13:00-14:00 Research metrics and citation analysis tools: Part 1 journal metrics
*waiting list available*
In this session we will cover how to locate and interpret journal level metrics such as the Journal Impact Factor (JIF). We will examine the tools you can use to locate journal level metrics, such as Journal Citation Reports and Scopus Sources. We will also consider the uses, limitations and pitfalls inherent in these metrics and how they can be used responsibly. By the end of the session, you will be familiar with:

• The major journal metrics and how these are calculated
• Accessing journal citation data using Journal Citation Reports and Scopus Sources
• Using JIF, CiteScore and SJR journal metrics to rank journals
• Limitations of different metrics, including how journal metrics may be skewed or distorted

Format: Classroom-based. Presentation with practical exercises.

Location: Radcliffe Science Library, Seminar Room
Parks Road, OX2 3QP

14:00-15:30 Newspapers and other online news sources from the 17th-21st centuries
Newspapers are a valuable resource for researching not only news but also many other aspects of political, economic, social and cultural life. In this session we will introduce key online sources of news and how to make best use of them. The focus will be on historical and contemporary newspapers from the 17th century across most countries of the world. After the session participants will understand:

Format: Online teacher-led presentations and live demonstrations (with audience interaction and opportunities for questions via chat function and follow up one-to-one help).

Location: Microsoft Teams

A workshop outlining some of the key principles to bear in mind when working with sensitive or restricted research; whether collected yourself or obtained from a third-party source such as a data archive. Issues of confidentiality, informed consent, cybersecurity and data management will be covered. Examples of scenarios or concerns drawn from the research of participants are particularly welcome. The role of support services at Oxford will also be outlined and in particular the role of the Bodleian Data Librarian who will lead the session. Follow up consultations with the Data librarian or other subject consultants are also offered. Topics to be covered include:

• Key best practice principles when working with sensitive or restricted research data
• Issues around creating original data
• Informed consent agreements
• Maximising the usage potential of data during and after a project
• Strengths and weaknesses of anonymisation, data blurring and similar techniques
• Key strategies for protecting data including encryption, embargoes, future vetting and access restrictions
• Obligation put on researchers by legislation and research partners

Format: Teacher-led presentation with opportunity for discussion.

Location: Social Science Library, Information Skills Training Room
Manor Road, OX1 3UQ

• Explore how copyright really works in practice
• Interpret the legislation and apply the relevant legal concepts to their own work
• Practice using the exceptions and licences in sector-specific examples
• Discuss the role of risk management in making decisions about the ethical creation and use of copyright material

Format: The workshop is highly interactive with multiple opportunities for discussion about copyright, underpinned by a clear framework.

Location: Radcliffe Science Library, Seminar Room
Parks Road, OX2 3QP

If you are new to the University of Oxford and want to find out more about the University’s network of libraries or have been at the University a while and would like a refresher, join us for this online introduction to understanding and accessing the libraries, their services and resources. By the end of the session, you will:

• Be familiar with the network of Oxford libraries
• Know the logins needed to access Bodleian Libraries services
• Be able to conduct a search in SOLO (the University’s resource discovery tool), filter results and access online and print resources
• Know how to manage your library account including loans and requests

Format: Live online session with a mixture of PowerPoint presentation, live demonstration and practical exercises.

Location: Microsoft Teams

Create content for your teaching or research with greater confidence by attending our session on Creative Commons (CC) licences. Learn how they work, how they interact with copyright and how to use them to best effect. The session will make special reference to images but is applicable to all media, including written works. The workshop is classroom-based. In this playful, interactive face-to-face session we will cover:

• What Creative Commons Licences are
• Where to find Creative Commons material
• How to apply Creative Commons to your own work
• How to reuse Creative Commons materials

And we’ll finish the session with a Creative Commons card game.

Are you looking for a streamlined approach to gathering, managing and citing your references? Join us for this interactive online session in which we introduce RefWorks, a subscription reference management tool that University of Oxford members can use for free during their time at the university and as alumni. RefWorks is web-based and helps you to collect and manage references and insert them into your word-processed document as in-text citations or footnotes, and you can generate bibliographies. Being web-based, RefWorks can be used with any operating system and, to cite your references in a document, provides a plugin for Microsoft Word on Windows or Mac computers. By the end of the session, you will understand:

• How RefWorks can help you
• How to add references to RefWorks from a range of sources
• How to manage your references
• How to add in-text citations and/or footnotes to your documents
• How to create bibliographies
• Where to get help with RefWorks

Format: Live online session with a mixture of PowerPoint presentation, live demonstration and practical exercises.

Location: Microsoft Teams

Friday 8th November 14:00-17:00

Referencing: Zotero

iSkills: Unlocking Critical Thinking and Research Skills for Undergraduates

Unlock the power of critical thinking and research skills in our engaging workshop designed for undergraduate students. Learn to question assumptions, analyse information critically, and develop information discovery and search strategies that will set you apart in your academic studies. By the end of this session, you will be able to:

• Describe what critical thinking is
• Understand a critical thinking model
• Apply the model to your academic work
• Explain the fundamentals of conducting research, including how to pinpoint key search terms and databases to search.

Good research data management is a vital component of academic practice. Part of this is the principle that the data used to develop the arguments and outcomes of your research should be effectively stored and managed during a project, preserved for the future and – where possible – shared with other academics. This session introduces the University’s research data policy and outlines the practical impact this will have on your work. The services available at Oxford to assist you will be outlined. This session is not only essential during your current studies but will be invaluable if you plan to continue in research as a career. Topics to be covered include:

• Common dangers and pitfalls of digital data
• Key principles of RDM and organising your data effectively
• Producing a data management plan
• Institutional, funder and publisher requirements
• Issues around preserving data and cybersecurity
• ORA-Data, GitHub and other preservation services
• Sharing thoughts and insights about the potential of data management in your own field
• Accessing Oxford based tools for research data management

Format: Classroom-based. Presentation with discussion.

Location: Social Science Library, Information Skills Training Room. Manor Road, OX1 3UQ.

Formatting your in text citations, footnotes and bibliography correctly for your thesis or publication is crucial. Reference management tools make this easier and save you time. This classroom-based session comprises a 30-minute presentation, which gives an overview of reference management tools. The rest of the session is dedicated to practical exercises at the computers, giving you the opportunity to try out three tools (RefWorks, EndNote and Zotero), so that you can work out which one is best for you. Library staff will be there to help and guide you, and answer any questions you might have. You can leave at any point once you have tried out the tools you want, and do not have to stay until the end. At the end of the session you will be able to:

• Understand how reference management works
• Understand the advantages and disadvantages of a range of reference management tools
• Add, edit and organise references using a number of different tools
• Add references to documents and create bibliographies using a number of different tools
• Make an informed decision about which reference management tool works best for you

Format: 30-minute presentation followed by practical exercises.

Location: Thames Suite, IT Services 7-19 Banbury Road, Oxon, OX2 6NN