The Launch and panel discussion

The launch of Library Research Week 2022 was held in a hybrid format on 16 May 2022. Ms Ellen Tise, Senior Director of the Library and Information Service, opened the event and explained Library Research Week as one of the flagship programmes of the Library through which we seek to contribute to the University’s strategic theme Research for Impact.  “Our vision is to see this regarded as a prime forum through which partners from other academic support units and faculties are invited to share knowledge in order to impart and further develop the skills of researchers”, added Ms Tise. Thereafter Professor Eugene Cloete, Vice-Rector: Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies, officially opened the event and explained that the research journey has challenges. Those who succeed are often those who anticipate the challenges, gather all the necessary tools and are set for the final destination.

The highlight of the launch event was a panel discussion about research ethics, expertly facilitated by Professor Carolissen from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. The panellists were Dr Marilize Burger, from the Medicine and Health Sciences Faculty, Ms Katlego Mthelebofu, a lecturer at the Faculty of Law , Mr Jerall Toi from the University’s Information Governance Office and  Ms Clarissa Robertson from SU’s Division for Research Development (DRD). The panellists were able to respond to all relevant questions from the facilitator and the audience.  Audience members showed a lot of appreciation for the panel discussion as reflected by the engagement levels of both the virtual and in-person delegates.

Panellists (From left to right): Jerall Toi, Prof Ronelle Carolissen, Clarissa Robertson and Katlego Mthelebofu. Dr Marelize Burger attended online.

Day 1: Rigging the ropes

The theme for Tuesday 17 May, ‘Rigging the ropes’ included lively and interactive sessions on search strategies (Enhance your search strategies: Google and Google Scholar), proposal writing (Do’s and Don’ts of proposal writing) and literature reviews. Pepler Head gave guidance to efficiently search Google and Google Scholar and how effective searching can narrow results considerably. Firstly, he explained how text is indexed in Google before he proceeded to provide search tips. Selene Delport focused on nutshell writing or micro writing, where the focus is on writing smaller sections of text which are later expanded. By means of an initial practical exercise consisting of three questions related to the topic content, the relevance of the topic and the aim of the research, attendees were asked to relate these questions to their own research and to write them in one sentence. Examples from the audience were used to illustrate the structuring of a research question. This presentation concluded with helpful steps for writing a hypothesis. Practical steps for writing a literature review were offered by Elizabeth Moll-Willard. She first explained the role and function of a literature review before she offered steps for writing a literature review. These steps include selecting a topic, searching the literature (creating a search strategy and managing literature), evaluating the literature and writing the review.

All in all a day of very practical information for postgraduate students and researchers!

Recordings of these webinars will be made available via the Library’s YouTube channel later on. Those who have registered for the webinars will all receive the recordings by email.

Authors: Siviwe Bangani and Santie de Jongh