2.3.1 Test your knowledge: Searching & Evaluating
Course subject(s)
2. Searching & Evaluating
Q1. Information sources
Go to the A-Z list with TU Delft Library databases and look for the following databases: NBD Online, IEEE Xplore Digital Library, TRIO, PubMed and CuminCAD.
Based on the topics of these databases, which databases can you use for information on the following research question:
“How can the automotive industry contribute to the improvement of air quality by adapting existing fuels?” (multiple answers possible)
⬜ TRID
⬜ PubMed
⬜ IEEE Xplore Digital Library
⬜ NBD Online
⬜ CuminCAD
Q2. Information sources
What document types are best suited when you are looking for an answer to the following sub-question:
How can research on fuels contribute to the improvement of air quality?
(multiple answers possible)
⬜ conference papers
⬜ patents
⬜ websites
⬜ journal articles
⬜ statistics
⬜ legislation
Q3. Information sources
Match the logos with information sources with the correct type of information:
background information
scientific information
technical information
public opinion
factual information
![](https://ocw.tudelft.nl/wp-content/uploads/Logos_01-178x300.png)
Q4. Searching
You are looking for articles in Google Scholar about cars but not about their design. Enter the correct operators in the search query below. Choose between the operators: OR. AND, AND NOT, NOT, –
(car ___ cars ___ vehicle*) ___ design
QS. Searching
For this question we ask you to apply a search yourself in Web of Science (Core Collection) with the table below.
Please note this exercise can only be done if you or your institution has access to www.webofscience.com.
(off-campus access for TU Delft affiliated)
Go to https://www.webofscience.com/wos and search for the entire concept “air quality”. How many results did you find?
Hint: Don’t forget to use synonyms and related terms in your query.
air quality |
air quality |
⬜ fewer than 275.000 results
⬜ between 275.000-325.000 results
⬜ between 325.000 – 375.000 results
⬜ more than 375.000 results
Q6. Searching
Let’s say you haven’t found many search results. What do you do? (tick all correct answers)
⬜ use fewer synonyms for each aspect
⬜ use more specific search terms
⬜ search in another, more suitable information source
⬜ check that you have combined the synonyms and related terms in a good way (with OR and not with AND)
⬜ apply truncation to search for more different word endings
⬜ correct any spelling or typing errors
Q7. Relevance and reliability
Which table of contents belongs to a scholarly journal? Select the correct table of content below.
Q8. Relevance and reliability
Which of these articles is a scholarly article? Select the correct article below.