As a student, you may come across conference proceedings during your research. This guide will help you understand what they are, why they're important, and where to find them.
What are conference proceedings?
Conference proceedings are published collections of academic papers presented at a conference or symposium. They provide a valuable record of the latest research, innovations, and discussions in a particular field. They may be peer-reviewed or non-peer-reviewed, and can be found in different sources, including:
- Chapters within books
- Articles in journals
- Specific publisher databases
- Freely available online
It's important to note the difference between conference papers and conference proceedings:
- Conference papers are individual research papers presented at a conference, focusing on a specific topic or piece of research.
- Conference proceedings are the published collection of all the papers presented at a conference, providing a comprehensive record of the event.
When searching for conference materials, keep in mind that you may need to look for both individual conference papers and the overall conference proceedings, depending on your research needs.
Due to this variety of formats and sources, conference proceedings can sometimes be tricky to track down compared to other types of academic publications, such as journal articles or books. However, by using the university library's search tools and resources outlined in this guide, you can effectively locate and access the proceedings you need.
Conference papers v journal articles
Conference papers differ from journal articles in several ways:
- Peer-review process: Conference papers often undergo a less rigorous peer-review process compared to journal articles. Some conferences may not have a peer-review process at all.
- Length: Conference papers are typically shorter than journal articles, as they are designed to be presented orally at a conference.
- Depth of research: Due to their shorter length and the nature of conferences, conference papers may not cover research topics as comprehensively as journal articles.
- Some conference papers can relate to research which is still in progress. These may be subsequently reworked and published as a journal article or as part of a special issue of a journal or book.
Why are conference proceedings important?
As a student, conference proceedings can help you:
- Stay informed about the latest developments and trends in your field of study.
- Discover new research ideas and methodologies.
- Help find experts in your field.
- Find potential sources for your own research projects or assignments.
- In some disciplines, especially those with rapidly changing fields of study, conference proceedings are a particularly important way of keeping up to date.
Where to find conference proceedings
Library Search: You can easily find conference proceedings using LibrarySearch. Simply enter your search terms and select the "Conferences" filter to narrow down your results.
Publisher full-text databases: the following publisher databases can all be searched simultaneously through LibrarySearch. The University subscribes to most of the content on these platforms so you shouldn’t come up against too many paywall barriers.
- IEEE Xplore : A comprehensive resource for conferences published by the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) and IET (Institution of Engineering and Technology).
- ACM Digital Library: Offers an extensive collection of conference proceedings in the field of computing.
- SpringerLink: A multidisciplinary database that includes conference proceedings from various fields.
Scopus: Scopus is a comprehensive abstract and citation database that offers extensive coverage of conference materials across various disciplines from a variety or publishers and sources. It also provides citation information and analysis tools to assess the impact of conferences and papers as well as author profiles to identify experts in specific fields and their conference contributions. Please note that the full-text of the proceedings will only be accessible if available through the University Library’s subscriptions or open access.
What if the university library doesn't have access to the conference proceedings I need?
If you can't find the conference proceedings you need through LibrarySearch, the publisher databases or SCOPUS, don't worry. You have a few options:
- Check if the proceedings are available through open access on the official conference website or other platforms like Semantic Scholar, Google Scholar, or arXiv.
- Request the proceedings through our interlibrary loan or document delivery services. We're here to help you access the resources you need for your research.
Referencing conference proceedings
When referencing conference proceedings in your academic work, follow the appropriate conventions of your referencing style. Depending on whether it was published in a book, journal, or online will dictate how you reference it. More information can be found on our Referencing guide.
Need help?
If you have any questions or need assistance in finding and accessing conference proceedings, don't hesitate to contact us at library@abertay.ac.uk
Last modified by Library Services