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What is a primary source?
A primary source in science is a document or record that reports on a study, experiment, trial or research project. Primary sources are usually written by the person[s] who did the research, conducted the study, or ran the experiment, and include hypothesis, methodology, and results.
Primary Sources include:
- Pilot/prospective studies
- Cohort studies
- Survey research
- Case studies
- Lab notebooks
- Clinical trials and randomized clinical trials/RCTs
- Dissertations
PubMed This link opens in a new window
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Major index to articles covering all aspects of medicine.
Finding Primary Sources: After conducting your search, check the boxes for Clinical Trial, Controlled Clinical Trial, and/or Randomized Clinical Trial under Article Type in the left sidebar.CINAHL Complete This link opens in a new window
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Literature in nursing and allied health disciplines, 1937 to present.
Finding Primary Sources: Under Publication Type, select Clinical Trial and Randomized Clinical Trial. [Hold down the CTRL key to select multiple items in the list]MEDLINE This link opens in a new window
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Provides authoritative medical information on medicine, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, the health care system, pre-clinical sciences, and more.
Finding Primary Sources: Under Publication Type, select Clinical Trial, Controlled Clinical Trial, and Randomized Clinical Trial. [Hold down the CTRL key to select multiple items in the list]
What is a secondary source?
Secondary sources list, summarize, compare, and evaluate primary information and studies so as to draw conclusions on or present current state of knowledge in a discipline or subject. Sources may include a bibliography which may direct you back to the primary research reported in the article.
Secondary Sources include:
- Reviews, systematic reviews, meta-analysis
- Newsletters and professional news sources
- Practice guidelines & standards
- Clinical care notes
- Patient education Information
- Government & legal Information
- Monographs
- Entries in nursing or medical encyclopedias
Secondary Sources
PubMed This link opens in a new window
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Finding Secondary Sources: After conducting your search, select the Systematic Review filter in the left sidebar on the results page.
Cochrane Library This link opens in a new window
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A collection of regularly updated, systematic reviews of the effects of health care.
Search Tip: Keep the search simple. If your topic is "Should women be given hormone replacement therapy" - search for Hormone Replacement Therapy.