A Guide to Finding Australian Research
Australia boasts a vibrant research landscape, producing valuable insights across diverse fields. However, navigating this landscape to find the specific research you need can be challenging. This guide provides a step-by-step approach to effectively searching for and accessing Australian research publications, data, and resources. Whether you're a student, academic, policymaker, or simply curious, this guide will equip you with the necessary tools and knowledge.
1. Understanding Research Databases
Research databases are organised collections of scholarly literature, including journal articles, conference papers, theses, and reports. They are the primary tool for discovering research relevant to your interests. Understanding the different types of databases and their specific strengths is crucial for efficient searching.
Types of Research Databases
Multidisciplinary Databases: These databases cover a broad range of subjects. Examples include:
Scopus: A large abstract and citation database of peer-reviewed literature.
Web of Science: Another comprehensive database covering a wide range of disciplines.
Google Scholar: While not strictly a curated database, Google Scholar indexes scholarly literature from various sources, including journals, repositories, and websites. It's a good starting point for broad searches.
Subject-Specific Databases: These databases focus on a particular field of study. Examples include:
PubMed: For biomedical literature.
EconLit: For economics research.
PsycINFO: For psychology research.
Informit Collection: A collection of databases focusing on Australian content across various subject areas.
Australian Databases: These databases specifically index Australian research. Examples include:
Informit Collection: As mentioned above, this is a key resource for Australian content.
Australian Research Online (ARO): A national discovery service for Australian research.
Choosing the Right Database
The best database for your needs depends on your research topic. If you're working on a multidisciplinary project, a broad database like Scopus or Web of Science might be a good starting point. If your research is focused on a specific discipline, a subject-specific database will likely be more effective. For Australian-focused research, Informit and ARO are essential resources. Researched can help you find the right resources for your specific needs.
2. Using Keywords and Search Strategies
Effective searching requires careful selection of keywords and the use of appropriate search strategies. This section will guide you through the process of developing effective search queries.
Identifying Keywords
Brainstorming: Start by brainstorming a list of keywords related to your research topic. Consider synonyms, related terms, and broader or narrower concepts.
Using Thesauri: Consult subject-specific thesauri to identify relevant keywords and controlled vocabulary terms. These thesauri provide standardised terms used to index research articles.
Analysing Existing Literature: Review existing research papers to identify keywords used by other researchers in your field.
Constructing Search Queries
Boolean Operators: Use Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) to combine keywords and refine your search results.
AND: Narrows your search by requiring that all specified keywords are present in the results (e.g., "climate change" AND "Australia").
OR: Broadens your search by including results that contain any of the specified keywords (e.g., "renewable energy" OR "solar power" OR "wind energy").
NOT: Excludes results that contain a specific keyword (e.g., "mental health" NOT "children").
Phrase Searching: Use quotation marks to search for an exact phrase (e.g., "sustainable development").
Truncation: Use truncation symbols (e.g., ``, `?`) to search for variations of a word (e.g., "econom" will find economy, economics, economical, etc.).
Field Codes: Use field codes to specify where you want to search for your keywords (e.g., `title:climate change` will search for "climate change" in the title of articles).
Refining Your Search
Reviewing Search Results: Carefully review your search results to identify relevant articles and refine your search strategy.
Using Filters: Most databases offer filters to narrow your search results by date, publication type, subject, and other criteria.
Exploring Subject Headings: Examine the subject headings assigned to relevant articles to identify additional keywords and search terms.
3. Accessing Research Papers and Data
Once you've identified relevant research, the next step is to access the full-text papers and data. This can sometimes be challenging, as many research publications are behind paywalls.
Open Access Resources
Open Access Journals: Many journals publish articles under an open access licence, meaning they are freely available to anyone. The Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) is a comprehensive directory of open access journals.
Institutional Repositories: Universities and research institutions often maintain repositories where their researchers deposit their publications. These repositories often contain open access versions of articles.
Preprint Servers: Preprint servers allow researchers to share their work before it has been peer-reviewed. These servers can be a valuable source of early research findings.
Subscription-Based Access
University Libraries: If you are affiliated with a university, you likely have access to a wide range of subscription-based journals and databases through the university library. Learn more about Researched and how we can help you find the resources you need.
Public Libraries: Some public libraries also offer access to research databases and journals.
Pay-Per-View: You can purchase individual articles from publishers on a pay-per-view basis. However, this can be expensive.
Alternative Access Strategies
Contacting the Authors: You can try contacting the authors of a research paper directly to request a copy. Many researchers are happy to share their work.
Using Interlibrary Loan: If your library does not have access to a particular journal, you can request the article through interlibrary loan.
ResearchGate and Academia.edu: These are social networking sites for researchers where they often share their publications. Be aware that not all content on these sites is peer-reviewed.
4. Utilising University Repositories
University repositories are digital archives that collect, preserve, and disseminate the research output of a university. They are a valuable resource for finding Australian research, particularly theses, dissertations, and working papers.
Finding University Repositories
Most Australian universities have their own repositories. You can usually find them by searching for "[University Name] repository" on Google. Some examples include:
Griffith University eResearch Archive: For research from Griffith University.
University of Melbourne Minerva Access: For research from the University of Melbourne.
UNSW Open Access Repository: For research from the University of New South Wales.
Searching University Repositories
University repositories typically have their own search interfaces. Use the same keywords and search strategies that you would use for research databases. You can also browse the repository by subject or department.
Benefits of Using University Repositories
Access to Grey Literature: University repositories often contain grey literature, such as theses and dissertations, which may not be indexed in traditional research databases.
Open Access Content: Many university repositories provide open access to their content.
Australian Focus: University repositories are a great source of Australian research.
5. Exploring Government Research Portals
The Australian government funds a significant amount of research through various agencies and departments. These agencies often maintain portals that provide access to research reports, data, and other resources.
Key Government Research Portals
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW): Provides data and information on health and welfare in Australia.
CSIRO: The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation is Australia's national science agency. Their website provides access to a wide range of research publications and data.
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS): Provides statistical data on various aspects of Australian society and the economy.
Department of Education, Skills and Employment: Provides research and data on education, skills, and employment in Australia.
Searching Government Research Portals
Each government agency has its own website and search interface. Use relevant keywords and search strategies to find the information you need. You can also browse the website by topic or program.
Benefits of Using Government Research Portals
Access to Government-Funded Research: Government research portals provide access to research funded by the Australian government.
Policy-Relevant Research: Government research often focuses on policy-relevant issues.
- Data and Statistics: Government agencies are a valuable source of data and statistics. Consider what we offer to help you navigate these resources efficiently.
By following these steps, you can effectively search for and access Australian research publications, data, and resources. Remember to be persistent, refine your search strategies, and explore different resources to find the information you need. If you have any frequently asked questions, please refer to our help section.