http://hdl.handle.net/2160/255 PhD theses from Department of Information Studies, AU 2013-05-21T16:28:16Z http://hdl.handle.net/2160/4604 Wrexham Newspapers 1848-1914 Peters, Lisa Jayne This study aims to discover if any Wrexham newspaper could claim "regional" circulation between 1848 and 1914. Eight newspapers are studied, four monthlies: the Wrexham Recorder, the Wrexham Registrar, the Wrexham (Monthly) Advertiser, and the Wrexham Albion, and four weeklies: the Wrexham (Weekly) Advertiser, the Wrexham Telegraph, the Wrexham Guardian, and the Wrexham Free Press. Chapter one introduces the topic and briefly explains the methodologies used in the study. Chapter two reviews the literature available whilst chapter three offers a brief history of the English and Welsh provincial press. Chapter four defines what this study meant by a "regional" newspaper by analysing the opinions of local historians and geographers as to how a region can be defined. Chapter five offers a history of the Wrexham press from 1848 to 1914, focusing on the personalities, politics, and progress of each title. Chapter six discusses possible rival newspapers and how they may have affected the sales and circulation on the Wrexham press. Chapters seven to ten focus on four aspects of the Wrexham press - distribution, district news coverage, news content, and advertising. Each aspect was statistically analysed to ascertain the geographical circulation area of each newspaper, and changes over time. Chapter eleven draws the thesis together and comes to the general conclusion that no Wrexham newspaper achieved regional status although at least one title attempted to do so and may have been temporarily successful. By 1914, the growth of the north Wales provincial press meant that the circulation area of the two surviving Wrexham newspapers was based on the Wrexham locality. Appendices giving statistical data and information on those involved in the Wrexham press trade are included. 2002-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2160/4084 Sources for family history : a case study with particular reference to Wales, the Parrys of Llidiardau Barber, B. Jill This thesis sets out to test the assumption that family history research in Wales is likely to be less successful than in England. The impact of factors such as the poor survival of sources, the use of the Welsh language and patronymics are assessed, and the implications of a different social structure and system of land tenure are investigated. Through tracing the history of a Cardiganshire family, the Parrys of Llidiardau, evidence is revealed which suggests that, although a wider range of sources may be needed for family history research in Wales, the chronological possibilities for success are far greater than in England. The range of available sources is explored, and selected sources analysed to determine the background knowledge and search strategies needed for their effective use and interpretation. These include pedigree books, Great Sessions records, personal sources, literature, bills and receipts, tour diaries, estate and magistrates' records. The cases tudy provides an opportunity for an in-depth study of an uncataloguedc ollection of family papers, the Llidiardau Mss., at the National Library of Wales. The contribution that family history research, properly conducted, can make to mainstream historical studies is explored, highlighting the significance of the patterns which emerge. The importance of factors such as gavelkind, marriage, migration, and fertility and mortality rates for the study of families and communities in Wales is revealed. Other themes of wider historical interest include the impact of kinship groups on the development of local communities, the social mobility of younger sons, the position of women and the anglicisation of the Welsh gentry. Finally, this thesis investigates how family historians locate and retrieve information, identifying the education and training needs which will equip information professionals to provide a better service for family historians. 1994-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2160/3760 Updating Searches for Systematic Reviews Sampson, Margaret Joan Introduction: This thesis examines methods for updating searches for systematic reviews of healthcare interventions. Systematic reviews endeavour to find and synthesize all relevant research as a basis for the practice of evidence-based medicine. They are more useful if they are complete and up-to-date. Materials and Methods: The sample was 93 meta-analyses in allopathic medicine. Newer randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were sought through MEDLINE searches, and were assessed for relevance by physicians. Two Boolean searches, two similarity searches and one non-database search approach were tested. The Boolean searches were based on a simple subject search paired with a filter selecting only RCTs from Abridged Index Medicus journals or with the balanced Clinical Query. The two similarity searches were Support Vector Machine (SVM) and a Related Article search of PubMed based on the three newest and three largest studies from the original review. Main Results: Clinical Query provided good recall but with large retrievals. Abridged Index Medicus RCT had smaller retrieval sizes and lower recall, but did detect many large studies. The Related Article search showed the highest recall. Recall with SVM was lower, but retrievals were smaller. RCTs that cited the systematic review being updated were also tested but identified only a small proportion of new evidence. Relative performance of the test searches was consistent regardless of whether the intervention was a drug, device or procedure. All searches showed variability across clinical areas, but Related Articles RCT showed the most consistency. The pairing of Related Article RCT and Clinical Query gave excellent recall of new relevant material. Conclusions: Meta-analysts can identify new evidence through a simple structured Boolean search paired with a related articles protocol. By building on the evidence base formed in the original review, related article searching may replace time-consuming nondatabase methods necessary in conducting original reviews. 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2160/3534 Newspapers and Historical Research: A Study of Historians and Custodians in Wales Secker, Jane-Louise Examines the historiographical and practical problems of using newspapers in historical research. Studies the methods of different types of professional and non-professional historians, to evaluate the value of newspapers as historical documents and the problems particular to them. Examines the difficulties associated with newspapers in library collections from both the perspectives of newspaper users and custodians. Seeks to provide recommendations for both groups to facilitate the use of newspapers. The research adopted essentially qualitative methods. Using questionnaires and interviews, the opinions and experiences of historians in Wales were studied. Case studies of newspaper collections in Wales were undertaken to examine current policies and strategies at a local level. The research was also undertaken with collaboration from the British Library Newspaper Library and with specific reference to the work of the NEWSPLAN project. Concludes that newspapers are an important source for all manner of historical enquiries, but that historians often require further guidance in order to search, use and evaluate them. Different patterns of use were observed among different types of historians. Also suggests that newspapers are unlike other historical documents, because of their nature and role in society. Specific techniques are provided to assist the historian using newspapers. The use of newspapers is also shaped by the policies and strategies of both local and national newspaper collections. Thus, guidelines and recommendations are provided to assist these organisations. Further work is urged, to understand the needs of historians and the specific problems that newspapers present, following the five million pound Heritage Lottery Fund Award for the NEWSPLAN project in March 1999. 1999-01-01T00:00:00Z