Information retrieval
Thesis kick-off seminar
Marika Sarvilahti
Aalto University Library
[email protected]
Presentation plan
•  Introduction to information
searching and the cyclical
search process
•  Update on information sources
and current tools offered by
Aalto University Learning
Centre
Information skills
All graduating students should have good
information skills:
• Conceptualising and breaking the information need into
retrieval tasks and planning a systematic process
• Recognising essential information resources for one’s
discipline and research topic
• Making comprehensive and exhaustive searches
• Analysing retrieval success and the quality of found
information
• Using information effectively and ethically
Define research topic
Search again for…
Select search terms
Use and analyse
information
Select information
resources
Assess search
results and locate
information
Make searches
Information seeking process
•  Always based on a need (academic vs. informal, slow vs. quick)
•  Type of information need determines the method and sources to be
used
•  Different information sources are suitable for different situations
(you are likely to mix & match):
- journal articles
- books
- fact finding from dictionaries, standards, statistics
- official documents (records, proceedings, reports)
- audio-visual information (images & sound)
- informal information (colleagues, social media)
- other organisations: museums, archives, others?
Information sources
“Forget Google??!”
“Yes! Almost!”
Your main tools at Aalto University
Use more than one database and technique:
•  Resource Guides for browsing information
–  Design subject guide, Information Retrieval, Citation Guide, Visual Resources
•  Aalto-Finna portal for searching printed and electronic resources.
–  all library services are usable also remotely with Aalto-Finna.
•  Google Scholar (with Aalto settings) alternative for finding specific
articles from electronic journals
•  RefWorks for reference management
Choosing information sources
•  Information sources are listed
in the Design Guide
•  You should begin by identifying
the central information sources
in your research area
•  Shop around! Use multiple
resources to gather enough
information for your work
•  Articles often contain the most
recent research, so learn to use
electronic journal databases.
Reference management
•  RefWorks is an online reference management program,
which can be used for:
•  Creating a bibliography automatically from selected
sources in a variety of referencing styles.
•  Organising and keeping all references up to date during
the research process.
•  Transferring references from a variety of databases
automatically to RefWorks with just one click.
•  Search for items in a bibliography by author, title or
subject.
Dissertations and research at Aalto
Aaltodoc https://aaltodoc.aalto.fi/
Publication archive for all levels of theses and
dissertations, abstracts and full text pdfs, from 2010
onwards.
Older dissertations are held in the library collection in print
format.
Define research topic
Search again for…
Select search terms
Use and analyse
information
Select information
resources
Assess search
results and locate
information
Make searches
Information searching is a play with words
•  Choose your search terms carefully: be specific and
descriptive
•  Make a comprehensive and imaginative list / mind map
of search terms including synonyms and related
concepts
•  Go pearl diving! Pick up useful new terms from material
you find by scanning the result of a few test searches
•  Combine search terms (AND; OR; NOT)
•  Use different ways to limit the search:
–  Full text only
–  Limit by date, peer review, type of publication, language
Selecting search terms
When you are choosing your search terms, you should
consider using synonyms and possibly broader and
narrower terms as well.
•  Narrow: Wind mills
•  Related concepts: Wind energy, wind power, wind farms
•  Broader: Renewable energy, green energy, ecological energy
•  Even broader: Energy
Assessing information sources
Source criticism means the assessment of the reliability,
relevance and originality of the source.
Presentation
•  Is the information well presented?
•  Pay attention to the language, layout and structure.
Relevance
•  Does the resource meet your research subject or answer
questions around the subject? Does it take you to different
directions?
•  Scan the introduction and conclusions sections.
•  What is the main subject and argument of the resource?
Assessing information sources
Impartiality
Is the subject presented from all relevant viewpoints?
•  Pay attention to the introduction and conclusion; how do
author(s) argue a standpoint?
•  Is the language emotive or neutral?
•  Is the author biased or looking after their own interest?
Research methods
What is the information and argumentation based on?
•  Does the research method support the subject?
•  Do you trust the information and opinions presented to you?
Assessing information sources
Sources
What is the origin and source of the information presented?
•  Are the names of authors and / or organisations behind the information
explicitly available?
•  How was the information published?
•  How authoritative and well-known is the author?
•  Have you consulted a second-hand source, should you consult the
primary source to confirm its validity?
Timeliness
When was the information first published?
•  Is the information still current for your subject?
•  How much of the information is out of date?
Good luck!
Remember to share information and
useful sources with each other!
[email protected]