MGT 313: Human Resources Management
Searching Strategies- Article Databases
- Best Practices Database
- Books
- HR E-Encyclopedias
- Citations & Avoiding Plagiarism
Business Librarian: Steve Cramer
smcramer@uncg.edu
336-256-0346
AIM & Google Talk: stevebizlib
Learning goals for Sept. 22
- Be able to form complex searches in order to effectively and efficiently search for articles and books;
- Be able to select appropriate specialized databases and other research tools for your research topics;
- Be able to critically evaluate the quality and authority of the reseach you find;
- Be able to better cite your sources and avoid plagiarism.
1. Searching Strategies
a. What's a database?
- A searchable collection of articles, company data, industry analysis, etc.
- Most are paid for by the library (databases are expensive).
- Web-based, 24/7 access.
- Also available from off-campus, using your Novell/e-Spartan login:
b. How do I get to databases?
c. When to use Journal Finder
- Available from the library homepage or directly from most databases.
- It tells you if we have online access to a journal, magazine, or newspaper.
- It also tells you if the library has the paper version.
- Below is an example of a Journal Finder link from Business Source Premier:
d. Five basic techniques for searching databases for articles:
1. Identify the main concepts or keywords of your search question.
2. Combine keywords with "AND"
ex: mentoring AND employee retention
3. Search for synonyms with "OR"
ex: diversity OR multicultural
4. Using parenthesis, you can use OR and AND at the same time.
ex: (diversity OR multicultural) AND mentoring
5. Truncate words that have various endings
ex: mentor* and manage*
e. Let's work on turning these topics into keyword searches:
- How managers deal with generational differences in the workplace
- Should use of Facebook, Twitter, etc. on work computers be banned?
- How can cultural differences within the workforce in a global company be worked out?
- Should HR professionals make greater use of HR software to make decisions?
2. Article Databases
Business Source Premier
- Our largest database for business articles.
- Covers over 8,200 journals, magazines, and newspapers.
- Covers 1984-present, with earlier coverage for hundreds of top business journals.
- More info
PsycInfo
- The main database for psychology research.
- Also a great source of research on organizational behavior.
- Includes links to full text.
- More info
More databases for articles
3. Best Practices Database
Best Practices
- Provides detailed summaries and case studies of best practice research conducted for major corporations.
- Covers human resources (note the section on the left under "Browse Database"), business operations, customer service, e-commerce, sales and marketing, and knowledge management.
- Searchable by company, industry, and topic.
- More info
Example reports:
- Benchmarking Corporate Diversity & Inclusion Programs: Measuring Program Effectiveness
- Linking Communications, Employee Evaluations, and Pay-For-Performance
- Programs to Develop and Retain Women in Today's Workspace
- Develop Compensation Programs to Support Corporate Strategy
4. Books
Library Catalog
Keyword searches examples
- background check$ AND employees
- (salaries OR compensation) AND performance
- diversity in the workplace AND mentor$
- downsizing AND organizational change
- communication in organizations AND leadership
Subject term examples
Sometimes, the subject terms used by the catalog aren't common business terms. Here are some useful subject terms you can use alone or with other terms ADDed.
- Personnel management [instead of human resource management]
- Management
- Organizational behavior
- Employee selection
- Employee retention
- Employee motivation
- Diversity in the workplace
5. HR E-Encyclopedias
Encyclopedia of Human Resources Information: Challenges in e-HRM
- Includes 132 articles that "rigorously analyzes key critical HR variables and defines previously undiscovered issues in the HR field."
- 2009
Blackwell Encyclopedic Dictionary of Human Resource Management
- Each entry includes a bibliography.
- 1st edition; 1998
Management & Leadership Encyclopedias from Gale & Sage
- Search 7 of these encyclopedias at once
6. Citations & Avoiding Plagiarism
Citation Help:
Avoiding Plagiarism
