Evidence Based Research for Social Workers

Evidence-Based Research Where and How to Find It Robin Paynter, Social Work Librarian

Forming Useful Questions

Systems like CIAO or COPES help focus your practice issue into search concepts

COPES description: http://www.evidence.brookscole.com/copse.html

Depressed HIV positive gay client Narrative therapy or Cognitive behavioral therapy Alleviate depression C - Client I - Intervention A – Alternate Intervention O – Outcome

Questions into Searching Concept synonym lists improve comprehensiveness of keyword search results: Narrative therapy Or Cognitive behavioral therapy Or CBT Depress* Gay* Homosexual* Lesbian* GLBT

Research Tips Portland State Library offers a variety of free, drop-in research and database workshops: http://www.lib.pdx.edu/instruction/workshops_calendar.php Podcast workshops coming Spring 2008! Workshops Focus your search to scholarly sources - http:// scholar.google.com / Google Scholar Very useful tools, particularly at the beginning of research projects to get an overview of research on a field – major researchers, findings thus far, critiques of theories, methodologies and a great bibliography to find more materials Annual Reviews Encyclopedias Handbooks Find out who cited the article or book you’ve found on your topics – other authors cite if it is relevant to their work Who cited this article? Consider the resources cited in an article or book you’ve found on your topic – the author wouldn’t cite unless they were relevant to the article Cited references Using keyword and subject searching leads you to the best, most relevant materials most of the time Keyword & Subject Search Search the databases of other disciplines interested in your topic: Sociology, Psychology, Public Policy, etc Who cares?

Evidence Pyramid & Research Resources Personal Observation Empirical Studies Meta-analyses Systematic Review Research Resources: Cochrane Library Campbell Collaboration EBP Websites on Research Guide Disciplinary Databases: Social Services Abstracts, PsycINFO Medline, etc Research Resources: Disciplinary Databases: Social Services Abstracts, PsycINFO Medline, etc Case Studies Start your search using resources at the top of the pyramid The higher in the pyramid, the more reliable & valid the evidence

More Research Resources

EBP & Research Databases @ PSU Library

http://www.lib.pdx.edu/guides/resources.php?category=49&item_id=889

Please note: licensed databases can only be searched by the general public inside the Library building.

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Oregon Public/Academic Libraries

http://www.olaweb.org/oregon-libraries.shtml

Contact your nearest public library/university library about available resources

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Oregon DHS Adopted

Addiction & Mental Health EBPs

http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/mentalhealth/ebp/main.shtml

Getting It In Your Hands

Finding the citation is

one thing –-

having the article, book, review, etc. is another

State employees have access to the State Library’s resources: http:// library.state.or.us / State Employees Many publishers offer PPV services on their websites – for those times when you need it right now! Pay-Per-View (PPV) Your local public library typically has an ILL service to get materials for patrons Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Check your local public library or nearby public university library’s holdings – they might have the article, book, database you need! Public & University Libraries