LibGuides: Sports Science: Research Skills

MyUni Library Essentials - Researching

MyUni Library Essentials - Enrol This online course is your starting point for learning how to use the Library. This course is made up of videos and tutorials designed by your Librarians, and will help you to get the most out of your Library both online and on campus.
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Please follow the link to self-enrol on MyUni Library Essentials if you have not accessed the course before.

MyUni Library Essentials includes a section on Researching. Follow the link below to learn how to plan a search strategy and conduct your search. (You need to log in to Canvas to access the link.)

MyUni Library Essentials - Researching

Search tips

Keywords

Find the keywords for your assignment topic. Don’t type in a long sentence.
Are there synonyms or related terms (broader or more specific) that might be relevant?

Getting more results

You can use a truncation symbol (usually an asterisk *) to find different endings to your keyword. For example, searching for read* would find read, reading, reads, etc.
You can find alternative terms simultaneously by linking them with OR; for example, you could search for adolescent OR teenager.

Getting fewer results

If you get too many results try searching just the title or abstract rather than the full record. You should get fewer, more relevant results.
Use quotation marks if you want your search terms to appear as a phrase; for example "artificial intelligence"
Use the filter options down the side of the results page to make your search more specific

Research record sheet

Critically appraising your sources is a crucial element of any literature search. You need to consider is your sources are:

reliable
academic enough
Free from bias

Ask yourself the following questions about the information you have found.

Who?

Who is the author or organisation responsible for the information?
Are they qualified to write on this topic?

When?

Is the information out of date?
Does it matter?

What sort of information?

Is it opinion or fact?
Is it reliable and independent?
Is it academic/research-focussed or commercial?

There are a number of checklists that can help you when it comes to critically appraising your sources.

AACODS Checklist for Grey Literature The AACODS checklist (Authority, Accuracy, Coverage, Objectivity, Date, Significance) is an evaluation and critical appraisal tool specifically for use with grey literature sources.
Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) This set of eight critical appraisal tools are designed to be used when reading research, these include tools for Systematic Reviews, Randomised Controlled Trials, Cohort Studies, Case Control Studies, Economic Evaluations, Diagnostic Studies, Qualitative studies and Clinical Prediction Rule.
JBI Critical Appraisal Tools JBI’s critical appraisal tools assist in assessing the trustworthiness, relevance and results of published papers.
Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT)
SANRA A scale for the quality assessment of narrative review articles
Tapupas Framework A framework for assessing the quality of social care knowledge.

PRISMA
- This link opens in a new window
PRISMA is an evidence-based minimum set of items for reporting in systematic reviews and meta-analyses. PRISMA focuses on the reporting of reviews evaluating randomised trials, but can also be used as a basis for reporting systematic reviews of other types of research, particularly evaluations of interventions.

Sage Research Methods

Sage Research Methods This link opens in a new window
Use Sage Research Methods to learn about different research methods, find case studies and use statistical resources.
Content
Access to hundreds of ebooks on research methods and methodology. There are also podcasts and videos to explain some concepts.
Tools
There are a number of tools to help you with your research project or dissertation:
- The Methods Map is a mind map that shows you how different research methods are related and links to information about those methods
- The Project Planner gives step-by-step guidance for your research project
- Which Stats Test can help you decide which statistical method is best for your data

Research Support and Open Access

MyUni Library Postgraduate - Enrol This Postgraduate course contains links to information useful to you as a Postgraduate, including Library Guides and external sources. It works best by navigating to the section on which you require information, although there are also a lot of useful links in the Support section. Use this guide to help you throughout your Postgraduate career.
more...less...
Please follow the link to self-enrol on MyUni Library Postgraduate if you have not accessed the course before.

This Postgraduate course contains links to information useful to you as a Postgraduate, including Library Guides and external sources. It works best by navigating to the section on which you require information, although there are also a lot of useful links in the Support section. Use this guide to help you throughout your Postgraduate career.

MyUni Library Postgraduate This Postgraduate course contains links to information useful to you as a Postgraduate, including Library Guides and external sources. It works best by navigating to the section on which you require information, although there are also a lot of useful links in the Support section. Use this guide to help you throughout your Postgraduate career.
Library Research Support Our Library team provide a number of resources and services to support researchers and postgraduates throughout the whole research cycle.