In this assignment, you will be appraising or evaluating original articles.
Primary research articles are original articles as opposed to review articles and other secondary sources. All primary research articles are peer-reviewed and as the name implies, provide original research or data not available in other sources.
How to find empirical articles in the PsycINFO database:
1) Access the PsycINFO database.
2) In the default Advanced Search page, look for the Methodology filter, and select Empirical Study from the menu options.
3) In the search box, type your keywords, or use subject headings. Run the search.
How to find empirical articles in the PsycNET databases:
1) Access the PscyNET databases.
2) Type your keywords, or use subject headings. Then, run your search.
3) In the Results page, look for the Methodology filter, and select Empirical Study.
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QUANTITATIVE Studies · Generate numerical data or data that can be converted into numbers. · Can sort out · Can be an empirical article when its methodology describes original research (i.e., not a review article)
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Terms for Searching/Search Strategies:
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Examples of quantitative studies: • Case report - report on a single patient; |
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QUALITATIVE Studies · Generate · Explore and understand people's beliefs, experiences, attitudes, behavior and interactions. · Can be an empirical article when its methodology describes original research (i.e., not a review article) |
(qualitative OR ethnograph* OR phenomenolog* OR "grounded studies" OR "case studies" OR "narrative studies" OR "focus groups") |
Examples of qualitative studies: • Document - study of documentary accounts of events, such as meetings; • Passive observation - systematic watching of behavior and talk in natural occurring settings; • Participant observation - observation in which the researcher also occupies a role or part in the setting, in addition to observing; • In depth interview - face to face conversation with the purpose of exploring issues or topics in detail. Does not use preset questions, but is shaped by a defined set of topics; • Focus group - method of group interview which explicitly includes and uses the group interaction to generate data. (Greenhalgh 2002). Adapted from: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ich/supportservices/library/training_material/critical-appraisal |
Gehlbach, S. H. (2002). Interpreting the medical literature. McGraw-Hill.
One definitive way to determine if a journal is peer-reviewed is when this is acknowledged in the journal itself. For example, frequently include instruction for authors will use the phrase "peer reviewed." Others will say that manuscripts are sent for blind review, reviewed by a committee, or anonymously reviewed. Therefore, it is worthwhile to visit the journal publisher's official website and review the journal's review process and journal description/scope.
There are other ways to identify a peer-reviewed journal. Below are some tools to help us identify whether a journal is peer-reviewed:
1) Ulrich's Periodicals Directory includes information about whether the journal is peer-reviewed (or refereed). The print (paper) edition of Ulrich's is found in the Bierce Library.
2) Research Databases: Some databases allow users to limit a search to peer-reviewed journals. For example, CINAHL allows users to limit a search to peer-reviewed journals and indicates that an article is peer reviewed in the Journal Subset field, when appropriate. Note: Scholarly articles is the umbrella term for academic articles. All peer-reviewed articles are scholarly/academic journals but not all scholarly/academic journals are peer-reviewed. Authors of peer-reviewed articles go to a more rigorous process of evaluation than when writing in non-peer reviewed journals.
