Before you start a thorough search for information, you should first ensure you have enough background information about your topic. Some preliminary searching can give you the necessary knowledge, and allow you to assess the volume and extent of available material.
- Books: Textbooks and monographs in your subject area can be useful sources of background information. Search NHS Knowledge & Library Hub, NHS England's search tool, for electronic books. Browsing relevant book material can help to get a more thorough and detailed understanding of a topic.
- Journal articles: For finding current research on specific subjects, journal articles can reflect recent scholarly activity, as well as past research in specialised subject areas. Articles can also be found through NHS Knowledge & Library Hub and through databases, some of which are subject-specific, with powerful search functionality to ensure your search is thorough, focused and relevant.
- Clinical Decision Support Tools: Provide evidence summaries on a range of topic areas; an example is BMJ Best Practice.
- Web searches: Be cautious about using information you find using a simple web search. Sites such as Wikipedia can be altered by anyone. Evaluate your sources to decide if they are reliable and valid.
It may be helpful to do an exploratory search (sometimes called a scoping search) to understand your topic further and get an understanding of the nature and extent of existing literature on that topic. This is particularly important when carrying out independent research as it can help you identify gaps in existing research, which may then help you formulate and finalise your research question.
Close
