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The CINAHL database is your best bet It has nursing-specific search options. Click the link below:
For this research, you will use only primary studies. You will learn how to find and select primary articles that are either quantitative or qualitative. Click the tabs above to learn about primary vs. secondary research, quantitative studies and qualitative studies.
The steps below will help you get started using CINAHL.
Write out your PICOT question. Circle or underline the main ideas.
Hint: the main ideas are usually found in the elements of your PICOT question (population, intervention, comparison, outcome, timeline).
For each main idea, list synonyms and related terms to use in your search. Example:
List each main idea on a separate line and connect related terms with OR:
pregnant women OR expectant mothers OR pregnancy
AND calcium
AND pre-eclampsia OR preeclampsia
Note: For populations defined by age (example: patients aged 65 and over), do not enter this as a search term. Instead, use a descriptive term such as "older adults."
Select the following limiters for your search:
Review the results of your search by reading the article abstracts. If not enough articles are relevant to your PICOT question, revise:
If you don't find enough articles using CINAHL, try the following databases:
Primary research describes a new study the authors conducted with participants. Types of primary studies include surveys (descriptive), experiments, quasi-experiments, cohort, or correlational studies. You must use primary articles when researching your PICOT question.
In contrast, secondary research compiles, reviews, comments on, or interprets work that was previously reported on by the authors or other researchers. Types of secondary studies include meta-analyses, literature reviews, scoping reviews, and systematic reviews. When researching your PICOT question, avoid using secondary research -- including all types of reviews and meta-analyses.
You must use primary articles to research your PICOT question. There is no precise method of excluding all secondary articles while including only primary articles. However, these strategies may help:
Read the article abstracts. The following example describes a new study that was conducted by the authors, with participants.
Identifying secondary research can be tricky because it sometimes follows a similar format, with methods, results, and discussion. However, note that in the following example, the authors compile information from previous studies, rather than report on a new study. A lack of a participant group is often an indicator of secondary research.
Quantitative studies collect data in the form of numbers and statistics. They typically use large sample sizes (numbers of participants). They can be primary or secondary. Primary quantitative studies include experiments, quasi-experiments, cohort studies, correlational studies, and surveys.
The following two methods may help you find quantitative studies (be sure to verify)!
Read the article abstracts. The abstract may state directly if the study used an experimental design, a survey / questionnaire, or if it was a correlational or cohort study. The methods may describe numerical data that were collected. The results and discussion may describe statistical models that were developed.
Qualitative studies collect data in the form of descriptive words. They typically use smaller sample sizes (numbers of participants). Qualitative studies can be primary or secondary. A study that uses interviews is a good example of a primary qualitative study.
The following two methods may help you find qualitative studies.
Read the article abstracts. The abstract may state directly if the study used an interview methodology. It may describe open-ended questions, meaning that participants respond with words instead of checking a box or being scored on a test. The methods may also describe how participants' responses were "coded," meaning classified and organized by concepts or ideas.