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.
| Resource title and description | Type |
|---|---|
| Searching with keywords Ovid Medline A key feature of Ovid databases is the ability to search using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) rather than simply using keywords. For an example of this, please see Subject heading searching and the Searching with keywords Ovid Medline video tutorial. | |
| Using generative AI for finding literature Welcome to the Library's guide to using Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) to support your literature searching. This resource aims to help you understand the benefits and limitations of using generative AI for finding literature to reference in your academic work. Before you use any AI tool to support your assessed work, please check the guidance from your module or course and read the University’s guidance for students on using artificial intelligence in your learning. Generative AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot can be helpful when you need to identify a topic to research and/or define a research question. Perhaps you have an area of interest you'd like to research but need to refine into a research question or statement. Or maybe you want to get to know a little more about a topic, to give you ideas for themes or topics to research more deeply in the published literature. You can generate prompts which will direct the Gen AI tool to help you with these tasks. To access the tutorial please click here | |
| Bibliometrics 3 – Finding data for publications This section introduces you to some of the databases available at Cardiff University for retrieving bibliometric data. | |
| Bibliometrics 1 – Overview of bibliometrics and altmetrics data This tutorial provides an introduction to bibliometric data. It outlines the main types of data you can find and illustrates some key uses for the data. It covers why the data is important and what you might use it for. | Tutorial |
| Requesting postal loans A video demonstration of how distance learners can request items as postal loans via LibrarySearch. 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. | |
| Web of Science citation alerts Video guide on how to set up citation alerts in Web of Science. 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. | |
| Web of Science keyword alerts Video guide on how to set up keyword alerts in Web of Science. 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 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. | Video |
| 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 keyword 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. | |
| 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. | |
| Using filters in LibrarySearch Video introduction on how to use filters in LibrarySearch. A transcript is also available to download. Other videos on this topic include:
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| Researching your topic using LibrarySearch Video introduction on how to use LibrarySearch to research your topic. A transcript is also available to download. | |
| Using databases: basics Video introduction on how to navigate using databases. 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. | |
| Using databases: accessing full text Video introduction on how to access full texts when using databases. 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. | |
| Accessing British standards online Video introduction on how to access British standard 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. | |
| Reading and critically analysing a journal article This tutorial will discuss how to read and critically analyse an academic journal article. This tutorial will:
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| 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:
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| Searching beyond your reading list using LibrarySearch A short online tutorial aimed at introducing key search techniques for researching a topic via LibrarySearch. | Tutorial |
| Searching beyond your reading list using journal databases A short online tutorial aimed at introducing key search techniques and resources for finding journal literature. | |
| 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. | |
| Identifying the key ideas to research An activity to help identify key ideas or concepts before beginning research. | Activity |
| Literature searching cycle Image illustrating the literature searching cycle. | Image |
| Finding appropriate sources This Xerte tutorial is aimed at postgraduate taught level students. It covers:
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| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| Creating a mindmap A customisable PowerPoint slide featuring an example of how you can create a mindmap to help plan a search for information on a topic. | Image |
| Google Scholar – How to access journals off-campus This video shows how to access journals while off-campus using Google Scholar. | |
| Google Scholar – Essential tips This video shows top tips for getting the best out of Google Scholar:
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| Finding items on your reading list Video giving top tips on finding items on a reading list. The video can also be found on YouTube in English and Welsh. An accompanying text guide is available. | |
| Finding information The University Library Service's quick video with top tips on finding information for your studies using the electronic resources available at Cardiff University. It can also be found on YouTube in English and Welsh. A transcript is available. |