Hi. I'm Tricia, your embedded librarian and I've created this guide to help you with your research for EHR213.

Each section introduces the steps you should take when researching for an assessment. You'll find links to videos and resources that will give you the tools to find great information. Use the activities on the test your knowledge tab to see what you need to revise.

The first thing is to make sure you clearly understand the task and what topic you are seeking information for, this is called topic analysis. Check your assessment task details in your Subject Outline.

With an understanding of your task you then need to plan how you will search for information. This starts with identifying and brainstorming keywords.

For your major assessment, you need to design a hypothetical psychological skills training and/or behaviour change program for a specific individual or population from the list. So, you need to decide which population or individual you are focusing on and which theories, theoretical framework/s or model/s you are using to inform your design. An example might be:

Don't forget thatyou are required to use at least 10 academic sources, including required readings, book chapters and journal articles.

For guidance in topic analysis check out:

Before you start searching, think about what types of information you need and where you can search to find those types of resources.

Primo Search

Primo Search is a good place to start as it allows you to use one search box to bring back results from most of our Library collection including books, eBooks, journal articles, newspaper articles and more. You may get a large number of results and some of these will be from outside your subject/discipline area. Check the content is relevant to your assessment task before you use it.

Library databases

Databases will help you find academic resources and are often subject specific. You will get fewer results than Primo, but they will be more relevant to your subject/discipline. 

I recommend trying the following database:

The Exercise and Sports Sciences list has more databases you can search.

Learn how to search efficiently in Primo and Library databases:

When you search using Primo Search or a library database use the keywords and limits you identified above to create your search. Combine the keywords with "search operators", rather than searching with a whole sentence or question. Search operators tell Primo or the database how to search with your keywords.

For your assessment topic potential search strings could include:

• ( (masters OR older) athlete OR ("Athletes In Middle Age") ) AND ( physical activity OR exercise OR fitness OR physical exercise ) AND program*
• (masters OR older) athlete AND "physical activity maintenance" OR "Athletic Training Programs"
• (masters OR older) athlete AND ("physical training & conditioning" OR "athletic training")

Remember: you will need to try a range of searches. Don't stop after just one.

To understand how search operators work check out:

If you're interested in finding out more, check out the following:

The Academic Skills team can help you to build your writing, referencing and reading skills to be successful at Charles Sturt.

Explore resources from the Academic Skills team in the Learning Skills section of the Student Portal.

Here are some pages to get you started:

Access to your textbook, however, is limited. Follow the best practice in the video below to ensure you have access to what you need without disadvantaging other students in your subject.