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Health Data & Statistics

Guide to locating sources of numerical data and health statistics

Search Engines

“Search engines such as Google allow users to search the words within each website and use Boolean logic to find material. However, these automated facilities are not fine tuned to take advantage of the particular structure of health statistics.

"Because they are based on the experience of other users, search engines require an effort to focus in on particular health statistics series. They are extremely valuable in finding particular references once you know what you are looking for.”*

*Source: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/nichsr/usestats/6_2_internet_strategies.html

What is Google Scholar? How should I use it?

Google Scholar is a time-saving, scholarly search interface. With Google Scholar, you can locate scholarly journal articles, books and book sections.  For literature searching, specialized databases have more functionality and access more comprehensive results, but Google Scholar is a good tool to use for a search for a known item.

You can configure Google Scholar to:

  • Display a link to NYU options for the full-text of an article
  • Export your citations to RefWorks or EndNote

Here's how to display NYU links in Google Scholar:

  1. Open scholar.google.com
  2. Go to the left screen, 3 bars, "Settings" 
  3. Click on menu item, "Library Links"
  4. Type in: NYU
  5. From the results, put a check mark next to "New York University Libraries-GetIt at NYU"
  6. Click on Save to save preferences.

The next time you search scholar.google.com, the GetIt at NYU option will be available next to accessible article citations.

Here's how to change settings for Bibliography manager:

  1. Open scholar.google.com
  2. Go to the left screen, 3 bars, "Settings" 
  3. In the Search Results, go to Bibliography Manager
  4. Select Show Links to import citation into: (your choice of bibliography manager, BibTex, Refworks, Endnote, etc.)
  5. Click on Save to save preferences.