NURP 410: Getting Started with Library Research

Welcome!

 This Tutorial

In this tutorial, you’ll practice the following:

• searching library databases
• developing keywords on your topic
• narrowing down your results to get the most relevant articles

Clicking on an underlined word in this tutorial will give you a definition or in-depth explanation.
 

How to Navigate

Use the arrows below to navigate through the tutorial.

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Keep in Mind...

There are a few important things you should know about library research before we get started.
 

Research Takes Time

Searching the literature is a process, not a quick task.  Sometimes it will take a while to find the articles that are most relevant for your research assignment.  

Be prepared to spend some time searching, and try not to get discouraged if you don't find anything relevant right away.
 

Practice Now to Save Time Later

We're going to practice some strategies that will help you find what you need as efficiently as possible.  

If you take the time to try these strategies now, you'll save yourself time and headaches in the long run!
 

Librarians Are Here to Help!

The most important thing to remember from this tutorial is that the library is here to help.  

If you aren't sure where to start or you're having trouble, ask the library for help.  Don't wait until you're exhausted and frustrated to reach out!  

Get started on your research early and reach out to us any time you need a push in the right direction.

Let's get started!

Welcome to the library website!

The URL for the library website is https://www.simmons.edu/library.  Bookmark it now!

The library website should be your starting point when you need to find articles for assigned reading or research papers.

Where to Search

There are two ways to search for articles using the library website.
 

I. Library Search

One way is to use the Library Search bar in the middle of the page.  This bar searches most of the library's resources at once, kind of like a search engine.

The upside is that it searches (almost) everything, so you only have to do one search.

The downside is that you'll probably get a lot of results that have nothing to do with nursing, which can be frustrating.
 

II.  Databases

The other way is to use a health sciences database, which allows you to do a more targeted search on your topic.

Which One Should I Use?

Both options are fine, and you can try both to see if you have a preference.

In this tutorial, we'll explore the health sciences databases, but you can use the same strategies in the Library Search if you prefer.

Where to Search

Getting to CINAHL

We're going to start with CINAHL, the world's most comprehensive database of full-text nursing and allied health journals.

Click on Databases in the purple box.

Click on the All Subjects drop-down menu and select Nursing.  This will show you all of the Nursing-related databases that the library subscribes to.

Scroll down and click on CINAHL Complete.

You are now in CINAHL!

Note: If CINAHL opens in a new window or tab, click here to stay in the tutorial.

Where to Search

Adding Other Databases

From CINAHL, you can add other databases to search at the same time.  

CINAHL has a large collection of articles in the nursing and allied health fields, but it doesn't include everything.  Adding other databases allows you to search a wider collection of sources at the same time.

In CINAHL, click the link above the first search box that says Choose Databases.

Check Academic Search Ultimate and Medline.  Click OK.

You're now searching CINAHL, Academic Search Ultimate, and Medline simultaneously!

What to Search

What Are You Searching For?

As a Simmons student, you will have research assignments that ask you to use relevant, high-quality sources, including scholarly articles.  For example, you might be exploring the following topic:

What are healthcare providers' attitudes toward screening for domestic violence?

What to Search

Introducing Keywords

You'll get much better search results by using keywords, rather than trying to search using your whole question.

List some keywords that describe the most important concepts in this question: What are health care providers' attitudes toward screening for domestic violence?

What to Search

Using Keywords

Click New Search in the menu at the top of your screen.  

First, try searching for:

attitudes healthcare providers domestic violence

in the first CINAHL search box.

Click Search to see your results.
 

Breaking It Up 

Click New Search again.

Now, try typing attitudes in the top search box,

healthcare providers in the second search box,

and domestic violence in the third search box.

Click Search to see your results.

What to Search

Expanding Your Results

That's still a small number of search results for such a big topic.  Let's try to expand the search.

There is usually more than one word or phrase that can be used to describe a single concept.  You can search for multiple terms at the same time by using the word OR.
 

Adding Synonyms

Let's add some synonyms to our search to see if we can get more results.

Next to attitudes (in the same search bar), try adding or beliefs or perceptions.

Next to healthcare providers, add or nurses.

Next to domestic violence, add or domestic abuse or intimate partner violence.

What to Search

Brainstorming Keywords

Sometimes it can be challenging to think of additional keywords to describe a concept.  When that happens, look at article abstracts and subject terms to help you come up with more keywords.

1.  Using the results you already have, explore the first few articles by clicking on their titles.  This will bring you to the detailed record page.

2.  Scroll down until you can see the subjects and the abstract.

3.  Read through these sections and look for additional words and phrases that describe your topic.  You might find synonyms to add with OR or new concepts to add on their own line.

What other keywords might help you get more results (hint: look in the results for synonyms for attitudes, healthcare providers, or domestic violence).

Narrowing Down the Results

If you're on a detailed record page, click Result List to go back to the search results page.

Narrowing Down the Results

Not every article in the results list is going to be relevant to your topic or assignment.  

Luckily, databases have limiters that can help you narrow down your results to the most relevant ones.
 

Using limiters

When you add a limiter, the results list will automatically update.  

Check off one limiter at a time, and then pause to assess how many results you have and how relevant they are.  If you try to select too many limiters at once, you'll quickly end up with no results.

Here are some useful limiters to start with.  Click on each underlined word to learn more.

Publication Date

Source Types

Language

Getting to the Full-Text

Once you've found what looks like a relevant article, you'll want to read the whole thing.

Full-text articles are available in a variety of ways, depending on the library's subscriptions.
 

1. PDFs Available in CINAHL

Some articles are available directly in CINAHL.

Search for the article Caring for women facing domestic violence: Grounded theory.

Click the PDF Full Text icon to open the PDF.

Click Result List to go back to the search results page.
 

2. Find Full-Text

If you see a green Find Full-Text button, the article isn't available in CINAHL, but we might have it through a different subscription.

Search for the article General practice clinicians' perspectives on involving and supporting children and adult perpetrators in families experiencing domestic violence and abuse.

Click on the green Find Full-Text button.

This article is available through another subscription, so it will open on a different page.  

Sometimes this link will bring you to a journal or publisher's homepage.  If this happens, look for a search bar and search for the title of the article.  Ask the library for help if you can't get to the article.
 

3. Interlibrary Loan

 If we don't have access to an article, you can request it through Interlibrary Loan.

Search for the article Domestic violence survivors and their experiences during the legal process.

Click on the green Find Full-Text button.

We don't have access to this article through any of our subscriptions, so you'll see this Access Options page (it may open in a new tab).

If you wanted to read this article, you could request it by clicking the Request via Interlibrary Loan link on the Access Options page.

Database Tools

Saving Articles for Later

You probably won't search for articles and write your paper in the same sitting, so you'll need a way to save the relevant articles you find to read and reference later.

You can always download and save articles to your computer, Google Drive, flash drive, etc.  

If you'd like to explore other options, the databases have a few tools that will help you save your articles.
 

Word of Warning

Read this page before you use the Add to Folder feature or copy an article's URL.

These features do not work the way most people expect them to, and some students have lost hours of work because they didn't understand how they work.  (The library doesn't have any control over these features -- we'd change it if we did!).

Don't put yourself in this position!  Please read the following sections carefully to ensure that you can get back to the articles you've saved. 
 

Exploring the Tools

Click on the title of any article in CINAHL to see the detailed record page.  The tools will be along the right side of this page.

Click here to open a detailed record page if you can't find one.

Click on each underlined word to learn more.

Add to Folder

Print

E-mail

Permalink

Database Tools

Citation Resources

It's important to give credit where it's due and cite any information source you use.

Click on the underlined words to learn more.

The Cite and Export buttons are built into databases to help you with this process.

These tools do most of the work for you, but unfortunately no citation tool is 100% accurate.  You'll sometimes find errors in the punctuation, capitalization, and italicization. 

Remember, you are ultimately responsible for making sure the citation is correct.  Don't just trust the database -- confirm it using a citation style handbook or online resource.

Conclusion

Now you know enough about library research to get started on your research assignments.

You can return to this tutorial for a refresher at any time during the term.

There's no wrong way to search, so keep trying new keywords, filters, and databases.  The more you explore, the better you'll get at finding what you need!

If you're confused or stuck at any point, contact the library!  We're always happy to help.

Conclusion

Certificate of Completion

If you need to submit a certificate of completion for your course, enter your name and email address on the next page.

Click the Print/Send email button. Your certificate will appear in a pop-up, and you will also receive an email entitled Certificate of Completion (check your spam folder if you don't receive the email).

The pop-up and email certificates are exactly the same, so it does not matter which one you save and submit.

There are several ways to save your certificate:

1. Take a screenshot of the pop-up certificate or the email certificate.

2. Copy & paste the text of the pop-up certificate or the email certificate into a Word document.

3. Save the email as a PDF.

If you have trouble uploading your certificate, please contact the library for help.

Certificate

Please enter your name and email address to retrieve a copy of your completed quiz.

You can enter multiple email addresses separated by commas. If you are doing this for a class, you may need to enter your instructor's email address also.

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