Optometry Residents: Start

URL of this guide: guides.lib.berkeley.edu/opto/residents

Here is the agenda of today's session:

1. Off-campus access to online resources.
2. Asking Research Questions.
3. Finding Articles and Keeping Up To Date.
4. Finding Books and Other Material.
5. Clinical Trials.
6. Medical books.
7. Evaluating What You Find.
8. Citation Management.
9. Other information:
   • Research Impact.
   • Drug Information Resources.
   • Evidence-Based Practice.
   • Research Protocols.
   • Technology and Software.
10. Getting Help.

Click the Get it at UC button next to a citation in an article database. If it is not available online or at UC Berkeley, simply click "Request through Interlibrary Loan."

From a record in UC Library Search (the library catalog and more), simply click "Request through Interlibrary Loan."

• Print books are delivered to the UCB library of your choice for pick up.
• Journal articles and book chapters are shared as PDFs.
• Articles may be delivered in a couple of days or even hours; allow up to 2 weeks for delivery, sometimes longer, for books and hard to locate items.
• FREE for Berkeley faculty, staff, and students. No limit on number of books, articles, etc. you may request.

Off-campus access is limited to current UC Berkeley faculty, staff and students. Choose one of the following methods:

Library Proxy (aka EZproxy):
When you click on a link to an article, database, etc., from a library web page. you will be prompted to authenticate via CalNet.
If you click on an article (etc.) link found via a search engine or a non-UCB Library webpage, you should use this bookmarklet to access the licensed resource.

Virtual Private Network (VPN):
Download and install the VPN client to allow access the UC Berkeley licensed resources.
Make sure you select Library Access - Full Tunnel VPN when you log on.
VPN FAQ

Students: Problems setting up Library Proxy or VPN? Contact your librarian, or Student Technology Services: (510) 642-HELP, or sts-help@berkeley.edu.

Below are some examples of questions or lines of inquiry.
Considering what question a research article addresses may help you determine if it is relevant to your needs:

• Are their racial or ethnic disparities in type 1 diabetes mellitus prevalence?
• Compare and contrast personal versus "upstream" factors relevant to these disparities.
• Describe examples of things that could reduce these disparities, differentiating between personal and upstream factors. 
• If a policy or program increases disparities, what are possible reasons for this? Differentiate between personal and systemic factors.
• Describe a plan/program/policy to reduce these disparities.
• Justify why systemic or upstream factors contribute more to these disparities than personal factors.

What is a good Research Question? It is a question that:

• identifies a relevant issue in your field;
• pursues relatively uncharted research territories to address the problem;
• piques the interest of others.

This blog post has tips on how to write a good research question, including examples of bad, good, and great questions.

To reduce bias, it may be best to pose your question in a neutral manner. Examples:

• Neutral question: What is the impact of school-based physical activity interventions on time spent engaged in moderate to vigorous physical activity among children, in comparison to children not exposed to school-based interventions?
• Non-neutral question: Which school-based interventions are effective in increasing the amount of time children engage in moderate to vigorous physical activity?

However, a research question often reflects power and agency. Compare the following:

• Why are African American children expelled from school more than white children?
• Why do schools expel disproportionate numbers of African American children?

What is the question being addressed in the study you are reading? Compare:

• "Our intervention worked toward fixing Problem X."
• "The most effective interventions for fixing Problem X are: ..."
• "The effects of our intervention on Problem X are: ..."

When you read an article, answer (briefly) the following (source):

• What question are the authors addressing?
• What did they do to answer the question?
• What was their rationale for doing what they did to address their question?
• What were the findings?
• How were the authors think their findings mean?

Finding a systematic review that addresses the question you are interested in can be very helpful: take a look at the search strategy and databases used in the systematic review for tips on your search.

Case Report Guidelines (PDF), from the American Academy of Optometry. How to prepare and write a case report, including a link a video of the 2022 Virtual Case Report Workshop.