Unlock the Power of Healthcare Knowledge with Your Library Databases!

Navigating the world of healthcare can feel incredibly overwhelming. The feeling of being time-poor while juggling personal commitments, lectures, and clinical placements can be intense. So, when it comes to research for assignments or understanding complex conditions, it can be hard to know where to start.

Rather than time spent on endless online searches that can lead you down rabbit holes of questionable websites and outdated information, your library invests in premium healthcare databases like CINAHL, MEDLINE, British Nursing Database (and many more!) for a reason – they are goldmines of credible, peer-reviewed research specifically for healthcare.

Our Database Search page is fully integrated within our main library search tool and can be found at the top of Primo, so no need to remember any separate URLs.

The Database Search is divided up into different subjects so you can browse resources applicable to your course. Alternatively, you can search by key terms and draw results from the whole of the collection.

Befriend these databases for:

  • Reliable, up-to-date evidence: These databases curate information from reputable journals.
  • Targeted Information: Use specific keywords and filters to pinpoint articles directly related to your topic, whether it’s wound care, mental health nursing, or diabetes management.
  • Evidence-Based Practice at Your Fingertips: These databases help provide the foundation for understanding the “why” behind the practice, helping deliver the best possible services based on solid research.
  • Academic Success: Using credible sources from these databases will strengthen your arguments, demonstrate critical thinking, and ultimately lead to better grades.
  • Expanded knowledge: Broaden your understanding of healthcare topics for career preparedness.

Don’t know where to start?  

  1. Sign in to Primo – your library catalogue.
  2. Search in the ‘Database Search’ for your database – follow any off-campus notes if needed.
  3. For further information and support, see your LibGuide or contact your librarian.

Happy researching!

AI and the Library. Week Seven: The Ethics of Using Generative AI (Part Two)

Be transparent about your AI Usage

Before we get properly underway, let me just reiterate that you must always follow any university and departmental guidance on using AI tools in assessed work.

In our last post on the ethics of using generative AI, we started looking at the importance of understanding the responsibilities that come with using these tools. The key message in that post was the need to familiarise yourself with Aberystwyth University’s guidelines on AI usage.

This week, we’re covering another important topic: being transparent about your use of AI tools in assessed work.

As generative AI becomes more widely available, universities are emphasising the importance of academic integrity and clear disclosure when using these technologies.

Using AI can be a valuable aid in research, brainstorming, and drafting, but it’s essential to be upfront about how and where you’ve used it.

Being open about your use of AI tools is vital for maintaining academic integrity. Transparency shows your commitment to honesty and ethical study practices.

Key Takeaway: Why Transparency Matters:

  • It demonstrates your academic honesty.
  • It reflects your commitment to ethical study practices.
  • It highlights your critical thinking skills.
  • It reinforces your professional accountability.

How to Acknowledge AI Usage:

Academic departments and module coordinators will be best placed to advise you on how you should acknowledge AI outputs. These might include:

  • AI tool-use statements.
  • Advice on correct referencing and citation practices for AI outputs.

You can find additional help and support on using AI here: Artificial Intelligence  : Information Services , Aberystwyth University

AI and the Library. Week Six: The Ethics of Using Generative AI (Part One)

When I first set out to write about the ethics of using generative AI, I thought it would be just a single blog post. But the deeper I dug, the more there was to explore. So, instead of just one post, this topic has turned into a spin-off series of its own (think House of the Dragon to Game of Thrones!)

Over the past few weeks, we’ve explored how generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity are transforming how users interact with library resources. But with these advancements come important ethical considerations.

The first, and arguably most important, step in using generative AI responsibly is understanding your university’s AI policies. Familiarising yourself with the guidelines ensures you stay academically honest and allows you to make informed decisions about AI use.

Here’s are some things to keep in mind:

University-wide Guidelines

  • Review the university’s official policies on using AI in academic work.
  • Check for specific rules about AI in assignments, exams, or research projects.

Departmental Advice

  • Look for any AI-related guidance provided by your academic department.
  • Pay attention to instructions or updates from your module tutors about AI use.

Module-specific Rules

  • Some modules may have unique rules about using AI tools.
  • Check your module handbook or ask your module coordinator if you’re unsure about what’s allowed.

Consequences of Misuse

  • Misusing AI or failing to acknowledge its role could be considered academic misconduct.
  • Be aware of the potential consequences, such as:
    • Failed assignments.
    • Disciplinary action.
    • Harm to your academic reputation.

By understanding these policies, you can use AI responsibly and meet the university’s expectations while maintaining academic integrity.

AI and the Library. Week Five: Using AI to Develop Smart Keyword Searches.

Here at the library, we’re big fans of Primo, the library catalogue. With Primo, you’re not just able to find the books on our shelves, you’re also getting access millions of digital resources, all ready and waiting at your fingertips.

But with so many resources available to you, searching the library catalogue can sometimes feel frustrating. If you use too broad a search (e.g. “history”) then you are inundated with results. Too narrow a search term (“Neo-Gothic architecture in rural Chile”) and you’ve got nothing!

So what can you do? Our advice as subject librarians is to start by building a keyword vocabulary. Having a clear set of keywords will make your searches more targeted, helping you focus on the most relevant and useful resources. It’s a simple step that can make a huge difference in your research journey!

How Can AI Help You Build a Search Vocabulary?

An AI tool like ChatGPT can suggest smarter keywords, synonyms, and related concepts to make your searches more effective. Let’s look at some examples.

1. Smarter Alternatives to Broad Terms.

[Prompt] Suggest some keyword alternatives for “Climate change”

The AI might respond with:

  • Global warming.
  • Climate crisis.
  • Greenhouse effect.

2. Investigating Causes.

Want to explore what drives climate change? Try:

[Prompt] Provide me with a list of keywords for some of the main causes of climate change.

The response:

  • Carbon dioxide emissions.
  • Fossil fuels.
  • Industrial pollution.
  • Methane emissions.

3. Exploring Impacts.

    Do you want to focus on how climate change affects the planet? Use:

    [Prompt] Suggest keywords for the main impacts of climate change.

    Response:

    • Sea level rise.
    • Melting polar ice caps.
    • Extreme weather events.
    • Biodiversity loss.
    • Ocean acidification.

    4. Looking for Solutions

    For mitigation strategies, try:

    [Prompt] Suggest keywords for how climate change can be mitigated.

    Response

    • Renewable energy.
    • Carbon sequestration.
    • Climate change policies.
    • Green technology.
    • Sustainable development.

    Putting It All Together

    Finally, combine these ideas for a more complex search. For example:

    {Prompt] Suggest a set of keyword searches to find resources on the effects of methane emissions on biodiversity loss and what can be done to mitigate those effects.

    The AI might help you craft a search that looks like this:

    • Methane emissions and biodiversity.
    • Impact of methane on Arctic ecosystems.
    • Methane mitigation technologies in permafrost regions.

    By using AI to build a targeted keyword vocabulary, you’ll spend less time searching and more time discovering the resources you need.

    [Responses listed above were created with ChatGPT].

    AI and the Library. Week Four. Perplexity AI – Tool Review.

    You probably don’t need us to tell you—there are a lot of AI tools out there. While ChatGPT might have grabbed the headlines early on, Perplexity AI is quickly becoming one of our favourites here in the library.

    Perplexity AI is making waves in the world of information retrieval, and for good reason. Unlike its more conversational counterpart, ChatGPT, which often indulges in lengthy dialogues, Perplexity adopts a direct and efficient approach to answering queries. This makes it an ideal tool for those who need quick facts, thorough research, or insights into specific topics. Not only that, but it provides citations for all its responses.

    Why Choose Perplexity?

    Here are the standout features that make Perplexity a top choice:

    • Real-Time Information: Perplexity pulls fresh data directly from the web, ensuring you always get the most current information.
    • Clear Summaries: Instead of bombarding you with endless links, it delivers concise, direct answers to save you time.
    • [This is the big winner for us] Fact Verification: Every response comes with citations, so you can easily verify the credibility of the information and explore further if needed.

    How can Perplexity help you?

    • Resource discovery. It can suggest effective keywords or phrases to refine your searches in the library catalogue or other online databases. (Stay tuned for our upcoming blog post on smart keyword searches)
    • Study Aid: It can quickly clarify topics, provide concise explanations, or further explore topics for better understanding, all of which can save time during study sessions.
    • Fact-Checking: Perplexity can quickly verify claims or statistics for essays or presentations, ensuring your work is both accurate and credible.

    Some Things to Remember About Perplexity

    • Limited Conversation Depth: Perplexity isn’t as good as ChatGPT at maintaining contextual follow-ups or extended conversational exchanges.
    • Reliance on External Sources: While citations are a strong feature, the tool’s accuracy depends on the quality of its referenced sources. Always cross-check critical information where possible.
    • No Creative or Open-Ended Outputs: Perplexity isn’t designed for tasks like creative writing, brainstorming, or exploratory discussions—ChatGPT is much more suited to these tasks.

    Putting it All Together.

    Perplexity AI is a powerful tool for students and researchers, offering quick access to up-to-date information and helpful citations for fact-checking and further study.

    Unlike ChatGPT, which excels in conversations, Perplexity delivers concise answers, making it ideal for academic work. It also helps you to discover further resources by suggesting effective search keywords.

    However, it lacks the conversational depth of ChatGPT, and its accuracy depends on the quality of the sources that it cites. By combining both tools, you can make the most of your study time and make your research process more focused and effective.

    AI and the Library Week three. Prompt writing: How to write effective prompts for better AI results

    AI can be a valuable tool to help you to get the most out of your time in the library. By utilising the conversational style of AI tools like ChatGPT, you can collaborate with the AI to refine searches, get personalised recommendations, and quickly discover relevant resources that meet your specific academic needs.

    To get the best results from AI, it’s important to ask the right questions, and this is a skill in itself,

    Pixabay

    This skill, known as prompt building or prompt engineering, involves structuring your queries in a way that directly impacts the usefulness of the AI’s responses. Mastering this technique can significantly improve your results from AI tools. (For more on the importance of effective prompt building, see our AI and the Library Guide here).

    What is an effective prompt?

    A good AI prompt is concise, structured, and specific. You might like to think of it as a formula, where each element plays a role in making the prompt clear, targeted, and focused on the desired outcome.

    The elements of the formula might look something like this:

    Task + Topic + Structure + Style + Level

    Let’s have a look at what we mean by those elements and how we might apply them in a library scenario.

    The Task component of the formula specifies what you want the tool to do. Some examples might include: Find; Summarise; Explain; Describe; Compare.

    The Topic defines the subject matter or scenario that we want the Task to explore. Examples might include: The Origins of the Second World War; Romanticism in English Literature; The Aims of Positive Psychology.

    The Structure specifies the format in which the response should be presented. You could ask for responses in: One Sentence; 200 words; A Bullet Point List; A table; A Graphic or Chart.

    The Style specifies how the content should be written. Styles might include: Formal; Informal; Academic; Witty.

    The Level of detail indicates the depth and scope of the information needed. This level of detail could be a Basic Overview or an In-Depth Analysis (or anywhere inbetween!)

    Here’s an example that you might use in the library. You want to find some library resources that will help you to answer the following question: “Analyse the themes and characteristics of English Romanticism in the poetry of William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge.”

    • Task: Find
    • Topic: Books that discuss English Romanticism and the poetry of William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge
    • Structure. A bullet point list
    • Style. Academic
    • Level. An introductory overview

    The full prompt may look something like this:

    Please find me some academic books that give an introductory overview of English Romanticism and the poetry of William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge and show them in a bullet point list

    This was the output that the AI provided* (for this example, we used perplexity.ai, a tool we will be reviewing in our next AI blog post):

    *We always recommend checking any AI outputs for accuracy.

    By getting to grips with the art of prompt building, you can more effectively communicate your needs to the AI. This ensures that the responses are both academically relevant and that they meet your specific learning needs – saving you time spent searching. You could then visit Primo, the library catalogue to see if the library has the suggested titles available for you.

    As demonstrated in our example, a well-structured prompt can help you uncover valuable academic resources that can quickly help you get a better understanding of topics.

    AberSkills. Your skills hub

    Do you want to develop your academic writing skills, learn about using the library and its resources, get to grips with referencing, or improve your employability skills?

    Good news! These topics and more are covered in the Semester 1 AberSkills programme, which is available for free for all students at Aberystwyth University.

    AberSkills Workshops take place throughout the academic year and are a mixture of face to face and online sessions. Most sessions are offered in both Welsh and English.

    All workshops are listed on the AberSkills website. Take a look to see what’s available and book your place in a click.

    If you miss a session and want to catch-up, academic skills and library workshop teaching materials for 2023-2024 are available on Blackboard under Organisations. 2024-2025 workshop teaching materials will be uploaded soon after the session.

    Protecting your research: avoiding publication scams 

    Journal hijacking and fraudulent journal sites are becoming an increasing problem for journal authors, publishers and readers. Publishing scams aim to exploit researchers, promising quick publication but charging excessive publication fees. These sites can often be a clone of an established journal, set up to extract fees from unsuspecting authors. 

    Publishers are becoming more increasingly aware of the problem and have taken steps to combat this new trend. Scopus academic database had 67 hijacked journals on its database by 2023 (Challenges posed by hijacked journals in Scopus – Abalkina – 2024 – Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology – Wiley Online Library ) To help alleviate this problem, Scopus removed URLs to all journal homepages that it indexes, although the problem persists (Retraction Watch, 2023 Elsevier’s Scopus deletes journal links following revelations of hijacked indexed journals – Retraction Watch

    Many authors and readers are unaware of this practice and the following resources might be useful to consider. 

    Evaluating journals: 

     
    Support from your library: 

     
    Contact us: librarians@aber.ac.uk  

    Jisc Historical Texts has ended

    Jisc no longer provides Jisc Historical Texts. To compensate for the loss of this service:

    Early Modern Books covers material from the British Isles and Europe for the period 1450-1700. An integrated search across both Early English Books Online and Early European Books allows scholars to view materials from over 225 source libraries worldwide. EEBO’s content draws on authoritative short-title catalogues of the period and features many text transcriptions specially created for the product. Content from Europe covers the curated Early European Books Collections from 4 national libraries and London’s Wellcome Library.

    Eighteenth Century Collections Online (ECCO) is a vast eighteenth-century library at your desktop—a fully text-searchable corpus of books, pamphlets and broadsides in all subjects printed between 1701 and 1800. It currently contains over 180,000 titles amounting to over 32 million fully-searchable pages.

    Titles in the Jisc Journal Archive are available via other providers through Primo, the library catalogue.

    Contact librarians@aber.ac.uk or your subject librarian if you have any questions.

    Introducing: Database Search

    We are pleased to announce the release of our new Database Search functionality on Primo – the library catalogue, which has replaced the A-Z of Electronic Resources page.

    Our new Database Search page is fully integrated within our main library search tool and can be found at the top of Primo, so no need to remember any separate URLs.

    The new Database Search is divided up into different subjects so you can browse resources applicable to your course. Alternatively, you can search by key terms and draw results from the whole of the collection.

    Each resource comes with a brief description so you can explore how each one might benefit your studies.

    Find the new search feature here.