lit searching and managing citations for applied nursing research

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