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CARD: Electrocardiography - Evansville: Home

Databases

Search Tips

Here are some useful tips to help you get the most out of your catalog and database searches. 

  • Start with a keyword search. Keyword searches will give you a broad range of results so you can see more of the types of information available.
  • Be sure to try multiple searches and search terms. Think of all the possible terms for a topic including alternate names, spellings, or abbreviations. 
  • Truncation allows you to search fo all possible endings to a root word. For example using Child* in the databases will find results that contain child, children, childhood, child's, etc. 
  • The databases offer you a tool to limit the publication dates to a specific time period.  Publishers will often date ahead of the calendar, so set the end range ahead a few months.   
  • Check the article type. Many journals will include editorials and book and film reviews that should not be used as research sources.
  • The databases Academic Search Premier, Health Business, and MEDLINE are all owned by EBSCO. When you go in to any of these databases you can click on the blue Choose Databases link at the top of the page and select other databases to search all at the same time.  This will slow the database down a bit, but can save you time in the long run. 

Print and Electronic Books

Recommended Search Terms

Using the right search terms can help immensely in the research process. Listed below are a few possible terms to help get you started:

  • ECG 
  • electrocardiography
  • electrophysiology
  • dysrhythmia
  • bradycardia
  • tachycardia
  • asystole
  • pacemaker
  • artifacts
  • fibrillation

Evaluating Websites

When using internet sources in a research project it is important to take critical look at the website you are using and to determine if it contains reliable information.  Look for the following when evaluating websites.

Authority - Does the site have an author or sponsoring organization that is qulified and knowledgeable about the topic you are researching?

Accuracy - Is the information on the site correct?  You may need to have a second source to fact check against if you are not sure. 

Currency - Is the website up-to-date?  Look for copyrights or the date the site was last updated to make sure you are not getting out-dated information.

Objectivity - Is the Information on the site biased?  Look for ads, editorial writings, or other indications that the site is meant to sway the audience to a particular point of view.

Coverage - How comprehensive is the site?  Look to see if the the purpose or goals of the site are clearly given.  Make sure they are not promoting a particular product or ideology.