Research Resources for Physics Postgraduates
Getting Started 
- Borrowing & Renewals: postgraduate entitlements
- Exam papers: access point for online papers.
- Program Documents: access point (Library PIN required).
- Research theses are viewable via DIT's Institutional Repository ARROW. MPhils and PhDs are also available in hardcopy for viewing at the library desk.
- How to use the Library: full help guides listing

Literature Reviews
A literature review is part of the introduction to an essay, research report, or thesis. It provides an overview and critical analysis of relevant published scholarly articles, research reports, books, theses etc on the topic or issue to be investigated.
See the Kevin St Library guide Getting started with literature reviews, the textbooks in Bookstack 10 (808.042 shelf number) or some of the following links:
Databases
Databases for Postgraduates & Researchers
Journal Citation Reports | Proquest Dissertations & Theses: Worldwide |
Incites Research Analytics | SCOPUS (impact factors and metrics) |
Subject Databases for Physics
Academic Search Complete | IEEE Xplore Digital Library | PubMed Central Europe |
ACM Digital Library | MathSci Net | Science Direct |
IOP Science | Web of Knowledge |
- See also the full DIT Library database subscription listing
- To access the Databases from outside the DIT network see the Off Campus Access link.
Search Engines
SearchAll/Summon@DIT
What does Search All/ Summon@DIT search? It's a search engine that provides relevance ranked results from DIT Library's online collections in a one single search. It includes records and citations from the DIT Library catalogue, databases, eJournals, eBooks and theses collections.
SearchAll/Summon@DIT and Google Scholar search different bodies of scholarly content. There is overlap, but there is content in Summon not in Google Scholar, and vice-versa. Results in Summon are reflective of DIT Library's collections. As a registered DIT Library patronyou have access to most full-text you can find in SearchAll/ Summon.
Google Scholar
Some features unique to Google Scholar:
- Cited by information e.g. “Cited by 43 publications"
- Issues accessing full-text not subscribed to by DIT Library. See Inter Library Loans for more information.
- Set your Google Scholar Preferences to Dublin Institute of Technology Find @DIT to link to DIT subscribed full-text.
- For more information see the Kevin St Library guide How to use Google Scholar
Science Search Engines
- ScienceResearch
- WorldWideScience
- Zanran (stats & numerical data)
eJournals
- The DIT Library eJournals can be searched by journal title or subject. Search the entire journal collection including hardcopy titles on the Library Catalogue using Journal Title Search. Or use the Kevin St Library guide Finding fulltext journal articles
- To access the eJournals from outside the DIT network you need a current DIT student number and a Library PIN. Or see the Off Campus Access link.
eBooks 
- Browse via the eBook link - most of the physics texts are in the MyiLibrary section. Or carry out a specific title search on the Library Catalogue and click on the ebook content links.
Fulltext Options & Other Academic Libraries
- If DIT journal subscriptions do not cover the articles you require you may apply for an Inter Library Loan.
- Alternatively postgraduates may apply for an ALCID and /or a SCONUL card to visit another academic library.
- To search other academic library catalogues for titles not held in DIT Library click here.
Open Access Resources
What is Open Access? 
- Open Access is unrestricted access to online scholarly information via digital and institutional repositories.
Advantages of Open Access:
- Greater visibility and impact of research
- Increased opportunity for collaboration and innovation via the digital environment
- Easier and faster access to research information than traditional publishing
Information about Open Access:
- Open Access Scholarly informaton Sourcebook (OASIS)
- SPARC Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition
- Open Access Overview
- Types of Open Access
Open Access Science Resources
- BioMedcentral
- PubMed Central
- Europe PubMed Central
- ArXiv eprints
- Directory of Open Access Journals
- ePrints
- Lenus (HSE research repository)
- PLoS
Institutional Research Repositories
Arrow : DIT's theses & publications | RIAN : Irish Research Portal |
DART-Europe E-Thesis Portal : full text research theses from 276 unis | OpenAire : Research in Europe |
ROAR : Registry of Open Access Repositories | Sherpa & OpenDoar IR directories |
Current Awareness & Professional Networking
Journal article/ author aggregator tools help you keep up with research trends and new publications in your subject area. Use one or more to get automated and personalised updates on your topic or key authors:
- Microsoft Academic
- PubChase (biomedical and life sciences)
- ScienceOpen
- Sparrho (science)
- JournalTOCs
- CiteUlike
- Use Feedly (website or app) to save, download or bookmark favourite urls and pdfs)
- ORCID
- Researcher ID (Access via Web of Science, DIT Library Databases)
- ResearchGate
- Figshare
Research Metrics & Impact Factors
Amongst the most commonly used bibiometric measures used to assess the impact of a particular journal publication are Impact factor, Eigenfactor and SCImago. The impact of a specific reseacher can be measured by h-index, e-index and Times Cited (amongst others). Some tools to assist with this are:
- Altmetrics
- Scopus (access via Web of Science, DIT Library Databases)
- Cited Reference Search (access via Web of Science, DIT Library Databases)
- Journal Citation Reports (access via DIT Library Databases)
- Incites Research Analytics (access via DIT Library Databases)
- Publish or Perish (downloadable software)
- Research Smarts: DIT Library bibliometrics FAQ
- Kevin St Library introductory guide Bibliometrics & Research
Digital Skills and Research Hub
For guidance and information on research communication, publishing and impact see the new DSRH resource.
Referencing, Citing & Endnote
Citing and referencing the information sources used in research is essential to avoid plagiarism. Each subject has its own citation style. See this introduction to the Harvard Referencing Guide (DIT Library Kevin St)) or check with your supervisor as to the appropriate style to use for your work.
Journal Abbreviations
Abbreviated journal titles may be required depending on the citation style used. Some useful tools which 'translate' the full journal title into the abbreviated version are:
Bibliographic citation software
This freeware you to store, manage and share your references using a choice of citation styles:
Information Skills Help
- Kevin St Library Information Skills Guides
Summer Services
Kevin St Library offers the following services to postgraduates during the months of July & August.
- Postal Loans Postgrad Postal Service Application Form
- Photocopying Service
- Inter Library Loans
- Family borrowing with a letter of consent
Contacts
Information Literacy: Julie de Foubert
Library Information Desk : 01-402-4894 / kst.library@dit.ie




