HED 2340 - Health Behaviors: Finding and Using Sources for Your Assignments

This brief (but excellent) video from California State University, Dominguez Hills explains what peer review is and why it is important.

Database search tips:

• For many of your topics, using QuickSearch and limiting to peer-reviewed journals/academic journals or books and ebooks along the left side of the list of results should be sufficient to get you relevant reputable sources, but other subject-specific databases are listed below for additional options.  QuickSearch will find results from most of the library databases listed anyway.
• Combine the name of your condition/problem with the name of your theory using AND
• Do NOT use quotation marks: If there is no exact match for the theory you type in, the search may still retrieve other theories that are relevant and useful. Quotation marks search for the exact phrase so you may not get enough results if you use quotation marks.
• Having trouble?  I'm here to help.  Please email me to ask questions or use the "Schedule Appointment" link on this guide to set up a meeting with me either face to face or through Webex.

Search Engines and Databases for Finding Articles:

Note: Journals can vary widely in quality.  Always evaluate both the journal and the content of the article in the journal you are using.   If you have questions about how to determine if the content you are using is reputable, ask Ximena.

You are required to have a brief individual online Webex or face to face appointment the subject librarian for Health Education, but before you schedule your appointment, you must first start exploring the literature on your topic and write about your exploratory search. Doing this pre-work before you schedule your appointment will allow you to take note of any challenges or questions you have about the search so that your librarian can address your questions during the appointment.

Tips:

• Your goal is to find articles from peer-reviewed scholarly journals.
  • The articles must address how your chosen theory has been applied to your specific population.
• Choose one of the database links above to start your search.  QuickSearch and Google Scholar are good options, but any of the other database links above are options.
• Spend at least 5 minutes searching for scholarly articles on your topic.
• During or after your brief search, answer the questions on the form linked below and submit the form. 
• Use the appointment scheduling link at the end of the form to schedule your library appointment.

Note: The completed pre-appointment and post-appointment forms serve as documentation that you did the required preparation and reflection for your library appointment. The librarian will share the information collected from the form with Prof. Peterson and will also let her know whether you scheduled and completed your appointment by the required deadlines. 

Before you rely on ANY type of information (websites, media, books, articles), you should evaluate whether the source is credible. Here are some options that may help.

When you write and prepare papers and presentations in your courses and subsequently in your career, you are contributing to the ongoing research conversation about a matter of concern in your chosen career or field.  You are not simply stringing together quotes or summaries from sources, but you are thoughtfully selecting and using sources to demonstrate your own understanding and ideas about the topic.

Take a look at these videos to find out more about how to use sources to contribute to the scholarly conversation while still allowing your own ideas to be heard.