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Medical Sonography

  • URL: https://libguides.cfcc.edu/Medical-Sonography
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  • HOW - Your Step-by-Step Guide

    Six-page PDF steps the reader through the common parts of any scientific study with follow-up questions to guide understanding.

    Conducting an Effective
    Literature Search

    Targeted to nursing students, but appropriate to anyone researching in the health sciences, this article, published in Nursing Standard in 2005, covers the "how" and "why" of conducting a literature review. 

    It recommends some of the same allied health databases available at CFCC.

    Why Read Journal Articles

    RESEARCH ARTICLES ARE WRITTEN TO

    • report results, usually experimental
    • relate these results to previous knowledge in the field
    • facilitate communications among professionals

    RESEARCH ARTICLES ARE READ TO

    • keep readers current with the latest research in field  (Articles are published more quickly so are more up-to-date than books) 
    • model how a similar study might be done
    • improve readers’ scientific writing skills  (The more scientific writing is read, the better the reader’s own scientific writing skills become.)
    • enable critical thinking  (Raw data accompanies conclusions, so readers can decide for themselves.)
    • find more useful resources for further research  (The reference list can be used to find related books and articles.)
    • develop a skill expected by employers in scientific & technical careers

    ProQuest Central

    Questions about how to use ProQuest?  Take a look at these Helpful Videos.

    Best Databases for Medical Sonography

    Pyramid of Evidence

    Publication Types
    Definitions from the Proquest Glossary

    Peer Reviewed
    A publication in which articles go through an official editorial process that involves review and approval by the author's peers (people who are experts in the same subject area). Most (but not all) scholarly publications are peer reviewed. Some trade publications are peer reviewed. ProQuest uses Ulrichsweb as the primary reference source to categorize peer reviewed publications.

    Scholarly Journal
    A scholarly journal is a publication that is authored by academics for a target audience that is mainly academic. The scholarly journal printed format isn't usually a glossy magazine, and it is published by a recognized society with academic goals and missions. The ProQuest criteria states the publication must be academic in focus with the intent to report on or support research needs as well as advance one's knowledge on a topic or theory. The publication will be targeted for professional or academic researchers and have in-depth analysis typically focusing on one discipline or academic field. The publication will likely be peer reviewed or refereed by external reviewers. The publisher should be a professional association or an academic press.

    Trade Journal

    A periodic publication dedicated to distributing news and information of interest to a specific target industry or business. Trade journals are often published by a trade association.

    Magazine
    Publications that are issued periodically that typically contain articles by many writers (and often photographs and drawings), frequently specializing in a particular subject or area.