How to Find an Original Research Study Mentioned in the Mainstream Press

How to Find anOriginal Research Study

Mentioned in theMainstream Press

Why Bother Looking for the Study?

Source: Scrutinizing science: The peer review process. (n.d.) Retrieved May 26, 2009, from The University of California at Berkeley, Understanding How Science Really Works Web site: http://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/howscienceworks_16

“Peer-reviewed articles provide a trusted form of scientific communication.”

Why Peer Review is Important

• “It is a process which is almost unique to science, in which scientists review and criticise each other’s work before they make it public.”

• “The first question a scientist will ask if whether a piece of research has been published in a peer-reviewed journal.”

• Scientist: “No scientist gives a finding much credence unless it has been peer-reviewed.”

• “Peer review is only the start for a piece of new research. Science stands or falls on the repetition of those experiments.”

Source: Science Media Centre. (n.d.) Peer review in a nutshell. Retrieved May 26, 2009, from http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/uploadDir/adminpeer_review_in_a_nutshell.pdf

Scientific and Medical Publishing Cycle

Discovery is made based on existing information.

Discussed informally with other experts.

Conference presentation.

Textbooks,reference books.

Commonly used in field. Scholarly journal

News

Releasexxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

News

Releasexxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The Web can be used at any stage.

News Articles in Mainstream Press

Find the Source

!!!

Clues

X

Title of news article is not the title of the research article.

Dates

Name of researcher

Employer of researcher

Publication title

Where to Look for the Article

• Library databases (free for students). Check Ulrichsweb periodicals database, or call an AC librarian for help finding the right database. 371-5468 or 356-3627

• Sites such as the journal site, the author’s employer’s site, Google Scholar, and others may have the article free or for a fee.

• The author may e-mail it to you. You may find an e-mail address at the employer’s site.

• Print. Check with libraries.

• Interlibrary loan from public library.

Check the Journal Web Site.

Available on the Journal Site?

Delayed 6 months!

Available from an Organization?

Available from Google Scholar?

Free abstract

(summary)

Available from Author?

The fastest way to find out is to call 371-5468 (toll-free 866-371-5468) for help (AC Library).

Available from Library Database?

A search of AC’s Ulrichsweb database revealed that the publication is not available online in an AC database.

Available in Print? Yes!

West Texas A&M University

Found!

If We Hadn’t Found It . . .

ILLInterlibrary loan from your public library.

You must have your library card from them.

It may involve a fee.

AC no longer does ILL for students. Sorry.