PHPB 8100: Research Tools for NIH Grantwriting (F31)

Start with a research plan to stay organized from the start! A suggested flow of research activities here:

1. Set up a citation manager before you begin, to save and sort your research findings. The GSU Library supports Zotero and EndNote.
2. If you have key articles and resources on hand from the beginning, follow up with Citation Mining and Cited Reference Searching to locate more resources in the same academic conversation. 
3. Identify key databases to search for more information on your subject. Note any databases used in the methods sections of review articles you've read, and explore GSU subscription databases for the subject areas covered in your topic. (Use the drop-down at the top of Databases A-Z to select multiple subjects.)
4. Create a search in each database for your topic. Prioritize date of publication in order to collect the most recent coverage. Each database is different in how it will understand a search string - make an appointment with your librarian for assistance in building a comprehensive search!
5. Explore grey literature / prepublication papers to gather the most recent information available.
6. Review your saved articles for patterns and trends in what is covered, or what is not covered. Authors may include information about gaps or opportunities in the literature in the discussion or conclusion sections of their work, or you may see trends in your own research. If you notice a trend, conduct a separate search for that element to personally verify if there is indeed a gap.
7. Upon locating an opportunity to discuss an issue, find primary data and statistics to add context and clarify the need for further research in that area.

Document your searches as you go, to organize your efforts and refer to your previous search strategies. Include elements like

• Date of search
• Database name - Be specific! EBSCO Ageline; ProQuest Health & Medical Collection; etc.
• Search string - Look for a copy/paste-able search string in the database under Search History or Advanced Search options.
• Link to search - Use the URL in the address bar in PubMed, or look for a Permalink/Stable URL in other databases to link back to the search. 
• Number of results - A record of the number of results can help you see at a glance which databases had more or less content for you, and illustrates changes in future versions of the search.
• Notes - Did you notice anything unusual about your results? Patterns in content? A difference in how you had to change your search for this particular database? Leave this space for any other comments or clarifications. 

If you have trouble finding the correct database name, search string, or permalink, ask your librarian for assistance.
Use the template below to get started with your documentation (includes examples):