WELL 408 Research Methods in Health Studies: Research Sources & Strategies

Library Instruction http://library.centennialcollege.ca/ WELL 408 K. LeMoine 2010 Feb 1, 3:30 4:00,Room E-205 L. Dobson, Librarian WELL 408 Research Methods in Health Studies: Research Sources & Strategies ELECTRONIC DATABASES Ways to Access the Libraries e-resources Centennial Libraries offer approximately 100 electronic resources to the College community. The majority of these e- resources are licensed databases that provide reliable, scholarly, commercial free information. Most focus on journal & newspaper articles, but there are other special databases as well (Credo Reference dictionaries, Estat statistical data, NetLibrary ebooks, and various professional databases such as Books @Ovid, ecps: Compendium of Pharmaceuticals & Specialties, Access Science Encyclopedia, Encyclopedia Britannica Online, etc.) Most are available 24/7, and require logon if off-campus. They are a useful alternative & complement to the Internet. Go to the homepage http://library.centennialcollege.ca/ Quick access: In the START YOUR RESEARCH box, click on articles & e-resources and select HEALTH SCIENCES (or EDUCATION, or BUSINESS etc.). For other options, see chart below.» E-Resources A-Z» Find the best e-resources To access e-resources off-campus you will be prompted to enter your Library activated student card number and Library PIN (personal identification number). A list of all our e-resources. If you already know the name of the e-resource you want to search, find it here. Some health, education & multidisciplinary examples: CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature) Medline Health and Wellness Resource Center Academic Search Premier Lexis Nexis (news international) ESTAT (a Statistics Canada educational database) CPI.Q (Canadian perspective includes health articles) ERIC: Educational Resource Information Center Lists of e-resources divided by subject, by format type (e.g. health sciences subject, or newspapers type), and links to popular e-resources.» BIGsearch All-in-one search of most of our e-resources - a good place to start your research, browse, or look for specific authors, titles of publications, or specific types of articles such as literature reviews, etc.. (Note: there are some limitations: not all databases can be searched through this engine; and it cannot consistently recognize a locked in phrase (e.g. hatha yoga will be searched as two separate words, not as a phrase.)» Full Text Journal List A list of all our online and print periodicals. Use it to find specific magazine, journal or newspaper titles. Example: Does the Library hold Yoga Therapy in Practice? Health and Stress? Canadian Journal of Education? Disability Issues? Globe and Mail? Etc. 1

» Vendors The Find journals and articles page described above provides quick Links to e-resource vendors: EBSCOhost Gale Ovid ProQuest. These companies each provide Centennial Libraries with a number of databases and an interface for searching all or some at a time without sacrificing access to their precision search tools. LIMITS Limits not only reduce the number of records displayed, they also provide a useful way to add focus or relevancy to your results. Ways to Limit & Expand Your Searches EXPANDERS If you want to be thorough, and certainly if you are not getting the results you want, use expanders to seek out more records on your topic. Limit to Search all fields or large fields (e.g. all text ) Examples of fields: title, subject, author, abstract (summary), all text, people, etc. Limit to peer reviewed records and/or academic records that have references (footnotes and endnotes are a sign of scholarliness). This is for scholarly articles. Collect terms that relate in some way to the same concept with the OR operator the more terms you string together the more records you are likely to get. Example: the keyword string, management or therapy will yield more than just management. Limit to articles that report on original research. (Use document type, or subject headings, or simply include in your search a string of words such as case study or research or survey Check the thesaurus for suggested subject terms. Often, by limiting your search to peer reviewed articles, you will get a significant number of original research papers. Specify fields in which your search terms need to appear; e.g. author field, title field, subject field, abstract field, etc. (Title, abstract and subject ( tagged ) fields are particularly powerful. ) Tip: check your terminology in the Thesaurus (also known as Subjects or Topics) in the database you are using to ensure that your term or phrase is included as a subject term in the Subject Field.) Combine many terms with the AND operator the more terms you ask the database search tool to combine, the fewer records you will get. Tip: Some databases allow you to add a row if you want to combine another term(s). If this option is not given, simply use the rows provided and double up. Check your terminology in the Thesaurus (also known as Subjects or Topics) provided in each database. If you include the terms listed there you are likely to get more and higher relevancy as well. Words & phrases that are listed in the thesaurus are, in fact, subject field terms tag terms to help you find records; and you can confidently do searches with them limited to the subject field. Use truncation (also called wildcards ) to get more; e.g. If you want to search for records that include Canadian content, you might type canad*. This tells the search tool will include all words that start with that stem Canada, Canadian, canadiana, Canadians, etc. (NB. Most databases use the asterisk (*) to truncate. Ovid databases use the question mark (?). Check the help screens in each database for other ways to truncate. Search multiple databases at one time. From the Find articles & journals Library webpage, select a Vendor Aggregator such as EBSCO, ProQuest, Gale or OVID. (Alternatively, if you are already in one of the databases provided by one of these vendors, simply click on the search page Choose databases (sometimes phrased Select databases, or Multiple databases ) and select the databases you want to search together from the list provided. BIGsearch also available (most databases can be searched with this engine tools for limiting less precise, however.) 2

Type of publication (e.g. articles, newspapers, etc) Lock in phrases using quotation marks. This will ensure that any records displayed with have that exact phrase (and not just the two words separately in the field or record). Search using all variations of spelling e.g. behaviour or behavior (British or American spellings). Tip: truncation is useful here e.g. behavio* Limit to publications that have images Limit to date of publication (Note: records in databases are sorted by automatically by date, most recent listed first.) Do several searches. Vary your search terms and limits. When you do find a record that is on topic, have a look at the subject headings (also called descriptors or tags) and also the terms used in the title and abstract you may find some new words that will be useful for additional searches. You can limit with search preferences; e.g. You may want the records to be displayed in title format only. This quickens your scanning, at the expense of more detailed description. Limit to review articles. Tip: recommend you check the thesaurus for exact terminology - or search all possibilities; e.g. Reviews or book reviews or book review or literature review, etc. Criticism and interpretation are also helpful keywords to add sometimes. Sometimes you search for the opposite of your topic and get results; e.g. When looking for articles on long term planning, you might include the word, short term along with long term. If you are using a commonly used search term like the surname, Brown, when you are looking for a particular author, you will get a lot of records you do not want. Add another term to help identify the Brown you want; e.g. Ian Brown, or Brown and journalist Managing Your Searches & Results EXPORT: Databases usually allow you to export citations (i.e. just the record, not the full text) to RefWorks (a program provided by the Library to help researchers manage their bibliographies. Ask the staff about RefWorks if you want to learn about this program and set up an account.) Search strategy: RefWorks does not handle search strategies. Use standard options as listed below if you want to keep a record of the searches you do. PRINT, SAVE, EMAIL: Articles/records: Virtually all databases allow you to select/tag/add/mark the records you want to keep, and then transfer them to Folder/My research/marked items page, and then print, save, or email them (full text or citation only) in a document style you choose. Remember that not all records are full text. Search strategy: Standard options: If you want also to save your search strategy, you can print the search page, or Create a folder, then select and copy the search page, then paste it into your folder. You can also select/copy/paste into an email to yourself. Simply record it on paper (handwriting or typed). HELP: For saving searches: Go to the help screen in each database and type save or saving. EBSCO offers free individual accounts to students at Centennial. Click on the Sign In link on the search page to sign up. This will allow you for EBSCO databases only to save your searches and records and share your folders with others. ALERTS: Alert email icon RSS feed icon Most databases also allow you to set up an account so that you can receive by email or RSS feed newly added records based on the profile you establish; e.g. you may want to receive all new articles that discuss Bell Canada or the beverage industry. 3

THE INTERNET Use critical thinking skills especially when searching websites on the Internet quality varies widely Federal & Provincial Govt sites (selected list): Ontario e-laws Canada Dept. of Justice laws Statistics Canada (main public site) Health Canada Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion Ontario Ministry of Health & Long Term Care Ontario Ministry of Education Ontario Ministry of Community Services Canadian Social Trends (Statistics Canada) Laws and regulations of the Government of Ontario. Fulltext. Current. http://www.elaws.gov.on.ca/navigation?file=home&lang=en Laws and regulations of the Government of Canada. Fulltext. Current. http://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/updatenotice/index.html?rp14=%2fen%2findex.html As Canada s central statistical agency, Statistics Canada is legislated to serve the whole of Canada and each of the provinces. (Note: Centennial Library has ESTAT, a subset database that contains popularly requested data and some free CANSIM data. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/start-debut-eng.html Responsible for helping Canadians maintain and improve their health. http://www.hcsc.gc.ca/index-eng.php. Has a section on managing stress: Mental Health Coping with Stress - http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index-eng.php Delivers programs that promote healthy choices and healthy lifestyles. To do this the ministry works closely with partners, stakeholders and all levels of government. http://www.ontario.ca/en/your_government/012014 Administers the health care system and providing services to the Ontario public through such programs as health insurance, drug benefits, assistive devices, care for the mentally ill, long-term care, home care, community and public health, and health promotion and disease prevention. It also regulates hospitals and nursing homes, operates psychiatric hospitals and medical laboratories, and co-ordinates emergency health services. http://www.ontario.ca/en/your_government/009875 Provides leadership and sets the direction for education policy in English and Frenchlanguage elementary and secondary schools. http://www.ontario.ca/en/your_government/009845 Provides and funds an integrated and cost-effective range of community-based services for individuals and families. http://www.ontario.ca/en/your_government/009831 Online journal that provides information on how the issues of today evolve into key trends that will influence tomorrow s decisions. Includes health topics. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/ads-annonces/11-008-x/index-eng.htm Other sites: 211 Toronto A directory of over 20,000 community, social, health and government services http://www.211toronto.ca/index.jsp Canadian Encyclopedia The full text of The Canadian Encyclopedia (published since 1985) and its related resources has been made available online by the Historica Foundation provides comprehensive, objective and accurate source of information on Canada for students, readers and scholars across Canada and throughout the world. Canadian Fitness & Lifestyle Research Institute Yoga Directory Canada Google Scholar CFLRI conducts research, monitors trends & makes recommendations to increase population levels of physical activity & improve the health of all Canadians. http://www.cflri.ca/eng/index.php http://www.yogadirectorycanada.com/yoga_resources.html Provides peer-reviewed papers, theses, books, abstracts and articles, from academic publishers, professional societies, preprint repositories, universities and other scholarly organizations. Centennial College Libraries e-journal articles are included and tagged - in Google Scholar 4

Toronto Public Library find Good Websites Our Recommendations Provides informed suggestions for websites of a wide range of business topics. Example: http://digitalcollections.torontopubliclibrary.ca/ EVALUATING THE INTERNET Recommended sources: Toronto Public Library. Research ate my brain: the panic-proof guide to surviving homework. (c2005) Toronto: Annick Press. (See chapter on evaluating the Internet). Wolfgram Memorial Library (Widener University, Chester, PA) Evaluate web pages tutorial. http://www3.widener.edu/academics/libraries/wolfgram_memorial_library/evaluate_web_pages/659/. UC Berkeley Finding Information on the Internet: A Tutorial Evaluating Web Pages http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/teachinglib/guides/internet/evaluate.html Ithaca College. Evaluating website exercises. http://www.ithaca.edu/library/training/think7.html Google Directory Web Site Evaluation http://www.google.com/top/reference/education/instructional_technology/evaluation/web_site_evaluation/ Arendt, J. (2008, April). Imperfect Tools: Google Scholar vs. Traditional Commercial Library Databases. Against the Grain, 20(2), 26-30. Retrieved October 10, 2008, from Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts (EBSCO) database. BOOKS & ENCYCLOPEDIAS on the shelf (also journals in paper format & videos & DVDs) Use Library Catalogues e.g. Centennial College Library Catalogue http://library.centennialcollege.ca/library/findbooks Tips: Encyclopedias vary some are general, like World Book Encyclopedia, Encyclopedia Americana, Encyclopedia Britannica - and some focus on specific topics; e.g. Access Science: McGraw Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology Online, etc. When looking for books on your topic, start by looking for exactly what you want (the specific topic). If you do not find much, try for books generally in the field - you may find books that contain chapters or sections on your specific topic (once you explore the book on the shelf); example: searching for books on elder care and stress if you do not find enough, do other more general searches for example: elder care with no reference to stress. Also, use other terms to get at the same concepts; e.g. geriatrics, older people, geriatric nursing these terms can also be used in the library catalogue. Note: Truncation symbols can also be used to make your searching easier: $ - use at the end of word stems; example: canad$ tells the search tool to look for all words starting with those five letters. You will get canada, Canadian, Canadians, canada s, canadiana, etc.? use inside words; example: wom?n tells the search tool to look for all words that start with wom, have an unknown letter next, and then ends with n. You will get both woman and women. 5

NOTE: Toronto is rich in library resources. As a Centennial student, you have direct borrowing privileges at other Ontario Community College Libraries. Toronto Public Library offers free Library Cards to anyone who lives, studies, works or pays taxes in Toronto. You can visit academic libraries (Ryerson University Library, University of Toronto Libraries and York University Libraries and read materials there. All provide searching of their book collections from their websites. Plagiarism Plagiarism occurs when a writer includes another person's ideas, writings, or artistic works in his or her own work without giving credit to the other person. Copy/pasting a sentence from a website into an essay without acknowledging the website is a common example. (Centennial Libraries website) For more information on Centennial College s policies on academic honesty and plagiarism go to Libraries web page: http://library.centennialcollege.ca/library/researchhelp/avoidplagiarism This is a program offered by Centennial Libraries to help you mange your citations, create bibliographies and help with your in-text citations. Note: an updated version of RefWorks is expected in early 2010 & will include the latest MLA (7 th ed.) and APA (6 th ed.) styles. In the meantime, it supports MLA (6 th ed) and APA (5 th ed.) Set up a RefWorks account Tutorials online & help screens RefWorks Group Code Pop ups Individual logon Set up a Write-N-Cite account Set up a RefGrab-It account Go to Libraries homepage, click on LIBRARIES & RESEARCH blue bar click on Research & Writing Help RefWorks http://library.centennialcollege.ca/library/researchhelp/refworks On the login page and also on the Centennial Libraries RefWorks page (url above). Help screens are also provided within RefWorks. You may be asked to enter a RefWorks Group code for off site use this code is posted on Centennial Libraries RefWorks page (url above). Allow pop ups if prompted. Logon with your Log-in name and password RefWorks also provides help to create in-text citations in your style of choice, using your records in your folder(s). In your RefWorks account: Go to Tools and right click on Write-N-Cite and select Open in New Window To use Write-N-Cite with RefWorks you must download a small utility program to your computer. There are versions of Write-N-Cite for Windows users and a single version for Mac Users. Follow instructions on page appearing. RefWorks also provides a feature for capturing bibliographic information from web pages. In your RefWorks account: Go to Tools and right click on RefGrab-It. There are two installation modes (bookmarklet in Favourites or Links bar - or plug-in) follow instructions on page appearing. This page also provides a link to help for using RefGrab-It. 6

Adding records from databases In database(s): Add to folder records you want for your bibliography (sometimes termed mark items ), then go to folder (or marked items ). Re-select items that you want and click Export. Then follow the prompts to open up your RefWorks account Group Code, pop ups, individual logon (see info above). In your RefWorks account: adding records to folders: View Last Imported Folder this is the initial drop location for records most recently added. Go to Folder and create a new folder (if you have not already done so) for these records. Select all in list (or individual records as you wish) and add to folder of choice. Continue until your folder is complete, containing all the citations you want to use. At any time you can go to View or Folder View to see items, edit, delete, or print. Adding new references (i.e. records) from outside the library databases In your RefWorks account: Select References. Then select Add New Reference. Fill out the page as indicated: View fields by citation style (e.g. MLA 6 th edition), in folder, ref type (journal, book, book section, or website, etc.), and source type (print or electronic), and any details you have about the publication (author, title, publisher, url, etc.). Once you have indicated what type of reference you are adding, RefWorks places a green checkmark against the fields that may apply. Place your curser over the green checkmarks for pop up explanations. Example for a New Reference for an electronic journal article ref type (segment only): Create Bibliography in MLA Style: In your RefWorks account: Go to Bibliography and select output style (RefWorks supports MLA 6th edition, for example). Select Format a bibliography from a list of references. Indicate File type to create Word for Windows (2000 or later) is the most popular choice, for example. Select References from folder and choose the folder you wish to use from the Choose a folder drop down menu. Click Create Bibliography. A screen will appear that allows you to download (and print if you like) or email it. Review your Works Cited to make sure all OK. You have the ultimate responsibility for accuracy of work submitted to your instructor. Write-N-Cite - To add in-text citations while you write your essay: OPEN: Open up Word (or word processing program of choice) this is your essay space. Name it and save it. Open up your Write-N-Cite account and log in using the SAME logon as for RefWorks proper. Select View Folder and choose the folder you want. Minimize Write-N-Cite. ADD IN-TEXT CITATIONS: Go back to your Word document. Add in-text citations as you go by placing curser in spot where you want the citation. Then go to Write-N-Cite & click cite opposite the record you wish to cite. Go back to your essay and the in-text citation will appear in non-final format. Continue on. When finished your essay, SAVE your Word document. This is a necessary step before you can download in final format. CREATE ESSAY WITH BIBLIOGRAPHY IN WORD: Go back to Write-N-Cite and click Bibliography. Select output style e.g. MLA, Click Create bibliography. Your essay with in- 7

text citations still in non-final format and your Works Cited list in final format will appear. EDIT IN-TEXT CITATIONS ACCORDING TO STYLE RULES: At this point, edit your in-text citations according to the rules of the output style you have selected. For example with MLA 6 th ed.: if in your paper, you use the author names (or title) in the sentence, include only page number(s) in the in-text reference: Example Heller and Womack claim that the use of open-source software encourages creativity (28). SAVE your finished edited work. Your essay in final form is ready to print, download, email. RefGrab-It - To capture bibliographic information from web pages: From the webpage whose citation information you wish to capture: Click on the RefGrab-It link or icon it will look for information on the webpage and automatically take that info & open up a temporary results page in a new window. View the info and decide what you want to import. You can expand or collapse the results by clicking on the plus or minus icon. To view the full reference, click on the Show details link. To export a single reference, select the record and click on the export to RefWorks icon. (If you are already logged into RefWorks, your reference will appear in the Last imported folder. Otherwise you will be prompted to log in and your references will then import. 8