Pubmed to endnote

Import from PubMed to EndNote
In PubMed
1.Do a search in PubMed

2. Display the results in
"Medline" format
3."Send to" “File”.

4. “Save” as .txt file
(make sure to
remember the directory
under which the file is saved)
In EndNote

1. Open an EndNote library
2. Click "File" and choose
"Import"
3. Click "Choose File" to
select the desired file
4. In "Import Option" box,
click for "PubMed"
5. Choose "Import all"
6. Click "Import"

Another blog?

This blog is dedicated for technical matters for my Phd... wonder whether I should start a blog on the contents / thought process of my thesis... maybe...

Books

Prof Abdullah Saeed's book is not in the bookshop. I would probably need to order it online

How to read?

Organizing my literature review

One of the most daunting task that I have been avoiding is doing the literature review. I remember during those times when I conducted a lit review for my masters thesis, I was so disorganised. I couldn't remember what I had read and I didn't know where I had kept the articles. At that time, we didn't use endnote.

I am determined that for my Phd, I would do a better job. . At least spending less time to just look for things.

Yesterday, I got a few tips from Suraya & Aini.
They suggested that I put my notes in a table using excel, dividing it into columns (year, author, title, theme, etc).
Then keep the ref in endnote.
Then draw a mindmap.
There are 2 free mindmap softwares on the web (Freemind and can't remember the other one).
But... Aini now ends up doing it on paper.
One student even had it on mahjong paper.

I thought those tips are useful.
Thanks Suraya & Aini.

Ooops...
also found important links fom academic skills unit:
Literature search
Reading strategies
Note taking
Courseworks

Tips from postgraduate essentials forum

1) Make a search diary (spreadsheet, include Boolean search)
2) Don't rely on the SuperSearch MultiDatabase Search feature
3) Make a time to speak to a subject librarian
4) Think around the topic as much as possible and record all possible terms that could be used
5) Remember to try UK and US spellings, alternative and related terms;
international terms; former terms (i.e. non pc versions); broader terms (general results); and narrower terms (may be too specific)
6) E-mail alerts

Looking for past theses

Past theses are important source of information.
Below are important links:

Australasian Digital Theses Program

Melbourne Uni's Thesis: Supersearch - login - Information Services Digital Repository - Research collections (UMER) - Theses
PhdData.org
Proquest: Supersearch - login - find database - proquest (dissertation and theses).

I couldn't find the Index to Theses with Abstracts Accepted for Higher Degrees by the Universities of Great Britain and Ireland and the Council for National Academic Awards, as mentioned in postgraduate essentials.