1. Finding information resources
for NUSC 4P50
Applied Nursing Research
Elizabeth Yates, Nursing Librarian
June 25, 2014

2. 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/

3. 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
feedback!

4. Planning
Background
Finding
Evaluating
Revising
Writing &
citing
Lit search
cycle

5. Background: info about research
Background = books
Fastest path:
1. Nursing Research Guide -
http://researchguides.library.brocku.ca/NUSC
2. Find books > SuperSearch
3. Advanced Search:
– research method* AND qualitative
– research method* AND quantitative
– more specific > add nursing to search
4. Books & media @ Brock

6. Background: info @ your topics
Same strategy
1. Nursing Research Guide
2. Find books > SuperSearch
3. Advanced Search:
1. Combine similar concepts with OR
2. Combine different concepts with AND
4. Books & media @ Brock

7. 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

8. What’s a
keyword?
-usually a noun
-main concepts in
research topic
-word versus
phrases/sentences
Eg. How does diet
and exercise affect
Type 2 diabetes?

9. Keywords & synonyms
Synonym: word
meaning same as
original word
Related term:
word with similar
meaning to original
term; could be
broader or narrower
than original

10. 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

11. 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 results
AND > fewer results

12. 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

13. 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

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

15. Google Scholar
• Nursing Research Guide >
Find articles tab > Google Scholar
• Go to advanced
search > via
• pull down
triangle

16. 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.

17. • 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!!

18. 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

19. RefWorks: Creating bibliographies
1. Select a folder
2. Select references you want to use
3. Select “Create Bibliography”
4. Choose output style from pull down menu
> APA 6th
5. Choose file format (e.g. Word, Open
Office)
ALWAYS
PROOFREAD!!

20. Zotero
Access via Library website (brocku.ca/library) > Help >
Writing & Citing
Three 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 separately
Chrome or Safari:
-library and the Word plug-in are one piece;download the
browser tool separately
Zotero doesn’t work with IE

21. 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

22. Zotero: other ways to add content
• Web page –right click > save zotero
snapshot
• Add manually – create new item button

23. 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

24. Zotero: creating bibliographies
1. Select items
2. Right click to create a bibliography
3. Select citation style
4. Copy to clipboard
5. Paste into document

25. 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

26. • 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

27. Summing up