Evidence types in health research
Knowing which evidence types are part of health research is crucial for academic success. It also directly affects patient outcomes in real-life contexts. Using up to date and informed evidence aids health professionals to deliver the best care across our health services.
Awareness of the unique attributes and strengths of each evidence type equips you to make decisions on which sources best suit your information needs.
What evidence do you need?
There are many different kinds of evidence you can use. Did you know that the source of information can influence the kind of information you'll find?
By understanding the unique attributes and strengths of each resource type, you'll be better equipped to discern which sources best suit your information needs.
Academic Articles
Academic articles provide the latest academic and clinical research, peer-reviewed by experts.
Books
Textbooks are useful for well-established facts, often information 20 or more years old.
Grey Literature
Websites can provide government policy, standards, professional guidelines and consumer health information.
If you'd like to learn more about the peer review process, watch the video What is Peer Review (3:41) and visit our Peer Review guide.
Academic articles
Academic articles are scholarly publications that present original research, comprehensive reviews, or critical analyses, offering some of the most current and reliable information on a given topic
When searching for evidence in a database, you will encounter a variety of journal articles. However, not all of them will be suitable for your assessment task.
Journal articles fall into 3 broad categories:
- Original research articles - These are primary sources of research, presenting the latest findings and original data on a specific research topic.
- Review articles - These are secondary sources of information that summarise and synthesise findings from multiple original research articles on a specific topic (e.g., systematic reviews, meta-analyses, or literature reviews).
- Opinion pieces and letters to the editor - These articles provide personal viewpoints or commentary but typically do not provide sufficient scientific evidence to be suitable for university assessments.
Watch the video (6:04) below to learn how to identify the different categories of journal articles.
How to search for different evidence types
Choose the type of evidence based on what will best answer your question and your assessment requirements. For more information, see our page on Information sources.
Expand the below sections to learn how to find the most common evidence types.
Search for books
You can find books and book chapters using Library Search. Enter relevant keywords and filter your search by resource type, selecting 'books'. You can also add other relevant limiters, e.g. date ranges.
- If you have a specific reference to a book or book chapter that you would like to find e.g. your textbook, search for the book title in Library Search.
- If the title is not very unique, trying adding the author's surname to your search (e.g. Macroeconomics Gordon).
- Once you have found the title and edition you require, check which campus(es) the title is available from, and if it is available as an e-book.
Search for journal articles
Academic articles, which are also known as peer reviewed, scholarly, or refereed articles, can be found in library databases. Continue working through this guide to learn how to find high-quality articles in databases that are relevant to your topic.
If you are struggling to find the full-text (PDF) of an academic article that you would like to access, try following these steps:
- Search for the article title in Library Search and check if it is available as a PDF or with the 'Find it @ Deakin' button.
- Search for the article title in Google Scholar and use the 'Find it @ Deakin' button (you will need to link your Deakin library access)
- Use the LibKey Nomad browser extension for quick and easy access to full-text articles through our library subscriptions.
- Ask for help through Library Chat.
Search for websites
Searching for evidence through Google can be a useful way to discover reports, policies, and user-generated content (e.g. blog posts, social media, news).
Check out our Complex searching through Google handout for guidance on building an effective Google search.