This page will help you get more out of your Library resources for your assignments, projects and dissertations in Geography

Reading Lists

Independent Research - getting started

It is important to understand the kind of information you need when researching for your assignment.  For example you may want to start by finding definitions or background information. Alternatively you may be seeking statistics or research findings. Once you have decided what type of information you need you can use the Ocean of Information to help you to understand the value of different sources and how to access them.

Evaluating your sources is also crucial when writing a piece of academic work - the Evaluating information page on the library website will guide you through this process

  • Library catalogue

    Fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    The Library Catalogue contains details of books, journals, DVDs and other materials held by the library in physical form as well as many resources available electronically (eg. e-books and databases).

    A 'search term' may be all or part of a title, author, publisher or simply subject keywords.

    A guide to the using the library catalogue can be found here /guides/docs/LG174.pdf

  • Credo Reference

    Fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    Explore Credo for trusted reference sources like dictionaries - a great alternative to Wikipedia! 

    Watch these short videos to get started:

    1. Search tips
    2. Using the automated mind map

  • Earth History and Palaeogeography

    Fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    This interdisciplinary volume is of use to anyone with an interest in the geological history of the Earth including researchers, students and geoscientists in the Earth and Environmental Sciences. It includes detailed maps and original diagrams. This interdisciplinary volume explains how plate motions and surface volcanism are linked to processes in the Earth's mantle, and to climate change and the evolution of the Earth's biota.

  • Encyclopedia of paleoclimatology and ancient environments

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    This interdisciplinary title provides an entry point to the rapidly expanding field of paleoclimatology—the study of climates of the past.

  • Encyclopedia of Quaternary science

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    This encyclopedia has a very wide coverage of topics within the Quaternary sciences reflecting the complex and interdisciplinary nature of the science.

Creating a search strategy

The following pages have been designed to take you step-by-step through the process of creating a search strategy.

They can be read in the order given, or if one step of the process is of particular interest to you - for example - Applying search techniques - you can go straight to that section.

Today’s search topic is:

The impact of hand hygiene on infection control in a hospital setting.

Please note, while the above topic is health related, the same searching principles will apply across all Health and Science subjects. 

Instead of typing the whole topic into Google or any other search engine, we are going to break our topic into concepts before we begin searching. 

When you have broken your topic down into concepts, you can start thinking more carefully about the vocabulary that may be used for each of the concepts you have identified.

  • Alternative keywords will help you to broaden your search if you are not finding very much information on your topic.
  • Alternative keywords will help you to narrow your search and make it more subject specific if you are finding too much information.

The Alternative keywords video explains the process in more detail.

When you have selected the alternative keywords for your search strategy, it is time to apply some search techniques to those keywords. The Applying Search Techniques video explains more about using “phrase searching” and truncation.

When you have applied your phrase searching and truncation, you are ready to run your search in EBSCO Discovery

When you have run your search in EBSCO Discovery, you may want to consider using Limiters to help you refine your results. The Using Limiters video highlights some of the limiters available to you.

EBSCO Discovery is a database that searches the majority of databases that we subscribe to. When you become familiar with EBSCO Discovery you might want to explore the more subject specific databases to enhance your literature searching. This video shows you how.

Independent Research - beyond the basics

To search databases systematically you must first consider the vocabulary you are using and how you combine your search terms. This Applying a search strategy library guide will help you in this process, or if you prefer to use mind mapping techniques this Choosing keywords guide may also help you.

Having decided upon your search terms you will need to use the advanced search screens of Discovery or your preferred databases to conduct your search. In some cases you may wish to use the search history function to develop a systematic search strategy. Advanced search strategies require you to utilize boolean operators. 

The University Library also provides access to a large range of resources to help you to develop your research skills. This includes the Sage Research Methods package.

  • Sage Research Methods

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    Access books and videos about quantitative and qualitative research methods and many more social science research topics. Use the Tools drop-down at the top centre of the screen to access a handy Project Planner which is full of FAQs about what you need to consider at each stage in a project/dissertation. Tools also contains a Methods Map which is ideal for quickly finding details about a particular research method.

  • Engineering Village

    Engineering Village consists of three databases: GEOBASE, GeoRef and Compendex. GEOBASE indexes journal literature across the earth sciences from 1980-present. GeoRef covers geological literature from North America (1785-present), plus geological literature from the rest of the world (1933-present). Compendex is the most comprehensive bibliographic database of scientific and technical engineering and computing research available. 

  • Google Scholar

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    A variant of Google that searches for academic literature. Provides access to articles, books, conference papers and preprints. Links to Full-text @ Portsmouth on campus or when using the VPN.

    A Library Guide to this resource is available

  • Science Direct

    Fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    Access 1000s of Elsvier articles and book chapters from our subscribed content on scientific, technical, and medical research.

  • Scopus

    Large abstract and citation database of peer-reviewed literature covering all subject areas.

  • Web of Science

    Part of Web of Knowledge, includes records for thousands of scholarly publications. Search across three main citation databases (Science/Social Science/Arts & Humanities). 

  • Royal Geographical Society archives

    Fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    This archive includes Maps, Atlases, Charts and Plans; Expedition Reports; Fieldnotes, Correspondence and Diaries; Grey Literature; Photographs, Artwork and Illustrations; Journal Manuscripts; Photographs; Proceedings, Lectures, and Ephemera. The collection spans a wide variety of interdisciplinary research areas, and supports educational needs in Anthropology, Area Studies; Cartography and Visualizations, Colonial, Post-Colonial & Decolonisation Studies; Development Studies; Environmental Degradation; Historical & Cultural Geography; Historical Sociology; Human Geography; Identity, Gender & Ethnic Studies; Geology; International Relations; Trade and Commerce, and Law and Policy relating to Colonization.

  • United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

    The UNDP commissions the annual Human Development Report which focuses the global debate on key development issues.

  • Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    The Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists (AGS) is a not-for-profit trade association established to improve the profile and quality of geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering.

  • British Library EthOS

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    A database of digitised UK doctoral theses offering free online access to theses of participating Higher Education institutions.

  • International Commission on Stratigraphy

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    The International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS) is the largest and oldest constituent scientific body in the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS).

  • ITRC - Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    We are a state-led coalition working to reduce barriers to the use of innovative air, water, waste, and remediation environmental technologies and processes.

  • OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development)

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    General pages provide country information and statistics. Investment pages of particular interest.

  • SoBRA - The Society of Brownfield Risk Assessment

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    The Society of Brownfield Risk Assessment (SoBRA) has been established to support the growing number of professionals working in land contamination risk assessment. The website includes reports and recordings of webinars specifically aimed at early career professionals.

  • PressReader

    PressReader lets you access UK and international newspapers, plus a wide range of magazine content. Everything is full colour with archives varying in length depending on the publication.

    Login guidance

  • Nexis Uni

    Full text articles from many news sources and trade journals both UK and international. Archives sometimes stretching back to the mid 1980s. For use in the UK only.

  • Aerial Digimap

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    Detailed aerial imagery.

  • BoB: On demand TV and radio for education

    An archive of UK television and radio programmes from free to air channels (1998 onwards). For use in the UK only. Find some great tips about how to use BoB in these short videos.

  • Digimap

    Fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    Digimap is a collection of EDINA services that deliver maps and map data of Great Britain. We subscribe to the complete collection which provides access to modern and historic Ordnance Survey mapping, geological mapping, aerial photography, Lidar data, demographic data and more.

  • Marine Digimap

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    Marine Digimap offers a range of hydrographic map and data products from SeaZone.

  • Linkedin Learning

    Online learning and training courses covering business and employability, as well as creative and technical skills.

  • Census 2011

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

  • Europa World

    Up-to-date, key facts and statistics, and background essays, for countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, Russia and Eastern Europe.

    To access off campus if not on the VPN:

    Click Login and then choose Login via Institution. 

  • Eurostat

    Fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    Eurostat is the statistical office of the European Union and its task is to provide the European Union with statistics at European level that enable comparisons between countries and regions.

  • Statista: the portal for statistics

    Access to more than a million statistics from many different sources. Useful for finding industrial, economic and consumer market statistical trends.

  • UK Data Service

    Whilst the UK data sets cover such areas as employment, and family expenditure, the international data sets from major bodies such as the IMF, OECD and World Bank are well worth exploring - often giving information down to country level (previously ESDS).

  • UK National Statistics: Publication Hub

    Fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    Official statistics from the UK Government.

  • Sage Research Methods

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    Access books and videos about quantitative and qualitative research methods and many more social science research topics. Use the Tools drop-down at the top centre of the screen to access a handy Project Planner which is full of FAQs about what you need to consider at each stage in a project/dissertation. Tools also contains a Methods Map which is ideal for quickly finding details about a particular research method.

Referencing

The library Referencing webpage provides lots of useful help and support on all referencing styles.

The Reference Management Tools library webpage is useful if you would like to find links for Mendeley, Endnote and other reference management software. The page links to help and support including step-by-step guides.