LibAnswers

If you are unsure how to find scholarly articles or use the library databases, please view our Accessing Library Resources guide to learn the basics. It is essential to know how to navigate the databases before searching for scholarly articles.  https://galen.libguides.com/c.php?g=1330092

____________________________________________________

When searching for scholarly articles in the EBSCO Discovery Service be sure to have the FULL TEXT and SCHOLARLY (PEER REVIEWED) JOURNAL limiters on. The scholarly journal limiter will filter out eBooks, magazines, skills sheets, etc. 

Keep in mind that just because the scholarly journal limiter is on, does not mean that the only articles that show up in the results list are scholarly articles. It is CRUCIAL to check if the article you are interested in using is scholarly. 

_________________________________________________

To determine if an article is scholarly, you will need to follow 3 steps. 

1. Look for a METHODS section. 

2. Check the article for "I" statements.

3. Check the conclusion for "calls to action". 

1. METHODS sections can also be known as DESIGN, METHODS and MATERIALS. 

The METHODS section is where scholarly articles lay out the gist of the study/experiment, or review/analysis conducted: who, what, when, how, etc.

Primary sources methods sections will discuss study/experiments and the steps taken to perform these experiments. 

Secondary sources methods sections will discuss the criteria used to select the articles the researchers examine in their article.

(Ex: Selected 45 RCTs, and why. Used only case studies, etc.)

_____________________________________________

2. Scholarly articles write in academic language. You should not see paragraph after paragraph with "I" statements. 

If your article is providing short quotes that contain "I" statements, that is fine. 

3. Scroll through the article until you reach the Conclusion. Skim the Conclusion to make sure your article does not have "calls to action."

Calls to action are definitive and are designed to provoke emotions or reactions. Ex: "The only way to prevent nursing burnout is to hire more nurses!"

___________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

By using the 3 steps mentioned above you will be able to determine if an article is scholarly or not. 

Keep in mind that scholarly articles are written for experts in the field. They do not cover general information such as definitions, pro/cons, pathophysiology, statistics, anatomy, symptoms, etc. If you need general information, consider using other sources. 

If you need additional assistance, please reach out to a Galen Librarian. We are happy to help! https://galen.libguides.com/contactus