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UO HLTH 2031 Finding credible sources for your essay

1. What you need to do

This assignment help will assist you to get started finding credible sources for the first part of your essay.

Apply the search skills learnt here to help you search for information for the other two parts of your essay.

2. What is a credible source?

Credible sources can include peer reviewed journal articles, books and documents (such as reports, papers and policies) from government websites and professional associations. Sometimes the term is used interchangeably with others such as peer reviewed, scholarly or academic sources. 

Use the short guide or video below to find out more. This includes how to find and evaluate information to make sure it is credible.

3. Plan your search

For the first part of the main discussion you need to address:

What is the role of the health professional in implementing effective health education?


Before you start searching:

  • Identify the main concepts in your research question or topic.
  • Think about how these concepts may be represented in the literature. In other words, do people use alternative terms to describe something?

Create a mind map or map out your concepts in a table to organise your ideas.


Here is an example. It uses the details provided in your course website for part 1 of your main discussion:

Main concepts Health
professional		 Health
education		 Communication processes Well-being
Synonyms/
alternative
concepts

Health worker

Health employee

Community worker

promotion

intervention

strategies

education

campaigns

focus

communication

communicating

oral communication

verbal communication

written communication

non verbal communication

communicating verbally

wellbeing

well being

This table is not comprehensive, you may find more concepts as you begin to search.

For more help read:

4. Where to search

The library has a range of search tools, such as databases, that can help you locate relevant literature. Many databases index a range of content such as peer reviewed journal articles, book chapters, reports and more. 

Some key databases you could try are:

5. How to search

When you are ready use your search concepts to find information.

Here is a search example using Informit: Health databases:

  • Start by selecting the Advanced Search option. Use the small red plus sign on the right to add search fields.
     
  • Type a different concept into each box. Notice they are connected using AND.
    Advanced search using the words 'health' AND 'promotion' AND 'communication'

Tip: you don't have to search on every concept. You can start with a few.

  • Now add in any synonyms (alternative concepts). You can connect these with OR. Select Search.
    Advanced search using OR to join synonyms for each concept

Adding these will help broaden your search.

  • Sort your results from Newest to Relevance (top of results list).
     
  • You may want to consider limiting your search by date or publication type (top of results list).
Searching Emcare:
Tip: Apply your search in Emcare in a similar manner. Select the Multi-field search tab to see a similar screen.

6. Other places to search

Key government websites

Professional bodies and policy databases

These are just a few, there may be others you can explore. 

Remember you should also find your references from peer reviewed articles and scholarly books, not just government websites and professional bodies. 

7. Top search tips

If you have trouble finding results:

  • change the search concepts you use.
  • try searching another database or website.
Take notice of sources your results are appearing in. Is there a relevant journal that appears that you could search within?
Use limits or filters in search tools (date range, source type) to narrow your search.
If you find a relevant journal article take notice of terminology used within the abstract or author supplied keywords.

8. More help

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