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University of the WesteRn CapeLibrary
Nexus: Current and Completed Research
User Guide
Database Description
The database contains information on research projects in South Africa. It covers research projects done at universities, technikons and also at research organisations. Records of the Union Catalogue of Theses and Dissertations (UCTD) are also included. It includes masters and doctoral theses.
CONTENTS
ACCESS NEXUS 3
LIST OF DATABASES IN NEXUS 3
Searching Current and Completed Research Projects 5
Search Results 9
Retrieval Options 12
Institution Search 13
TIPS ON SEARCHING CURRENT AND COMPLETED RESEARCH PROJECTS 15
ACCESS NEXUS
Ø Use your personal computer:
o in your office or
o in a computer laboratory or
o visit the UWC Library, Level 6 and ask library staff member on duty for a computer you can use for searching databases
Ø Use web browser Internet Explorer.
Ø Connect to the UWC Library homepage at: http://www.uwc.ac.za/library/
Ø Click on Information Resources
Ø Click on Databases
Ø Click on the first letter of the database e.g. N for Nexus or
Ø Scroll down and click on the name of the database Nexus
LIST OF DATABASES IN NEXUS
Research Projects – current and completed
The database contains information on approximately 135 900-research projects in South Africa. It covers research projects done at universities, technikons and also at research organisations. Records of the Union Catalogue of Theses and Dissertations (UCTD) are also included. It covers research projects as well as masters and doctoral theses. The database aims to provide research designs in 100 words on current projects, and an abstract of 300 words for each completed project. It provides information on all fields of science since 1919. English titles are given for projects not in English. Provides bibliographical information of theses.
Professional Associations
Provides professional associations in Social Sciences and Humanites
Forthcoming Conferences
Consists of information on forthcoming conferences nationally and internationally on the following disciplines: Social sciences and Humanities; Education, Art and Behavioural sciences
Researchers Networking
This database facilitates research networking and collaboration between researchers and research institutions by providing information on profiles of individual researchers in South Africa, including their fields of interest and areas of specialisation.
Research Organizations
The database was established in 1993 and is being updated annually. It contains information on approximately 340 research organisations active in the humanities and social sciences research areas.
Periodical Submission Requirements
The database supports research capacity development through the provision of information on the editorial policies and guidelines on the submission requirements of manuscripts of the major South African and international journals in the social sciences and humanities. The following information will be included, title of periodical; frequency of publication, editorial address, e-mail, discipline(s), aims and scope as well as the submission criteria.
NRF Funded Projects
The database lists NRF research grants for 2000, 2001 and 2002 in the natural and social sciences, engineering and technology and the humanities.
Women-in-Research
The database of women scholars in South Africa is a tool through which the Women-in-Research project of the National Research Foundation hopes to facilitate networking and research collaboration among women researchers across all disciplines.
The database can be searched by name, institution, discipline or research interests. New information may be submitted electronically by clicking on the "data entry form" button and completing the on-line form.
Searching Current and Completed Research Projects
Step 1: Accessing Research Projects
Ø Select a Database e.g. Research Projects
Ø Click inside the text box User ID and type zuwc1
Ø Click inside the text box Password and type uwc then click OK.
Step 2: Selecting the search mode
Search modes: Quick search, Advanced search menu and Professional search
Quick Search
This is a basic type of a search. One searches using all words or phrases
Step 3: Select a search option
Keyword search allows one to search the database by title keywords, subjects, abstracts etc.
Ø Apply Boolean or Proximity Operators as required N.B. See last page on the guide on how to use Boolean and Proximity Operators
Ø If you want to do a keyword search in a specific field, click on the arrow next to ALL
Ø A drop-down menu will appear with the following options for field searching:
· All
· Title
· Abstracts
· Contents
Ø Highlight and click on a specific field
Step 4: Limit your search (optional)
Ø Click in the box next to All current projects on your topic and All completed projects on your topic if you want to limit your search.
Ø Type in the text boxes to indicate the years you want to search (current and also completed projects).
Ø Type the relevant discipline code, or to find the discipline (subject) code:
· Click on Help button. A list of abbreviated subject codes (arranged alphabetically) will be displayed.
· Click on the relevant discipline (subject) description (e.g. “computer science”) Computer Science code is 112
· Find the relevant code. Make a note of it (or copy it)
· Use the web browser’s back button to return to the previous screen.
· Click on the OK button at the top of the screen to return to the search screen
· On the search screen type in the code (or paste in the code)
· It is possible to search with an abbreviated code followed by an asterisk, e.g. 255*
· To search for more than one discipline, e.g. Computer Science OR Communication Science, combine subject codes using the Boolean OR operator, e.g. 112* OR 012*
Ø Click on ‘Search Now’
Search Results
Step 5: Search results display
The total number of records retrieved will appear in the middle of the screen followed by the display of search results.
If more than one record is retrieved at a time, search results are displayed in the summary display, i.e. Table of results (default report). The default report display format shows the author, title and status of the research project. To view the full details of a single record at a time click on the More button, at the right side of the record.
If only one record is retrieved, search result appears in Full display format. The full display format shows the following details: author, title, status of project, language, institution, subject, intention of the publication and an abstract.
Ø When a large search result is displayed, click on the next records button to view the next record(s) or on the previous records button to view the previous record(s).
Ø To change the search results display, click on the arrow next to Table of results (default report):
· A drop-down menu will appear with the following options:
Ø Table of results (default report)
Ø Full display
Ø Full display without abstracts
Step 6: Marking records
Ø Click in the box on the right of the record to mark an item in the summary/default report format. To deselect an item, click in the box again.
Ø To view full details of a single selected record, click on the More button (at the right side next to the record).
Ø View selected records
Ø Go back to the previous display format
Retrieval Options
Step 7: E-mail, print or save records
Ø Type an e-mail address in the text box provided at the top of displayed records.
Ø Type a message in the text box provided (optional).
Ø Provide your name as sender (optional).
Ø Click on ‘send results’.
Print or save
Ø To print or save, use the Web browser’s option.
Ø Click on File, and then select Print or Save As.
Step 8: New Search
Ø Click on Advanced search button at right of screen.
Ø Click on a relevant search option i.e. keyword search, title search, author search, subject search and institution search.
Institution Search
Ø Type relevant code for the subject (Click ‘Help’ to find institution code).
Ø Highlight in the purpose text box whether the research is for Non-qualification, Master’s and Doctorates.
Ø Scroll down and continue with steps 5, 6 & 7.
Step 9: Exiting Nexus
Ø To exit Nexus use the Web browser’s option.
Ø Click on File, then select close or exit.
TIPS ON SEARCHING CURRENT AND COMPLETED RESEARCH PROJECTS
Please note: Read the instructions on the search screen properly.
Find the discipline, subject and institution codes by clicking ‘Help’ button next to the relevant box.
Do not click on ‘Search Now’ until prompted to do so.
Use proximity operators: Boolean operators, wildcards and truncation where necessary.
Boolean Operators: AND, OR, NOT
Proximity Operators: ADJ, NEAR, W/O
Truncation: *
Wildcard: ?
Examples on how to use Boolean Operators: separate phrases
(Academic ADJ performance) AND (tertiary ADJ level)
Examples on how to use Proximity Operators: separate words
Academic ADJ performance Adjacent
Academic W/O performance Within same Occurrence
Academic W/1 performance Within One word from another
Academic W/S performance Within the same Sentence Academic W/P performance Within the same Paragraph
Examples on how to use Truncation and Wildcard:
Symbol / Example / Find recordsTruncation / * / child* / child, children, childhood
Wildcard
/ ? / organi?ation / organisation, organizationsUWC Library User Guide February 2004