HED 207: Youth Health Issues, Pettit

This library guide was put together to highlight information resources in public health and community health, focusing on youth. This is intended to help you access and explore library resources in order to find peer-reviewed journal articles to use in your assignment.

Murphy Library connects UWL students to information not only by providing free access to resources, but also by offering help when it comes to searching for and evaluating information. Feel free to reach out to the library with any questions you have throughout your research process. This guide will be here for the remainder of the semester, so please refer back to it!

1. Start by thinking about your topic - which youth health issue have you chosen to focus on?

Ask yourself, "What do I want to know?" What is relevant to the prompt of your assignment? What matters to you? Try different brainstorming techniques - concept mapping, talking out loud, writing full sentences... Consider the 5Ws to start shaping the scope. (You can even try brainstorming using AI!)

Pull out key terms (words or phrases you might use in a search) and make lists of synonyms for each term.

2. Try searching in multiple places.

Search@UW is a far-reaching tool that covers a wide variety of information. Try your searches in a few of the library databases listed on this guide. Try your searches in a few of the journals.

Don't try just one search. Try many different approaches with different search terms until you find relevant results!

Set aside a place for you to take notes while you search; keep track of where you've searched and what terms you've used. Save permalinks so you can get back to any sources that caught your eye.

Start with simple keyword searches, then add filters to narrow your results. (Especially filtering for peer review and filtering by date!) If you're feeling comfortable, try out some advanced search tips in our databases.

3. Access full text of articles.

Once you've read an abstract for an article you would like to continue reading, look for a link to view the PDF or for full text. 

Use Murphy Library ILLiad Interlibrary Loan service for items not available in your local libraries.

4. Reach out for help!

Visit the library Reference Desk in Murphy. Call us at (608) 785-8508, email refemail@uwlax.edu, or use the Ask A Librarian online form. You can also set up an Individual Research Consultation.