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Dietetics

Searching for quality information: using Discovery and the online databases

Finding Quality Information Part 1_Searching Discovery

Part 1 of this video series looks at how to search for quality information using Discovery.

It covers the basics of searching and using Discovery to create a basic and advanced search.

Please note: although the examples used in this video are based on Public Health topics, the advice given and the searching technique can be applied to any health discipline. 

Video Presentation - Part 1:

Click on the link to watch a video on searching and using the Discovery search engine

The slides which are used during this video presentation are below.

Finding Quality Information Part 2_Searching the Online Databases

Part 2 of this video series looks at searching for quality information in the subject databases.

It covers advanced and structured searching in the online health databases.

If you haven’t already done so, you might also find it useful to watch part 1 which looks at the basics of searching and using Discovery.

Please note: although the examples used in this video are based on Public Health topics, the advice given and the searching technique can be applied to any health discipline.

Video Presentation - Part 2:

Click on the link to watch a video on searching and using the online subject databases

The slides which are used during this video presentation are below.

How to find journal articles

Do you want to find journal articles on a topic or look for a specific article?

Use Discovery - input your topic or the details of a journal article to search across most of the Library's resources

Discovery

If you have a journal title use Journal Finder to check if the Library has access to full text.

Journal Finder

If you know the name of a Journal, enter the title here to check if it's available in the Library

 

 

To link through to a complete list of e-journals: A-Z list

What are journals?

They are:Journals

  • like magazines but of a scholarly nature
  • published at regular intervals with no predetermined end
  • contain articles on a variety of topics
  • the articles are written by different authors
  • sometimes they also contain reviews and other information
  • in printed and electronic formats

Why Should I use them?

  • journal time is much quicker than for a book
  • using information from journals will keep you up to date and informed of new developments in your subject
  • journals articles are more specific than books.  They give you more detailed information in a more scholarly and concise format
  • subject may not yet (or may never) be covered in books
  • quality research - academic reputation - peer reviewed.

What is scholarly/peer reviewed?

  • Written by an academic, who is a specialist in the subject
  • Submitted to an editor, who then passes the work to other professionals or 'peers' for a critiques, the work is then passed back to the original writer for changes to be made before being published
  • Longer articles, heavily text based
  • Charts, tables, statistics and images
  • Properly referenced with a list of references at the end of the article.

Click on the link below to access a list of e-journal titles. Then click on the titles to view the Library's holdings.  To access the e-journals off campus use your IT username and password.

PressReader has over 7000 newspapers and magazines. Relevant titles for BioSciences include:

Biology Today magazine cover BioSpectrum cover
Biology Today BioSpectrum

Using databases for your subject

For more specialist searching use an online database

What are online databases?

Databases are specialist search engines that search for quality information, such as journals articles, in specific subject areas.

The databases below are listed in order of relevance for your subject.  Hover over the title for a description and the icons to see what help is available.

For help searching the databases contact your Health and Social Care information team. Details on the Home page.

Please note that all databases are provided for educational use only

Support with finding information for your assignments

We can support you with:

  • Searching for books and journals using Discovery
  • Using the online subject specific databases

You can request a tutorial with a Health Librarian via: https://libguides.tees.ac.uk/tutorials/health 

Please note:

1. Tutorials can be booked 2 weeks in advance.

2. The tutorials are for 1 hour.

3. Tutorials are offered via Microsoft Teams and via face to face appointments at Middlesbrough campus (please check the directions section to see if face-to-face is available for your chosen time).

4.  At busy times of year the appointments may get booked up very quickly so may not always be available. Keep an eye on the online booking page: https://libguides.tees.ac.uk/tutorials/health - you will see if there are any cancellations, and when more appointments are added. The appointments are only visible 2 weeks ahead, so each weekday more may get released (depending on availability).

Please note:

For help with academic writing and skills see the Learning and Development team: https://libguides.tees.ac.uk/tutorials/literature 

For referencing support see: https://libguides.tees.ac.uk/tutorials/referencing

Help - journal articles

The following guides will help you to develop your skills in finding journal articles:

Finding Journals

Critical thinking - what it is and why it matters.

Doing a Literature Search

Developing Keywords

FAQs

Support for Searching the Literature for Evidence Based Practice

How to evaluate an article

"How do I know if the information I have found is relevant and/or appropriate?"

Basic evaluation takes into consideration an article's:

  • Relevance
  • Authority
  • Currency

Examine the article and consider the following points:

  • Is the journal the article appears in of significant academic standing for this level? Where did you find the article? (Database, references etc.)
  • Who wrote the paper and what is their expertise. Are the authors experts in the field (Academics, industry professional) and have they written other published articles?
  • Is the article current, does the date of the article matter for this subject area?