A successful thesis consists of many different pieces. Information retrieval is one of these pieces, and guiding it is a shared task between the supervisor and the library. The supervisor is particularly responsible for content-related aspects, while the library supports the student in selecting information sources and in technical issues of searching.
The table below describes the division of tasks between the supervisor and the library in information retrieval. The table is indicative; in reality, responsibilities overlap.
The division of tasks between supervisor and library summarised
| Task | Supervisor | Library |
|---|---|---|
| Defining topic and research questions. | X | |
| Background information and context. | X | |
| Breaking down research topic into concepts and search terms. | X | |
| Discipline specific terminology. | X | |
| Main databases of one's own discipline. | X | |
| Search techniques of databases (truncation, phrases, connecting terms with operators, technically correct queries). | X | |
| Database tools: filters, saving searches and results. | X | |
| Reporting information retrieval in review-type thesis. | X | |
| Evaluating resources and results by factual content. | X | |
| Evaluating resources by external indicators (e.g. predator journals). | X | |
| Introduction to reference management programs. | X | |
| Reference style of one's own discipline. | X | |
| Other resources than literature databases (e.g. corpuses, data, statistics). | X | |
| Referring student to library services when needed (services of information specialist, library guides and instructions, learning materials of information retrieval). | X | |
| Booking lessons (revision of information retrieval, reference management) for seminar group. | X |
Content and timing of the library’s information retrieval courses
The library offers a subject-specific information retrieval course (1 cp) to almost all bachelor’s students. The information retrieval course may also be part of the compulsory or elective studies in master’s programs.
The content is adapted to the specific discipline (e.g., databases used and exercises) depending on the publishing practices of the field.
After completing the course, the student will:
- Recognize different types of scientific publications and understand what peer review of scientific publications means
- Be able to evaluate the reliability of a publication, particularly based on external indicators
- Know which search service or database to use; find databases relevant to their field
- Understand why many scientific publications are behind paywalls as well as the principles of open access publishing
- Be able to break down their research topic into search concepts and keywords
- Be able to form a suitable search query for a database using keywords (understand search techniques such as Boolean operators, truncation, phrase searching, etc.)
- Identify different search methods/strategies for various needs (e.g., for a systematic literature review or a thesis)
- Be able to evaluate, modify and refine search result
- Understand the benefits of saving references and searches and be aware of the tools offered by databases for reference management
- Be familiar with how artificial intelligence can be utilized in information retrieval
- Understand the importance of correct referencing to avoid plagiarism and that publications have copyrights
- Understand the process nature of information retrieval: it is rarely complete or “perfect” in one go; information retrieval evolves and adapts as the research progresses.
The timing of the course in a student’s studies varies by discipline. The library recommends that the course is completed at the latest at the beginning of the bachelor’s thesis. Some courses are scheduled to be taken simultaneously with bachelor’s seminars, allowing students to apply information retrieval to their own thesis.
Check course information of your own discipline from Peppi.
A course aimed to post-graduate students, Research information retrieval and management, contains two modules about information retrieval. See course description from Peppi.
Information retrieval is taught and guided throughout the academic studies
The image below presents the learning path for information retrieval offered by the library.
Explore the learning path in more detail.
