Week 3 is in full swing, and things are picking up here at the library! According to our website analytics, this is our busiest week of the session, so it's the perfect time to share some helpful tips before you jump into your research. We hope to get ahead of your questions, saving you time and frustration as you search for literature on your topic. That’s exactly what this blog post is here for—to give you the tools you need to get started smoothly!
While we always encourage you to explore the wealth of resources on our library website, we know certain questions pop up frequently—especially this week! That’s why, in this Tips of the Week blog post, we’re tackling the top three questions we’ve been getting. Move down the page to discover the answers and get a head start on your research.
Before diving into the tips, here is a quick caveat: We are here to help you with search strategies. If you need help understanding the assignment, please contact your professor. So, without further ado, below are three expert-approved tips for a stress-free Week 3.
Tip 1: Learn About Scholarly Sources
You are reviewing the rubric for your first assignment. All is well until you run into the criterion of finding an evidence-based article on your topic from a scholarly journal in the library. But you have yet to use the library, and what is a scholarly journal anyway? Fortunately, we anticipated this question and created the What is a Scholarly Source FAQ. This FAQ explains what scholarly means and what types of sources can fit under it.
Tip 2: Identify Types of Research
Now that you are familiar with scholarly sources, the following criterion for your assignment is finding an article that uses a specific research method. The Finding Types of Research guide is a great place to start; however, you may also want to explore the additional resources, such as the What is an original research or single study article, and how do I find it in the library databases FAQ and the videos below.
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Tip 3: Find Clinical Practice Guidelines
You’re not the only one gathering and assessing the evidence. Medical committees are doing just that and putting it all together in clinical practice guidelines. Clinical practice guidelines help providers choose appropriate healthcare options for specific clinical circumstances. You may need to find these guidelines to support your coursework. Our Finding Clinical Practice Guidelines guide provides instructions on how to find guidelines in library databases, eBooks, and organization and government websites.
While these tips will help you get started, don’t hesitate to contact us with further questions!