Finding information resources for NUSC 4P50 Applied Nursing Research

Elizabeth Yates, Nursing Librarian

June 25, 2014

Lit searching doesn’t have to be hard

Image: www.attendly.com/a-week-in-the-life-of-the-attendly-work-experience-kid-friday-funnies-episode-45/

Today’s outcomes

You will recall:• Where to find info on research

methodologies• How to search effectively with

keywords & search operators• How to find qualitative &

quantitative research studies• Options for managing citations and

creating bibliographies

Based on your feedbac

k!

Planning

Background

Finding

Evaluating

Revising

Writing & citing

Lit search cycle

Background: info about researchBackground = books

Fastest path:1. Nursing Research Guide - http://

researchguides.library.brocku.ca/NUSC

2. Find books > SuperSearch3. Advanced Search:– research method* AND qualitative– research method* AND quantitative– more specific > add nursing to search

4. Books & media @ Brock

Background: info @ your topicsSame strategy

1. Nursing Research Guide2. Find books > SuperSearch3. Advanced Search:

1. Combine similar concepts with OR2. Combine different concepts with AND

4. Books & media @ Brock

A bit more about keywords and search operators ...

• You need to think like a search engine/database to get good results

• Speak its language– E.g.:

• Google, SuperSearch = keywords• CINAHL, MEDLINE = subject

headings

• To focus: use more keywords

What’s a keyword?

-usually a noun-main concepts in research topic-word versus phrases/sentencesEg. How does diet and exercise affect Type 2 diabetes?

Keywords & synonyms

Synonym: word meaning same as original wordRelated term: word with similar meaning to original term; could be broader or narrower than original

Search tools: combine concepts

Search words AND, OR are powerful tools for retrieving relevant results

Distinct topics: use AND e.g. gestational diabetes AND exercise

Similar topics (synonyms): use OR e.g. exercise OR walking OR swimming

home.howstuffworks.com/power-drill.htm

Search tools, cont’d

When you want ALL of the words to be present in an article = AND

When you want ANY of the words to be present in an article = OR

OR > more resultsAND > fewer results

Sample search string

How does (diet OR food OR

nutrition) and (exercise OR

physical activity OR working out)

affect people with (Type 2 diabetes

OR diabetes mellitus)?

TIP: in a database, you can use ORs and ANDs in the Search History

Finding qualitative & quantitative studies

Strategies:• Use publication type filters in CINAHL,

MEDLINE e.g. Systematic review, practice guideline, RCT

• Use subject headings e.g.– CINAHL > quantitative studies, qualitative

students– MEDLINE > qualitative research, research

design

• Google Scholar, SuperSearch:– Add qualitative, quantitative as keywords to

your search

Google Scholar

Antiques, by bibliojojo: flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/68509201@N08/7360308172

Google Scholar • Nursing Research Guide >

Find articles tab > Google Scholar• Go to advanced

search > via• pull down

triangle

Managing citations >Nursing Research Guide > Writing & citing

BibMe:-web-based, easy to use; limited scope

RefWorks: -web-based, more complicated; sophisticated features for writing & citing, sharing folders, etc.

Zotero:-web-based but also requires desktop installation; sophisticated features for writing & citing, sharing folders; also stores PDFs, allows annotations, etc.

• Free, online tool for saving and organizing citations and generating bibliographies

• Auto-generate in-text citations, references

• Ad-supported (you’re the target market!)

BibMe

ALWAYS PROOFREAD!!

RefWorks• Web-based software > use your Brock ID

and password– Group code: RWBrockU

• Export article citations to RefWorks > save in a folder (always move out of Last Imported)

• Use citations to:-access the articles with the Get It link-generate bibliographies

automatically

Caution: our RefWorks access ends August 2015

RefWorks: Creating bibliographies

1. Select a folder2. Select references you want to use3. Select “Create Bibliography”4. Choose output style from pull down

menu > APA 6th5. Choose file format (e.g. Word, Open

Office)

ALWAYS PROOFREAD!!

ZoteroAccess via Library website (brocku.ca/library) > Help > Writing & CitingThree components:

– library that keeps all of your references organized– browser tool that can grab citation information from a

web page– Word (or OpenOffice) plug-in that can produce

formatted in-text citations and a bibliography.

Firefox:-the library and the browser tool are one piece; download the Word plug-in separatelyChrome or Safari:-library and the Word plug-in are one piece;download the browser tool separately

Zotero doesn’t work with IE

Zotero: Gathering citations

Zotero browser tool checks for citation information on a webpage

You’ll see different icons depending on what you’re looking at:

• book icon:                     

• journal article icon:         

multiple citations (e.g. a page of search results):

Select icon to add citation to your Zotero library

Zotero: other ways to add content

• Web page –right click > save zotero snapshot

• Add manually – create new item button

Zotero: organizing citations

• Citations can be sorted into different folders, called Collections

• Citations can sit in more than one Collection at a time

• All citations appear in the My Library collection

Tip: to minimize confusion, create/select appropriate folder before importing items

Zotero: creating bibliographies

1. Select items2. Right click to create a bibliography 3. Select citation style4. Copy to clipboard 5. Paste into document

Zotero: bibliographies with plug-in

• If you downloaded Zotero with Chrome or Safari, you have also downloaded the Word plug-in:– To install, navigate to Settings >

Preferences > City and choose "Install Word Add-On."

• If you are using Zotero with Firefox, the Word plug-in can be downloaded here.

• You’ll see the plug-in under Add-ins in Word toolbar

• Help webpage - www.brocku.ca/library/help-lib

• Research help desk

• Ask Us!–Help available via chat, email, phone

• Your librarian–Email eyates@brocku.ca, call 905-

688-5550, ext 4469

Library Help

Summing up