EXS 111 - Foundations of Exercise Science

Here is what you need to know about the library session assignment.

By the end of this class session you should be able to:

• Define a [library] database and understand how it is different from free web search engines: Google/Google Scholar.
• Examine the content and searching capabilities of two specific databases relevant to research in kinesiology and human performance  -- PubMed (Medline) and Sport Discus.
• Identify periodical titles that Zondervan Library owns or has access to online (full-text) using Journal Finder.
• Understand the basic theory of search strategies that provide the best results; examine and explore those strategies with specific practice. You should know the basics of widening and narrowing a search using Boolean operators, Subject Headings (MeSH for PubMed; thesaurus for Sport Discus) as well as employing limiters.
• Examine criteria for evaluating the fields within a citation as information to determine usefulness.

There are several things to consider when looking at a subject database: Scope, Access, Content, Authorship/Editorial Control, Indexing and Organization, and Reliability. Here is a table that compares Google, Google Scholar and generic subject databases (such as Sport Discus, PubMed/Medline.

There will be a handout in class that examines each of these features.

Step 1:  Develop a research question. Be as specific as possible. Example: What are the effects of hydration on performance levels of female cross-country runners.

Step 2: Highlight key words within the body of the question. What are the effects of hydration on performance levels of female cross-country runners?

Step 3: Find a good overview of the topic when possible. This does not mean looking at journal articles. Background information may be found in textbooks or reference resources such as CREDO. 

What are the key words for the following search:

EXAMPLE: What does the recent literature suggest regarding the correlation between concussion/brain damage in (American) football (not soccer) and cognition? What are common strategies for prevention of concussions?