How to Find anOriginal Research Study

Mentioned in theMainstream Press

Why Bother Looking for the Study?

Source: Scrutinizing science: The peer review process. (n.d.) Retrieved May 26, 2009, from The University of California at Berkeley, Understanding How Science Really Works Web site: http://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/howscienceworks_16

“Peer-reviewed articles provide a trusted form of scientific communication.”

Why Peer Review is Important

• “It is a process which is almost unique to science, in which scientists review and criticise each other’s work before they make it public.”

• “The first question a scientist will ask if whether a piece of research has been published in a peer-reviewed journal.”

• Scientist: “No scientist gives a finding much credence unless it has been peer-reviewed.”

• “Peer review is only the start for a piece of new research. Science stands or falls on the repetition of those experiments.”

Source: Science Media Centre. (n.d.) Peer review in a nutshell. Retrieved May 26, 2009, from http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/uploadDir/adminpeer_review_in_a_nutshell.pdf

Scientific and Medical Publishing Cycle

Discovery is made based on existing information.

Discussed informally with other experts.

Conference presentation.

Textbooks,reference books.

Commonly used in field. Scholarly journal

News

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News

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The Web can be used at any stage.

News Articles in Mainstream Press

Find the Source

!!!

Clues

X

Title of news article is not the title of the research article.

Dates

Name of researcher

Employer of researcher

Publication title

Where to Look for the Article

• Library databases (free for students). Check Ulrichsweb periodicals database, or call an AC librarian for help finding the right database. 371-5468 or 356-3627

• Sites such as the journal site, the author’s employer’s site, Google Scholar, and others may have the article free or for a fee.

• The author may e-mail it to you. You may find an e-mail address at the employer’s site.

• Print. Check with libraries.

• Interlibrary loan from public library.

Check the Journal Web Site.

Available on the Journal Site?

Delayed 6 months!

Available from an Organization?

Available from Google Scholar?

Free abstract

(summary)

Available from Author?

The fastest way to find out is to call 371-5468 (toll-free 866-371-5468) for help (AC Library).

Available from Library Database?

A search of AC’s Ulrichsweb database revealed that the publication is not available online in an AC database.

Available in Print? Yes!

West Texas A&M University

Found!

If We Hadn’t Found It . . .

ILLInterlibrary loan from your public library.

You must have your library card from them.

It may involve a fee.

AC no longer does ILL for students. Sorry.