Evidence-Based Research Where and How to Find It

Robin Paynter, Social Work Librarian

Forming Useful Questions

Systems like CIAO or COPES help focus your practice issue into search concepts

COPES description: http://www.evidence.brookscole.com/copse.html

C - Client I - Intervention A – Alternate Intervention O – Outcome

Depressed HIV positive gay client

Narrative therapy or

Cognitive behavioral therapy

Alleviate depression

Questions into SearchingConcept synonym lists improve comprehensiveness

of keyword search results:

Gay*Homosexual*Lesbian*GLBT

Depress* Narrative therapyOrCognitive behavioral therapy OrCBT

Research TipsWho cares? Search the databases of other disciplines interested in your topic: Sociology,

Psychology, Public Policy, etc

Keyword & Subject Search

Using keyword and subject searching leads you to the best, most relevant materials most of the time

Cited references Consider the resources cited in an article or book you’ve found on your topic – the author wouldn’t cite unless they were relevant to the article

Who cited this article?

Find out who cited the article or book you’ve found on your topics – other authors cite if it is relevant to their work

Annual ReviewsEncyclopedias

Handbooks

Very useful tools, particularly at the beginning of research projects to get an overview of research on a field – major researchers, findings thus far, critiques of theories, methodologies and a great bibliography to find more materials

Google Scholar Focus your search to scholarly sources - http://scholar.google.com/

Workshops Portland State Library offers a variety of free, drop-in research and database workshops: http://www.lib.pdx.edu/instruction/workshops_calendar.php

Podcast workshops coming Spring 2008!

Evidence Pyramid & Research Resources

Personal Observation

Empirical Studies

Meta-analysesSystematic

Review

Research Resources:Cochrane LibraryCampbell CollaborationEBP Websites on Research GuideDisciplinary Databases:Social Services Abstracts, PsycINFOMedline, etc

Research Resources:Disciplinary Databases:Social Services Abstracts, PsycINFOMedline, etcCase Studies

Start your search using

resourcesat the top

of the pyramid

The higher in the pyramid,

the more reliable & valid

the evidence

More Research ResourcesEBP & Research Databases @ PSU Library

http://www.lib.pdx.edu/guides/resources.php?category=49&item_id=889Please note: licensed databases can only be searched by the general public

inside the Library building.___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Oregon Public/Academic Libraries http://www.olaweb.org/oregon-libraries.shtml

Contact your nearest public library/university library about available resources ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Oregon DHS Adopted Addiction & Mental Health EBPs http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/mentalhealth/ebp/main.shtml

Getting It In Your Hands

Finding the citation is one thing –-

having the article, book, review, etc. is another

Public & University Libraries

Check your local public library or nearby public university library’s holdings – they might have the article, book, database you need!

State Employees

State employees have access to the State Library’s resources:http://library.state.or.us/

Interlibrary Loan (ILL)

Your local public library typically has an ILL service to get materials for patrons

Pay-Per-View(PPV)

Many publishers offer PPV services on their websites – for those times when you need it right now!