Health Sciences Library (HSL) 

Your library is the HSL, which has curated resources most helpful to health sciences researchers!

As a UW student, faculty, or staff member, you also have access to all University of Washington (UW) Libraries resources.

Anti-Racism

Searching Basics

Boolean operators: AND, OR, NOT

• PB&J example.
• ADHD example.
• Basics of Searching video (example in PubMed) by Julie Nanavati.

Disable Smart Quotes in Microsoft

• Research about the consequences of straight and curly quotation marks in search methodology.

Literature Review Help

• Always start from the library's website. 
  • This connects you with UW Libraries subscription resources.
  • Without this step, you will hit more paywalls.
• Off-campus Technical Support
• Ordering Articles not within the UW Libraries' Collections

Ask a librarian via the 24/7 chat!

Citation Management

Start with a citation manager so you can track what you find:

Evaluating Information Quality

Check that the information you find is high quality and reliable, even when it is peer reviewed research.

Research: Background Info

Background information is typically found in books.

Research: Scholarly & Grey Lit

General guideline is to search at least three databases, you will likely search more and look to grey literature sources to ensure you fully understand the context of your topic and incorporate many perspectives. 

Scholarly Literature

What is it? 

Scholarly lit typically refers to journal articles published to enhance the field of study. It is also called "academic literature", "research", or "peer reviewed". 

When do I use it? 

When trying to understand a current or evolving issue. As background or historical information, although textbooks are often a better choice for established facts. 

How do I find it? 

In scholarly databases: 

Grey Literature

What is it? 

Information "produced on all levels of government, academics, business and industry in electronic and print formats not controlled by commercial publishing i.e. where publishing is not the primary activity of the producing body." (http://www.greynet.org/)

When do I use it? 

Anytime you're researching. Relying only on scholarly literature tends to center whiteness because white supremacy is embedded throughout the research process: "Most editors are white and/or from Western nations, and 66-80% of peer reviewers are also white." Learn more about researching through an anti-racism lens.

How do I find it? 

• Google Advanced Search with domain names
• Search deep web, theses & dissertations, clinical trials, etc.

Data Sources

• Health Sciences Statistics 
• Data Management Guide: Find Data
• Public Health Toolkit: Data Resources
• Environmental & Occupational Health Toolkit: Data Resources 
• Global Health Toolkit: Data Resources 
• U.S. Decennial Census Guide 
• Washington State Department of Health: Data & Statistical Reports 

Tried for 15 minutes and can't find what you're looking for?

Ask a librarian via the 24/7 chat!

Hello! I am the Public Health and Research Services Librarian.

Health Sciences Librarians serve the University of Washington health sciences community by sharing information about library collections, services, department-specific resources, procedures for requesting new materials, and by supporting the teaching, clinical, and research needs of the UW health sciences community.

The Health Sciences Library Mission is to advance scholarship, research, education, and health care by anticipating information needs, providing essential resources, and facilitating learning for the greater health sciences community.

Learn more.