Literatur e Searching VET2703 January 2017
Literature Searching VET2703 January 2017
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What will we be doing today?• Evaluating a good and a not-so-good search
strategy
• Refreshing your search skills with Summon
• Exploring some specialist sources for finding journal articles
• Identifying primary and secondary research
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Doing a literature review• Aim is to comprehensively review what is known
(published) on a subject – the “evidence base”
• Can be the starting point for further research – “sets the scene” – and/or application to practice
• Two parts: • Thorough literature search
• Critical analysis of the findings
• For this module: 3000 word research/dissertation proposal including 2000 word literature review
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Activity 1 – Search Strategies
• In pairs, look at the two search strategies you have been given.
• Think about the strengths and weaknesses of each strategy – which do you think is better, and why?
5 minutes
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Search StrategyA search strategy aims to identify as many as possible relevant research papers that meet the criteria of the review question.
This should include:• The specific search terms (keywords) used• The names of the databases searched• The date(s) of the search• Any grey literature searched (e.g. research published by
charities, universities, professional organisations and conference papers)
• Any other forms of searching (such as following up references, personal correspondence)
• The inclusion/exclusion criteria used in the search
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Activity 2 – Searching
“Veterinary practices in the UK are seeing increasing numbers of overweight dogs with associated health issues such as diabetes and joint problems. Research has identified a number of risk factors for canine obesity including frequency of treats and insufficient exercise (Holmes et al., 2007; Courcier et al., 2010).
What evidence is there for the most effective ways of preventing and/or managing obesity in dogs?”
Carry out a search on Summon for articles related to this topic.
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How did it go?
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Planning your search: the PICO model
• Patient / population / problem• Intervention• Comparison• Outcome
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Brainstorm – Canine obesity
Canines• Dogs• Ages?• Breeds?
Obesity
• Obese• Overweight• Weight management• Weight loss• Healthy weight• Related conditions, e.g.
diabetes, osteoarthritis
Prevention / management
• Diet• Nutrition• Food / feeding• Exercise• Attitudes (owners,
professionals)• Education / advice
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What is the role of the veterinary nurse in prevention and management of canine obesity?
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For any question…• Select the important keywords, related concepts
or ideas within your question;• Think of possible synonyms e.g. equine or
horses;• Carry out searches for your keywords – rather
than the whole question at once• Combine searches on the same or similar
subjects with OR - e.g. spaying OR ovariohysterectomy
• Combine searches on different subjects using AND - e.g. diabetes AND cats
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Beyond Summon – other places to search• Databases (MyUniHub > My Study > My Library > Databases)
— Medline / PubMed
— Science Direct
— InterNurse / CINAHL / British Nursing Index for nursing topics (e.g. theories, models, care planning…)
• Google Scholar
• Individual journals specific to your topic
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Activity 3: try your search on a different database
Looking at your search results:• How many results do you get? (Compare with the other
databases)• What kind of articles are they?• Are your results from a range of journals?• Can you refine your results further?
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Google Scholar – useful features
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Articles that have
referenced this one
The same article on other websites –
sometimes good for getting full text
Full text from Middlesex and other sources
BUT…• Limited ability to combine different keywords• Older articles can appear first in results – use the date limits!
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Activity 4: Primary or Secondary?
• In your groups, look at the ABSTRACTS and/or first pages of the articles
• Is it primary or secondary research?• How can you tell?
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Distinguishing between primary and secondary sources• Primary sources - original research written up and
published by the researchers in peer-reviewed journals
— The title may mention the type of research e.g. ‘a qualitative study’
— Includes sections such as methods, results, discussion
• Secondary sources – work that summarises, critiques or reviews primary research
— e.g. A literature review, a systematic review
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Critiquing research – why?• Part of your literature review!• Analysing research to judge its trustworthiness, validity
and relevance in a particular context• As practitioners it ensures that your decisions are based
on good quality evidence
• The more you read the easier it gets• Saves time by being able to assess if a piece of research
is of good quality and worth reading• Develop the ability to make your own judgements on
whether a research conclusion is valid• Resources on your Library Subject Guide http://
libguides.mdx.ac.uk/veterinarynursing/critiquing VET2703 | 16
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Today you have…
• Evaluated a good and a not-so-good search strategy
• Refreshed your search skills with Summon
• Explored some specialist sources for finding journal articles
• Identified primary and secondary research
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© Middlesex University
Need further help?
• Librarians available in the Study Hub (library 1st floor) Monday-Friday 9-5
• 1-1 appointments bookable via your library subject guide• Jo Wilson [email protected]• https://unihelp.mdx.ac.uk/askalibrarian
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