Fundamental Research Skills

Understanding Database Results

Library databases return content and filter results based on:

• what keywords are searched. e.g. nursing will return nursing, NOT  nurses or healthcare
• what limiters were applied, e.g. full-text, peer-review

Library databases DO NOT filter results based on:

• previous searches in a web browser 
• social networking
• political affiliation
• recent online purchases

• what is the central question/thesis of the work?

• what is the research methodology and instrument for gathering data/evidence? e.g. interviews, questionnaires? 
• are the conclusions or results relevant?
• can the data be used to make statements across populations (scholarly, academic research)?
• are the results specific to a population (hospital study or limited by the institution and therefore credible but not scholarly)?
• did the researchers involve their peers, or did they publish without peer review?