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Study Smart - Otago Business School: Finding Information

Information including links to resources and services to support your studies

SUBJECT GUIDES

Subject Guides are a great place to start looking for information on your assignment topic.  They provide access to key resources, databases, research, websites and topic-related information.

There is a guide for the main subject areas taught at the University of Otago including:

You may need to use a range of subject guides for your assignments.

Search Strategies

Search Strategies

Are you finding too many results? Too few? Use the resources below to learn to search better and smarter!

How to evaluate information

Evaluating Information

Evaluating the accuracy and suitability of information is important for every academic assignment! Use the resources below to learn how to critically evaluate all the resources you find from the library and beyond.

LIBRARY SEARCH | KETU

Library Search | Ketu provides one-step searching across a wide range of the University of Otago Library's resources, including items on the shelf in the Library and some databases, e-journals, e-books and newspapers.

Log in before you start searching in order to improve your search results.

The Library Search | Ketu box is on the Library homepage

    

Watch this video for a demonstration of how to use Library Search | Ketu.

DATABASES

On the Databases webpage you will find links to 600+ databases. Databases are a good source of information you can use in your assignments.  You may need to use a range of databases to find all the information you need.

You can browse the databases by subject, for example:

If you know the name of the database you need, select it from the A-Z list.

Databases contain: journal articles, citations and abstracts, chapters, conference proceedings, newspaper articles, images, and much more...

 

Tip - if you access Google Scholar via the Databases webpage you will be able to link to articles in some of the Library's databases by clicking 'Otago Article Link' when it appears in the Google Scholar results screen.

SEARCHING THE WEB

Google is a well-known internet search engine.  To ensure you find quality information, use an appropriate search strategy.  Try some of the tips and tricks listed in Google Searching (pdf).

Google Scholar can be a useful tool to find academic research available on the web.  For help creating a search strategy, read Google Scholar: tips and tricks (pdf). 
 
Wikipedia can be used as a tool to find some quick information on a topic, or to identify more search terms.  Use other resources, such as Article Databases, Library Search | Ketu and Google Scholar, to find information you can cite in your assignments.

Using information ethically

Using Information Ethically

Academic Integrity is one of the most important parts of University learning. Use the resources below to learn why you should cite all your information and how to use information in an ethical manner.