Chapter 3 Accessing Research Database and Referencing

3.1 What is a Research Database?

• A database is a collection of information organized so that it can be searched easily.

• A research database contains collections of articles and documents from academic sources such as journals, books, theses, and dissertations.

3.2 Why Use Research Database?

\[\underline{\textbf{What Research Databases Give You}}\]

• Peer-reviewed & trustworthy

• Full-text access through Mahidol subscriptions

• Advanced search: by topic, author, DOI, year, subject, or journal

• Export citations directly (APA, BibTeX, etc.)

Figure 3.1: Accessing the same article with and without Mahidol University subscription

3.3 What Can You Find in Mahidol Library Databases?

Mahidol University subscribes to a wide range of databases, giving students and staffs free access to academic information. These resources include journals, e-books, reference works, and dissertations from around the world.

But as students, the three most important types you will use are:

• Databases: for journal articles and academic papers

• Books: both physical and e-books for theory and background

• Theses: past research from Mahidol students, along with some dissertations available in subscribed databases.

3.4 How Can You Access the Mahidol Library Databases?

1. Go to the Stang Library website: https://stang.sc.mahidol.ac.th

2. If you are off-campus, use the EZproxy link: https://ejournal.mahidol.ac.th.

   • Log in with your Mahidol account (MU username and password).

   • Once logged in, you will have full access to subscribed databases as if you were on campus.

Figure 3.2: Mahidol e-journal access

3.5 Accessing the Stang Library Website

• Stang Library is the Faculty of Science’s library (a campus library)

• Even though it has its own website https://stang.sc.mahidol.ac.th, the e-databases and subscriptions it provides are the as the Central Library (MULIC).

3.5.1 Searching for Book

Let’s say you want to search for the book Contemporary Abstract Algebra. Type the title into the Mahidol Library Catalogs search box, select Books , and click Search.

Figure 3.3: Searching for a Book in Mahidol Library Catalog

After entering your search, the catalog will display results where you can refine using filters and check the availability of each book

Figure 3.4: Use filters on the left and check book status (available or not) on the right.

3.5.2 Searching for Theses

This can be done by selecting the thesis option in the Mahidol Library Catalogs box.

Figure 3.5: Searching Mahidol theses.

3.5.3 Searching for Databases

Figure 3.6: Searching Mahidol databases

3.5.4 How to Search Effectively

• Avoid typing whole sentences (e.g., “papers about Markov chains used in optimization”). Instead, use key terms:

  • Markov chains

  • optimization

• Combine keywords with Boolean Operators

  • AND \(\rightarrow\) narrows search: Markov chains AND optimization

  • OR \(\rightarrow\) broadens search: Markov chains OR optimization

  • NOT \(\rightarrow\) excludes: Markov chains NOT optimization

• Apply filters:

  • Data range \(\rightarrow\) last 5-10 years for updated research.

  • Subject area \(\rightarrow\) Mathematics, Computer Science, Enginerring

  • Document type \(\rightarrow\) journal artical, conference paper, review

Exercise 3.1 Search for Graph Theory AND Networks in Springer Link within last 5 years, export 1 citation.

3.5.5 Essential Databases for Mathematics Students

1. Mathematics & Science

• ScienceDirect (Elsevier) \(\rightarrow\) Best for applied mathematics, statistics, physics, and computer science articles.

• SpringerLink \(\rightarrow\) Best for pure and applied mathematics, especially the Lecture Notes in Mathematics series.

• SIAM Journals (Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics) \(\rightarrow\) Best for numerical analysis, optimization, and applied math research.

• Scopus \(\rightarrow\) Best for finding who cited whom, research trends, and journal rankings (indexing and citation database).

• Web of Science \(\rightarrow\) Best for citation analysis and impact factors, similar to Scopus.

2. Engineering & Computing (useful for applied math)

• IEEE Xplore \(\rightarrow\) Best for algorithms, computer science applications, and engineering-related mathematics.

• ACM Digital Library \(\rightarrow\) Best for theoretical computer science and algorithm research.

3. Additional Resource

• JSTOR \(\rightarrow\) Best for older and foundational mathematics papers (algebra, topology, number theory).

Figure 3.7: Essential databases

Besides Mahidol’s subscriptions, here are some free online tools you can use for research and journal evaluation.

• Google Scholar \(\rightarrow\) great free tool, but not always full-text. Use it for quick searching or citation counts.

• Schimago Journal Ranking (SJR) \(\rightarrow\) useful if you want to check if a journal is reputable.

3.6 Plagiarism & Citation

3.6.1 Plagiarism

Plagiarism is presenting someone else’s work as your own, including:

• Copying text directly from other sources.

• Quoting without quotation marks or citation.

• Paraphrasing or summarizing without credit.

• Using images, tables, or graphs without acknowledgement.

• Submitting your own previously marked work (“self-plagiarism”).

• Collaborating on tasks that should be done individually.

3.6.2 Why Citation Matters

• Give it credit to the original author.

• Shows your work is based on reliable sources.

• Helps readers find the same sources.

• Prevent plagiarism.

3.6.3 Citation Style

• APA (American Psychological Association) \(\rightarrow\) Common in social sciences like psychology, sociology, education and linguistics.

• IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) \(\rightarrow\) Common in engineering, computer science, and information technology.

• Vancouver \(\rightarrow\) Common in medicine, health sciences and also used in many physical sciences.

• Chicago (Chicago Manual of Style) \(\rightarrow\) Common in the humanities especially in history, literature and arts.

3.6.4 Citation Tools

• Most databases let you download ready-made citations (in styles like APA or in files like BibTex, RIS).

• You can keep and organize these using tools such as Zotero, EndNote, or Mendeley.

• If you write papers in LaTeX, use BibTex files — they plug directly into your .tex documents and save you from typing citations by hand.

Figure 3.8: Citation example using BibTex with Vancouver style.

3.7 Workshop: Install and Using Zotero

Zotero is a free (unlike EndNote) and open-source reference manager tool. It helps you collect, organize, and cite research papers, books, and websites.

With Zotero, you can:

• Collect references directly from your browser (one click from databases, Google Scholar, or publisher sites).

• Organize your sources into folders/collections with tags and notes.

• Cite while writing in Word, Google Docs, or LaTeX (via BibTeX).

• Export bibliographies automatically in many styles (APA, IEEE, Vancouver, Chicago, etc.)

Figure 3.9: Example of citing a journal article in Word using Zotero

Homework

Search Task

• Each group must use the Stang Library to find at least 3 textbooks or reference books used in your current semester courses.

• In addition, find 2 academic articles related to your coursework.

Citation Task

• Save the 5 sources you found (3 books + 2 articles) into Zotero.

• Use Zotero to export these references

• Format them in one citation style of your choice (e.g., APA, IEEE, Vancouver, Chicago).

Report Task

Submit a short document (1–2 pages) that include a properly formatted bibliography with all 5 sources.