Research could be more accessible

[keyeri]

Firstly, greetings. I haven't posted for years so I may as well be a newbie.

I have been trying to make my way in the world as a freelance writer, usually covering health topics. I consider myself to be a reasonably skilled Googler but sometimes I find it very difficult to obtain the research I need. I usually end up with a bunch of abstracts for each topic and tend to cobble the rest from "reliable" websites or books. This isn't the worst thing in the world but it's not ideal. Sometimes I try to source the references from other articles, only to find out the abstracts are not available online or available to health professionals only. (I must also point out that my local libraries are not particularly helpful either, with very few recent books or periodicals.)

When I was a psychiatric nurse, I had an Athens account that gave me access to several electronic databases, which in turn led me to the research I needed. More digging was required to get to the actual articles, but I got there in the end, thanks to an excellent university library. Now that I'm no longer a health professional, I do not get this access, even though I am more than willing to pay for it. How am I expected to produce quality articles that reflect the truth, when the truth isn't always accessible?

This is very frustrating, though perhaps I am over-thinking it or trying to be too thorough. There are some good sources out there but I find it irritating that there are more that I can't access, meaning I might miss something. I also appreciate that these organisations and journals need to make their money (perhaps that's a debate for another day) but I feel that research should be open to the public.

 

[Yllanes]

In theoertical physics, virtually all research papers are freely available at the arXiv in the form of preprints.

 

[keyeri]

Thanks for this - the Quantitative Biology section may prove quite useful.

 

[JJM]

Most college libraries (even, Community Colleges) provide access to full-text databases if you go to their libraries to log-in. Public libraries may afford access to databases that you can search from home, using your library-card number as your password.

Finally, I have never needed to do this so I cannot give instructions, many libraries offer on-line reference that might supply you with electronic copies. Visit, or call, the reference service at a major library to inquire about that. While you are at it, ask about where to find free publication of NIH-sponsored research. If I recall correctly, it is supposed to be free one year after publication.

 

[keyeri]

Most college libraries (even, Community Colleges) provide access to full-text databases if you go to their libraries to log-in. Public libraries may afford access to databases that you can search from home, using your library-card number as your password.

Finally, I have never needed to do this so I cannot give instructions, many libraries offer on-line reference that might supply you with electronic copies. Visit, or call, the reference service at a major library to inquire about that. While you are at it, ask about where to find free publication of NIH-sponsored research. If I recall correctly, it is supposed to be free one year after publication.

Thank you - I'm glad I asked as undoubtedly there will always be things I didn't think about. I know my local libraries didn't offer some these services last year but it's worth checking to see if things have changed.

 

[shadron]

It's the same old story. People need to make a living, and doing library services is one of the ways in which value is added into the available information stream. It's worth it in terms of costs, but the mechanics of it are still embedded in paper-and-ink technologies of the previous century. Things are changing it what any sane person from the 1950's would say is breakneck speed, but those caught in it now are impatient.

Keep pushing - the squeaky wheel gets the grease, but there are so many wheels.