Use Boolean Operators to build your search and link your search terms.
OR
OR = more
You can use OR to expand a search and combine terms.
This means that any of the terms you specify can appear in your results.
AND
AND reduces a search by requiring all terms to appear in our results.
To add topics together use AND between the keywords
Thanks to my colleague Linda Pearson for creating this video and the one on using keywords.
Before you start your literature search...
Use the worksheet below to plan your strategy
Planning your literature search in this way should help you work in a more systematic fashion and will provide you with a record of what you have done for when you write up your research methods
Writing Skills for Veterinarians by
Communicating ideas in veterinary medicine is a fundamental part of building a career as a clinician and adding onto an established foundation of veterinary research. The purpose of this book is to increase efficiency in writing professional documents, e.g. writing a concise yet thorough discharge statement to clarify medical recommendations. Useful for both veterinary students and practising vets, Writing Skills for Veterinarians addresses how to develop and hone veterinary medical and scientific writing techniques. The basics of veterinary writing and why it matters are covered before concentrating on specific written models expected of vets - creating medical documents, such as SOAP notes, client and colleague communications, case reports, and original research papers. The resource-bank of additional exercises allows the reader to self-test for knowledge and comprehension.
Research and Study Skills for Veterinary Nurses by
With developments in skills and knowledge level, more and more academic rigour is expected of veterinary nurses. Exams, CPD and repeated testing and study throughout the nurse's career are now requirements. Aimed at veterinary nurses and technicians, this book will guide the reader through the various research and study disciplines required of them. Research and Study Skills for Veterinary Nurses discusses why these academic skills are now required of the veterinary nurse, different types of source material, how to complete written assignments, how to reference properly, how to approach different test questions, how to respond to oral exams, how to complete OSCEs, CPD training, and work-based practical assessments. Research and Study Skills for Veterinary Nurses provides information and advice for student vet nurses who need a reliable resource to guide them through their course.
Writing for University by
This indispensable guide shows students what successful academic writing involves and gives them the tools they will need to write successfully themselves. It separates fact from fiction and takes students through the five essential elements of academic writing: writing critically; using sources; developing your own voice; having a clear structure and style; and editing and polishing drafts. Chapters include annotated extracts of real students' academic writing from a range of subject areas. This third edition has been revised throughout, and contains three new sections on originality, argument and synthesising sources. Writing for University is an essential resource for students making the transition to university-level study and a valuable reference point for all students doing academic study in English. It is suitable for students of all disciplines, from education and business through to social work and psychology.
How to Write Your Nursing Dissertation by
This innovative nursing textbook provides a clear guide to writing a winning dissertation. It contains advice and guidance for overcoming many of the difficulties students face in this process. Written by experts in the field, each chapter provides scenarios with effective solutions and clear principles to follow to answer the issues raised. The book guides you through the stages of finding and assessing literature to answer a clear dissertation question, and the practical skills of writing and structuring a successful dissertation. Chapters include: - Starting your dissertation journey - Developing a successful dissertation question - Sourcing and accessing key literature - Essential research principles and processes - Critically appraising research articles - Implementing evidence-based health care in practice - Taking your dissertation further, including publications and conferences. Accompanied by a website featuring a range of resources including an unabridged example of a completed dissertation, How to Write Your Nursing Dissertation is essential reading not just for nursing and healthcare students completing dissertations, but all students who need to develop their critical appraisal and assignment writing skills.
A literature search is a organised and comprehensive search for information. This information will inform, underpin and /or shape your research.
A literature search will enable you to find out what has already been written in your subject area and identify the main trends.
The information may be found in books, journal articles, reports, case studies, policy documents, conference proceedings etc.
Critical Appraisal is the process of assessing and interpreting evidence by systematically considering its validity, results and relevance.
The following resources provide a useful introduction to this process:
Some databases allow you to broaden your search by using the stem of a word and an asterisk* to find variant endings e.g. Comput* (this will find computers, computer, computing, computerisation, computation etc)
This is called a "Wildcard" search. Check the Help function of the database you are using to see if it is supported.
Using brackets allows you to perform quite sophisticated searches. This is especially relevant to internet searching. Using brackets allows you to combine a selection of Boolean Operators together.
