Peer review is a process where scholars have other experts in their field scrutinize their research before it is published. This helps ensure high quality research is published in the most prestigious journals, which always use peer review. Keywords are assigned by cataloguers to describe articles and provide consistency, but subject headings are a controlled vocabulary. When searching databases, it is best to start with broad search terms and narrow down results, using features like advanced search, instead of starting too specifically. The library offers many resources for citing sources, including citation generators, guides, and assistance from librarians.

1. PHED 203 – Library Databases 2011-2012Maj. Garner

2. What is Peer Review? Peer review is a process scholars go through that adds an extra level of scrutiny to their research before publication. Not all journals require a peer review process, but the most highly regarded journals always subscribe to this process. Let’s watch a short video on peer-review to help you better understand this process: http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/tutorials/pr/share/

3. Keywords v Subjects Databases are organized and categorized by people. In order to maintain some consistency, a controlled vocabulary is put in place to describe each article. What you understand a word or phrase to be may be completely different than what someone else understands that same word or phrase. Health to you might mean physical fitness, whereas to me it might mean not being sick Keywords are open vocabulary Subjects are controlled Example

4. Example of an Ebsco Database Interface The interface will stay the same, but the dataset your are searching will change.

5. Database Search Strategies Start broad and narrow down Starting with too specific search terms often yields you few or no results. Since you are not expert searchers yet, it is best to start broad to see what is out there and narrow down. Identify several search terms first – use synonyms and related terms Spend a few minutes doing a mini brainstorm before you even begin searching. This helps you organize your thoughts before you dive into a database. Use database features to your advantage Always use the advanced search option if a database provides one. This can help you eliminate or include key requirements such as peer-reviewed, year of publication,

6. First go to Subject Guides

7. Select the HESS Subject Guide

8. Notice what is available on the Subject Guide

9. Physical Education Index and SPORTDiscus are good databases to start with for this assignments

10. Enter in keywords in the search boxes

11. Review the options under “Limit your results”

12. When you click on an article title, you get a detailed record with more specific information about the article

13. A menu of tools are available for each record

14. Full Text Search

15. Full Text Search Results

16. Full-text access through a different database

17. If no other database has the article you are looking for, you can request it through Interlibrary Loan

18. Now let’s take a look at Physical Education Index.

19. Notice that none of the results are in full-text. No, we didn’t get unlucky, this is intended.

20. Click on the title of an article to find out a little more information and determine if the article is suitable.

21. APA Citations There are a lot of tools out there to help you create a citation: Citation Generators like Bibme.org Online Citation Guides like Purdue University’s OWL APA Guide The official APA Style Manual Several copies available at the library The Academic Support Center (formerly the Writing and Learning Center) Your Professors AND your Librarians!

22. Have Questions? Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Librarians get PAID to help YOU, make us earn our salaries. My contact information: Dana DeFebbo defebbod1@citadel.edu 953-7699Office always open