HHP131 Instructional Session
To research a topic in the field of health, wellness, and exercise and sport science for your assignment, you will need to find academically acceptable sources. That includes:
- Newspaper and magazine articles
- Government websites
- Professional organizations
- Peer-reviewed literature--journals that require a board of professional researchers or scholars to evaluate (assessing research methods, sources, quality, contribution to the field, etc.) submitted articles before being published
Your Topics
Share what you'll be researching here:
Non-Library Resources
Free Web Search Tips:
If you're using Google Scholar, make sure to link to the library and NEVER pay for a resource! To link to the library, from the Google Scholar homepage, click Settings.
- Search quotations or exact phrases using quotation marks “”
example: “personal bubble” - Ignore words that aren’t relevant to your topic by using -
example: twins -Minnesota -movie - If you find a website you really like and want to see other websites that are related, type related:URL to find similar websites
example: related:finaid.org - If you only want websites that are educational or published by the government, you can limit your search to certain domains by typing site:.domain
example: fluoride site:.gov
If you're using Google Scholar, make sure to link to the library and NEVER pay for a resource! To link to the library, from the Google Scholar homepage, click Settings.
Click Library links in the left menu and then search for Central Oregon Community College--click the box next Barber Library - Central Oregon Community College - Get it @ COCC and the box next to CENTRAL OREGON COMMUNITY COLLEGE - ProQuest Fulltext. (note: the Barber Library is automatically linked when using Google Scholar on campus)
Library Resources
Library Databases to Explore:
In certain databases, you have the ability to conduct multiple database searches with one keyword search. For these databases, above the search bar, click Choose Databases and select the databases appropriate to your topic (note: this list does not represent all the Barber Library’s article databases, but all the article databases provided by one vendor, check the above list for recommended databases to include in your searches).
- Academic One File
- Academic Search Premier
- Alt HealthWatch
- Health and Wellness Resource Center with Alternative Health Module
- Newspaper Source
In certain databases, you have the ability to conduct multiple database searches with one keyword search. For these databases, above the search bar, click Choose Databases and select the databases appropriate to your topic (note: this list does not represent all the Barber Library’s article databases, but all the article databases provided by one vendor, check the above list for recommended databases to include in your searches).
Basic Library Searching Tips
Protip: You should avoid combining more than four concepts in one search so that you don't get too specific and narrow your results to 0. For example: What impact does fast food have on increasing obesity rates in children? My keywords might include the following: fast food, obesity, children.
Protip: Avoid using relationship words like why, benefits, pro, con, best practice, negative, positive, impact, effect, etc.
But how do you combine those concepts in a library database? Use advanced search techniques, of course!
Boolean operators: Limit your results using AND, expand your results using OR, eliminate unnecessary results using NOT
Protip: make sure to use all caps when using Boolean operators.
example: (children OR child) AND "fast food" AND obesity NOT beverage
Truncation: If you're looking for a word with plurals or various endings, try using the truncation command *
example: child* will search for results that contain child OR children OR both!
Phrase Searching: If you want your keywords to appear in a specific order, like a phrase, try using quotation marks ""
example: "fast food"
Title Searches: Too many results? Using the drop-down menu next to the search bar, limit your search keywords to only appearing in article titles.
Protip: Avoid using relationship words like why, benefits, pro, con, best practice, negative, positive, impact, effect, etc.
But how do you combine those concepts in a library database? Use advanced search techniques, of course!
Boolean operators: Limit your results using AND, expand your results using OR, eliminate unnecessary results using NOT
Protip: make sure to use all caps when using Boolean operators.
example: (children OR child) AND "fast food" AND obesity NOT beverage
Truncation: If you're looking for a word with plurals or various endings, try using the truncation command *
example: child* will search for results that contain child OR children OR both!
Phrase Searching: If you want your keywords to appear in a specific order, like a phrase, try using quotation marks ""
example: "fast food"
Title Searches: Too many results? Using the drop-down menu next to the search bar, limit your search keywords to only appearing in article titles.
Using Library resources you can filter your search even further, evaluate the author and--oh yeah--you can even create a fully-formed citation!
Getting Help and Citations
I know that there's a lot to consider, and you might still have questions, even after this session. That's what librarians are for! You can always contact me, but there are also several other options for you to contact any Barber Library librarian.
Just look for this icon for 24/7 support or go to the Help page (the purple box), click Ask a Librarian and you'll find all the ways to connect to someone who can help with all your library needs!
Just look for this icon for 24/7 support or go to the Help page (the purple box), click Ask a Librarian and you'll find all the ways to connect to someone who can help with all your library needs!