to set up citation alerts in Scopus. A transcript is also available to download. If you would like to repurpose this video for your own teaching, please contact us via ilrb@cardiff.ac.uk to request a package of the source video files.	Video
Google Scholar alerts Video guide on how to set up keyword alerts in Google Scholar. A transcript is also available to download. If you would like to repurpose this video for your own teaching, please contact us via ilrb@cardiff.ac.uk to request a package of the source video files.

General

Resource title and description	Type
What is a journal article? This tutorial is an introduction to journal articles; what are they, why are they needed and how authors contribute. This tutorial will: Provide an overview of some of the research process which goes into writing and publishing journal articles Explain how journal articles are constructed Explain why journal articles are constructed in this way	Tutorial
Literature searching cycle Image illustrating the literature searching cycle.	Image
Google Scholar – How to access journals off-campus This video shows how to access journals while off-campus using Google Scholar. If you would like to repurpose this video for your own teaching, please contact us via ilrb@cardiff.ac.uk to request a package of the source video files.	Video