Identifying and Locating Scholarly Articles
For your assignment, you are asked to find quality, scholarly, research articles related to behavior modification. Articles published in journals (not newspapers or magazines) allow you to focus in on complex topics, examining specific environments, populations, theories/approaches, etc. But not every article that appears in a journal is peer-reviewed. So how can we distinguish these articles from the junk?
In the Padlet below, double click anywhere to describe characteristics of peer-reviewed research.
In the Padlet below, double click anywhere to describe characteristics of peer-reviewed research.
Peer-reviewed articles do not appear in magazines or newspapers. They do not provide opinions on other people's work, but represent an original creation by the author. This means you can typically find Methods, Results, and Conclusions sections as well as a detailed Reference list.
When using Barber Library resources, you have a shortcut to finding these sources. Instead of filtering through your results to determine if articles are peer-reviewed yourself, you can have the computer do it for you!
When using Barber Library resources, you have a shortcut to finding these sources. Instead of filtering through your results to determine if articles are peer-reviewed yourself, you can have the computer do it for you!
Now we can determine if an article fits your information need, but how do we actually search for them?
We already know that articles are complex. Therefore the way we search for them is by using complex keywords. This means if you want to know best practices for quitting smoking, you can search using both "smoking cessation" and "tobacco smoking" as your keywords.
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.
Protip: Avoid using relationship words like effects, pro, con, best practice, negative, positive, etc.
In the Padlet below, double click anywhere and identify the behavior modification topic you're interested in exploring.
We already know that articles are complex. Therefore the way we search for them is by using complex keywords. This means if you want to know best practices for quitting smoking, you can search using both "smoking cessation" and "tobacco smoking" as your keywords.
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.
Protip: Avoid using relationship words like effects, pro, con, best practice, negative, positive, etc.
In the Padlet below, double click anywhere and identify the behavior modification topic you're interested in exploring.
We have our keywords, now how do you combine them for 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: (smoking cessation OR tobacco smoking) AND behavior modification NOT meditation
Truncation: If you're looking for a word with plurals or various endings, try using the truncation command *
example: smoking cessation treatment* will search for results that contain treatment or treatments
Phrase Searching: If you want your keywords to appear in a specific order, like a phrase, try using quotation marks ""
example: "behavior modification"
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.
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: (smoking cessation OR tobacco smoking) AND behavior modification NOT meditation
Truncation: If you're looking for a word with plurals or various endings, try using the truncation command *
example: smoking cessation treatment* will search for results that contain treatment or treatments
Phrase Searching: If you want your keywords to appear in a specific order, like a phrase, try using quotation marks ""
example: "behavior modification"
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.
Sometimes you find the perfect article, but the full text isn't immediately available. Fear not! All you need to do is request it from another library using Interlibrary Loan.
The first thing you want to do is create an Interlibrary Loan account. I know, I know, not another account! But you won't have to think of a new username or password, it's the same as your network log in!
Let's walk through an example using this article.
The first thing you want to do is create an Interlibrary Loan account. I know, I know, not another account! But you won't have to think of a new username or password, it's the same as your network log in!
Let's walk through an example using this article.
We still need to cite our sources!
The Barber Library has some good resources to help (particularly when using non-library resources, which usually don't provide you with auto-generated citations).
To get to the Citation Tools, go to the Barber Library homepage and click the link under Quick Links.
The Barber Library has some good resources to help (particularly when using non-library resources, which usually don't provide you with auto-generated citations).
To get to the Citation Tools, go to the Barber Library homepage and click the link under Quick Links.
Let's start searching! Here are some databases to get you started:
Protip: Because all of these databases are operated by the same company, you can conduct one search in three databases at the same time! Simply click Choose Databases above the search bar, make your selection, and click OK.
Protip: Because all of these databases are operated by the same company, you can conduct one search in three databases at the same time! Simply click Choose Databases above the search bar, make your selection, and click OK.
I know that there's a lot of information here, 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 or go directly to the Need Help? page under Quick Links and you'll be connected to someone who can help you come up with keywords, cite your sources, choose databases, and help with your general library needs! |