Literature Searching: Finding the evidenceSES2203 February 2015

What will we be doing today?

• Refresher – resources available to you

• What is a literature review?

• Searching effectively for journal articles

• Evaluating and critiquing what you find

Why research?

• Exercise 1: Group activity

Why research?

• Solve problems

• Underpin practice (does it work? Is it worth it?)

• Overview of existing knowledge, theory

• Identify gaps in knowledge

• Gather ideas about possible methodology, what your

findings might be, etc.

Finding the evidence

• For your

• Critique

• Research proposal and presentation

And next year’s dissertation....

A literature review:

- Sets the scene

- Helps develop the rationale for your proposed

research

- Outlines key themes, gaps in knowledge, limitations

of existing studies

Exercise 2: Explore

“Home advantage in sport”

• Using the search engine assigned to you (Summon, Google

or Google Scholar):

1) Carry out a search on this topic

2) Select a journal article (the best you can find)

3) Access the full text (PDF) of the article

• Be prepared to explain how you found it and why you chose

it.

10 minutes

How did it go?

What makes a good article?

The CARP test

C A R P

• Currency - How old is the information? When was it last updated?

• Authority - Who is the author / site creator? What is their background? Is the article published in a scholarly/peer reviewed journal?

• Relevance - Is this what I need? Will it answer my question? Is it at the appropriate level?

• Purpose - What is the purpose of the information e.g. financial gain, propaganda, academic, etc.

Starting your search

Think about:

• Areas of interest

• Keywords

• Scope of subject - limits?

Keywords

12

• Really worth a 5 minute brainstorm before you search

– it will save you time later!

• Searching one word for your concepts will not bring

you all the results! And sometimes none.

Not everyone uses the same terminology for one idea

Fundamental movement

skills

• Movement skills

• Skill acquisition

• Skill development

• Skill proficiency

• Motor skills / ability

Children

Adolescents

• Child*

• Adolescen*

• Youth

• Teenage*

Physical Education

• PE

• School sport

Physical activity levels

• Exercise

• Sports participation

• Enjoyment / fun etc

Does targeting

fundamental

movement skills

in PE improve

physical activity

levels in children

& adolescents?

Specific

skills

• Gender?

• Age groups?

Over to you...

• Using the worksheet

• Briefly summarise your topic in the first box

If you don’t have one, try “Effects of fatigue in team sports”

• Narrow it down to some key words

• Swap with your neighbour – add some they haven’t thought of

Where to search?

Sources to search

• Summon

• Databases (e.g. Sport Discus)

• Google Scholar

• Individual journals specific to your topic

Limiting your search

• Date

• Peer reviewed?

• Type of article / study

Need further help?

• Librarians in the Study Hub (1st floor) core hours Monday –Friday

• 1:1 appointments bookable via the SES library subject guide

Jo Wilson j.r.wilson@mdx.ac.uk

Ask a Librarian http://askalibrarian.mdx.ac.uk/