Information for researchers

This page is currently under development

General

These links provide general information on the process of research and support available in the UK and the University of York specifically:

  • Digital Curation Centre - The JISC and the eScience Core Programme have entrusted the task of establishing the Digital Curation Centre (DCC) to a consortium comprising four partner institutions: the University of Edinburgh (lead partner) and the University of Glasgow, which together host the NeSC; UKOLN, at the University of Bath; the Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils (which operate the Rutherford and Daresbury Laboratories).
  • ESRC Society Today - This major online project has attracted almost a quarter of a million unique visitors in its first six months. Launched in May 2005 by the Economic & Social Research Council, it provides academics, students and researchers with a valuable, free digest of social sciences research available, planned and in progress.
  • RDInfo: support for health-related researchers including funding opportunities and training
  • Research and Innovation Information System (RIIS) (York login required)
  • Research Councils UK - (RCUK) is a strategic partnership set up to champion science, engineering and technology supported by the seven UK Research Councils. Through RCUK, the Research Councils are working together to create a common framework for research, training and knowledge transfer. In doing this RCUK will work alongside OST to further support for the UK's best academic researchers and deliver the best investment for society.
  • Research Process Flow Chart: A guide from RDDirect to the research process with useful links to supporting material and with special reference to the NHS
  • University of York Graduate Schools Office
  • University of York Research Office

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Funding

Information on selected funding opportunities and arrangements are available at:

  • Grants Online - "The most extensive and up to date information on External Funding Opportunities. The site provides instant access to the latest information on grants from the European Union, UK Government, National Lottery and UK Grant Making Trusts."
  • RDFunding - authoritative source of all UK health-related research funding opportunites
  • University of York Research Office

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The process of literature searching

Our Literature searching page looks at what a literature search is, how to conduct a systematic review of the literature, defining search topics and how to search for literature using Boolean Operators and how to write your review; including citing and organising your references.

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Resources for literature searching

Once you have designed your literature search you can undertake it using the resources available to you via the University of York:

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Requesting resources not held by the Library

If, after conducting your literature search, you have identified items which you would like to consult but which are not available via the University of York you can still request them:

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Using other libraries

As well as the University of York resources and the option to request items via Interlending you may at times wish to visit other libraries. For help and details on how to arrange this see:

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Research ethics

The following links give specific University and more general advice on observing various aspects relating to intellectual property rights. It is essential you observe these guidelines so that you acknowledge the works of others and do not leave yourself open to claims of bad practice:

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Disseminating your research

Once you have conducted your research it is important to consider carefully where to report your findings. This can involve finding and assessing appropriate journals as well as considering conference options. The following links can provide a starting point

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Getting published

The following give information on the publication process and related procedures as well as links to information about the University of York institutional repository and general information on Open Access publishing.

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Citation analysis

Citation analysis, although controversial, is an increasingly important means of measuring a researcher’s publication output and ‘ranking’ as well as an individual journal title’s ‘rating’. The following links provide more information and help:

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Keeping up to date

These links give information to some of the opportunities and mechanisms to keep up to date with the latest research in your subject area:

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Further help, training and information

A selection of help and services are available to you both at the University and more generally:

  • British Library Help for Researchers - Information on British Library Collections and Services.
  • Centre for Evidence Based Medicine - based in Oxford, the Centre aims ‘to promote evidence-based health care and provide support and resources to anyone who wants to make use of them’
  • Disability support
  • Exploring Online Research Methods in a Virtual Training Environment - This project is based at the University of Leicester and is part of the ESRC - Economic and Research Council's Research Methods Programme. Its aim is to "produce and evaluate a high-quality online portal to provide training in online research methods". The portal "will act as a self-supporting online resource to enhance understanding of both the theoretical and practical aspects of online research methods including web-based questionnaires, virtual synchronous interviews and virtual ethnographies"
  • RDLearning: the authoritative source of all research training opportunities open to UK Researchers working in the field of health and social care
  • The Research Information Network - The Research Information Network was established in 2005 "to lead and co-ordinate new developments in the collaborative provision of research information for the benefit of researchers in the UK". The website has been redesigned recently and includes a Team Blog, which is frequently updated, and an RSS newsfeed so that you can receive the latest news on the RIN's activities.
  • Contact your Academic Liaison Librarian for further information and help
  • Self paced workbooks on using databases etc (York login required)

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Further reading

The following is a selection only of some of the texts available at the University of York Library which may help you with your research: