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Kinesiology & Health Science

A guide for locating resources relevant to assignments in Kinesiology and Health Science classes.

Develop Your Topic

Before you start searching for sources, take some time to prepare to search. Spending time preparing to search will save you time and it helps to reduce some of the frustrations.

Begin with developing your topic. As you think about possible topics, ask yourself:

  • What am I interested in? (but avoid topics too personal or emotional)
  • What topics are related to my expertise?
  • What topic fits with the assignment?
  • Is there a current problem at my workplace to investigate?

Once you have a general topic in mind, as yourself

  • What do I already know about this topic?
  • What do I need to know about this topic?

You can search for background information on your topic to understand it better. You will also want to do some preliminary searching regarding your topic to see if other people have published on this issue.

Topic Development Videos

Watch these videos to learn more about developing your topic.

Get Background Information

Learn more about your topic as you work to figure out your focus.

Read about your topic in a reference resource (like a textbook, encyclopedia, or a reference database/website). These sources will contain the background information you need to help you further understand issues within your topic, identify key terms, and narrow your topic.

Search for a book or ebook on your topic in the library's catalog or in the R2 Digital Library (ebooks specifically covering health sciences).

PICO

Begin your research with your PICO(T) question. The PICO(T) question format is how questions are formatted in the health sciences. 

 

PICO(T) is a mnemonic used to describe the elements of a good clinical question. It helps you think specifically about different aspects of what you want/need to research or investigate. A defined PICO(T) question is the beginning of doing research.

PICO(T)
Ask yourself...
Examples
Patient population/disease
How would you describe your group of patients? 
 age, gender, ethnicity, persons with a certain disorder, etc
Intervention or issue of interest
What main intervention are you considering?
specific therapy, exposure to disease, prognostic factor A, risk behavior
Comparison intervention or issue of interest
What is the main alternative to compare with the intervention?
alternative therapy, placebo, no intervention/therapy, no disease, prognostic factor B, absence of risk factor
Outcome
What can you hope to accomplish, measure, improve or affect?
outcome expected from therapy, risk of disease, accuracy of diagnosis, rate of occurrence of adverse outcome
Time
What time frame?
the time it takes for the intervention to achieve the outcome, the time over which populations are observed for the outcome to occur, given the certain condition

Use one of the templates below to put together all the PICO(T) pieces into one question.

INTERVENTION
In____________________(P),how does____________________(I)compared to____________________(C)affect _____________________(O) within ___________(T)?

THERAPY
In__________________(P),what is the effect of__________________(I)compared to_____________(C)on________________(O) within_____________(T)?

PROGNOSIS/PREDICTION
In______________(P), how does___________________(I) compared to_____________(C) influence __________________(O) over_______________(T)?

DIAGNOSIS OR DIAGNOSTIC TEST
In___________________(P) are/is____________________(I) compared with_______________________(C) more accurate in diagnosing_________________(O)?

ETIOLOGY
Are____________________(P), who have____________________(I) compared with those without ____________________(C) at____________ risk for/of ____________________(O) over________________(T)?

MEANING
How do_______________________(P ) with_______________________(I) perceive_______________________(O) during ________________(T)?

 

Template Source:
Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2015). Evidence-based practice in nursing and healthcare: A guide to best practice. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.