The basic evidence based research steps are:
- Begin with a problem or issue stated as a question. 1 2
- Plan your search for the levels of evidence you need. 3
- Search for secondary or primary sources and primary evidence. 4 5
- Evaluate your results. 6 7
- Implement your findings. 8 9
- Publish your findings to build the evidence base. 10
About the tool
Use library catalogs or databases to locate published secondary evidence in books.
Books provide an overview or background information. LCU library catalog,
http://library.lcu.edu/uhtbin/cgisirsi.exe/x/0/0/49, Worldcat.org
Hint: Your topic may be a chapter within a book on a broader topic.
Articles are located using library databases. LCU Library databases are on the Find Articles page.
http://theportal.lcu.edu/Library/Pages/FindArticles.aspx
To search for articles, choose the best library database for your topic.
- Medical or Exercise science: CINAHL, Health Source-Nursing, Health Reference Center
- Behavioral Science, Social work, Criminal justice: SocIndex, Psychology & behavioral science
- Education: Professional Development Collection, ERIC
- Business: Business Source
- Internet federated search tool: (very few are full-text) Google Scholar
Tools to locate primary evidence of scientific inquiry: Systematic reviews / studies / guidelines
Federated search tools: The Yale Pyramid of Evidence illustrates the federated search http://guides.library.yale.edu/content.php?pid=9786&sid=73113
- TRIP (Turning Research Into Practice) database provides a meta-search including Cochrane, Campbell, AHRQ, Bandelier's guidelines & systematic reviews) www.tripdatabase.com For a video, see Yale Library's Find in Fast series. http://www.med.yale.edu/library/education/guides/screencasts/finditfast/finditfast_9/
- UT San Antonio HSC Sumsearch http://sumsearch.org/
- Joanna Briggs Institute Search http://connect.jbiconnectplus.org/Search.aspx
- Pubmed "clinical queries" for randomized clinical trials, cohort studies, case study reports. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed Need a tutorial on searching Pubmed? www.nlm.nih.gov/bsd/disted/pubmedtutorial
- Searching for Guidelines? Use AHRQ's clearinghouse http://www.guideline.gov OR the National Center for Complementary or Alternative Medicine Evidence Based Resources & practice guidelines http://nccam.nih.gov/health/providers
Internet sites to locate evidence-based research:
Google search for evidence-based citations is Netting the evidence.
http://tinyurl.com/2poh3a NOTE: actual reports, guidelines, reviews may not be included.
Education topics:
- NCES Nations Report Card http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/
- What works clearinghouse http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/
- Promising Practices Network www.promisingpractices.net
- Global Education Database http://ged.eads.usaidallnet.gov
- CASEL-SEL Compendium of Assessment Tools http://casel.org/publications/compendium-of-sel-assessment-tools/
Science topics: Collaboration to environmental evidence www.environmentalevidence.org
Behavioral Science:
- Finding Psychological Measures & Manipulations http://www.muhlenberg.edu/depts/psychology/Measures.html
- Psychguides.com for guidelines http://psychguides.com
- Campbell Collaboration (part of TRIP database) includes systematic reviews in education, social welfare and criminal justice http://www.campbellcollaboration.org/library.php
Grey literature (unpublished research studies and presentations):
- NLM Gateway http://gateway.nlm.nih.gov/
- Virginia Henderson International Nursing Library Research Gateway http://www.nursinglibrary.org/vhl/
- Conference proceedings, Government reports www.unclesamsearch.com
- Unpublished ongoing clinical trials www.clinicaltrials.gov
- SIGLE grey literature in Europe http://opensigle.inist.fr/
- Mednar.com www.mednar.com for deep web searching