This document provides an overview of strategies for finding qualitative and quantitative studies, including using keywords, subject headings in databases like PsycINFO, and methodology filters. It discusses focusing a search, combining search terms, evaluating search results, and getting help with writing annotated bibliographies and using APA style. The intended outcomes are to help students recall ways to find relevant health articles and get assistance with their annotated bibliography assignment.

1. Finding
qualitative &
quantitative
studies
Lydia Thorne, MLIS Co-op Student
Elizabeth Yates,
Health Sciences Librarian
January 2016

2. Why am I here?
o Annotated Bibliography Assignment
(10% - Due Feb. 3rd!)
• 2 peer reviewed research articles
• 1 qualitative; 1 quantitative study

3. Agenda
o Keywords
• In-Class Activity #1: Keywords
o Focusing your search: tips & tricks
o PsycINFO
• How to find qualitative & quantitative studies
• How to use subject headings
• In class Activity #2: PsycInfo
o Writing & citing

4. Getting the
good stuff
What works
for you?

5. Today’s outcomes
You will recall strategies for finding:
o Qualitative & quantitative health articles using:
• PsycINFO
o Help writing an annotated bibliography
o Help with APA style

6. Think like a search engine
Keywords & synonyms

7. What’s a
keyword?
o The most important,
relevant word(s) for
your topic
o Usually nouns
o Usually 1-3 words
o Think about broader,
narrower and related
terms

9. Topic:
What are the keywords in the following topic sentence?
Stress and/or coping among university students

11. Keywords & synonyms
Stress Coping University
students
Anxiety
Worry
Pressure
Tension
Strain
Adapt
Manage
Handle
Capacity
Students
College students
Young adults
Post-secondary
students

12. Broader and Narrower Terms
Students
Brock University
Students
First-year
Undergraduate
Brock Students

13. Search tips & tricks
1. Use “quotes” to search for an exact phrase, e.g. “coping
with anxiety”
2. Use * to search for variations of a word ending e.g.
student*(student, students)

14. Search tools: combine the concepts
Search words AND, OR are powerful tools for retrieving
relevant results
Distinct concepts: use AND
e.g. Hemophilia AND exercise
Similar concepts (synonyms): use OR
e.g. Anxiety OR worry
home.howstuffworks.com/power-drill.htm

15. Finding foreground info
Search engines Databases/Indexes
e.g. Google:
- broad scope
- may not know where you are
searching
- few options for focused
searching
e.g. OVID MEDLINE, PsycINFO
- defined/subject-specific scope
- you can discover what journals
are being searched
- many options for focused
searching e.g. by subject, age
group, methodology, article type
Both tools are great – choose the one that’s best for
your search

16. Finding qualitative & quantitative studies
Most efficient method?
• Search in a subject database
• Use methodology filters

17. PsycINFO
• Citations and abstracts for journal articles, books, book
chapters, theses, dissertations and reports in psychology
and related disciplines
• Search by:
– Keyword
– Subject heading – use Term Finder

18. Subject Headings
SH = consistency, efficiency
• Standardized words assigned to an article based
on its topic
• Groups together all the information on a given
topic
• SH searches retrieve targeted information
Image
Image

19. Research Guide for Health Sciences
o Library website > left menu
“Research Guides by Program”
> Health Sciences
> Articles tab
= Databases relevant to Health Sciences
(including PsycINFO)
Find subject databases

20. Key filter: Methodology

21. Refine your results in PsycINFO
• Methodology
• Age group
• Population group
• Publication year
• Index term
Need to quickly decide if an article is relevant?
Scan the abstract!

22. Dive in: try PsycINFO
> Health Sciences Research Guide
> Articles
> PsycINFO
Find good articles? Email them to
yourself!

23. Finding enough articles:
Find one good article? Check its references!
They’ll lead you to other studies on the same topic!
GIF: http://cdn1.theodysseyonline.com/files/2014/11/20/635520961476244888798720642_tumblr_inline_mgrr62xnrl1rsns0p.gif

24. Annotated Bibliography & APA style
Research Guide for Health Sciences
o Library website > left menu “Research Guides by Program” >
Health Sciences
o Writing and Citing tab:
• APA style
• Annotated bibliographies
Image: http://memegenerator.net/instance/58248516

25. Getting Help @ the Library
o Visit our AskUs desk or call 905-688-5550
x4583
o Chat with us via Ask-a-Librarian
o Watch a short video on our Help page --
www.brocku.ca/library/help-lib
o Contact us!
•Lydia Thorne, MLIS Co-op Student
lthorne@brocku.ca
• Elizabeth Yates, Health Sciences Librarian
eyates@brocku.ca

26. Questions?
GIF: http://giphy.com/gifs/ellen-degeneres-ask-ama-BBxHcL8SudpXq