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Global Public Health Research Guide: Database Tutorials

PubMed Tutorials

An Excellent Guide to searching PubMed from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - http://guides.lib.unc.edu/pubmedtentips

Google Scholar Tips

You can use Google Scholar (https://scholar.google.com/) as a sort of open database of scholarly articles on your topic. It doesn't replace databases like CINAHL or PubMed, but it can be used in addition. 

Linking full text between Scholar and DUC's Databases

If you do a search in Scholar, you can connect the full-text links from our databases to the Scholar results. On the far right of your results, look for the Settings icon, or the small arrow that will reveal the settings. 

Click Library Links. Search for Dominican University of California, and check the boxes. It's that easy!

PsychInfo Tips

The version we use, EBSCO, is at the 1:50 mark in the video.

Expand your Search in Google Scholar

Google Scholar offers related articles as well as articles than have cited a particular study. When you search, keep an eye out for the links below the citation.

CINAHL Search Tips

Qualitative:

Check the Research check box, and use the Clinical Queries menu on the Advanced Search:

  • Qualitative-High Sensitivity for a broad search
  • Qualitative-High Specificity for a narrow, specific search
  • Qualitative-Best Balance for something in between

Quantitative:

There is no easy way to specify quantitative studies in CINAHL.

Randomized Controlled Trials (check box or in the Publication Type menu) are often quantitative, or at least have a quantitative aspect.

With the Research check box, use the Publication Type menu:

  • Equations and Formulas
  • Statistics
  • Tables and Charts
  • Randomized Controlled Trials (if you haven't already done a search with the check box, see above)
    (you can select more than one option in the drop down box by using CTRL-click (Windows) or Command-click (Mac))