View all badges
Research skills
This Open Badge is awarded to social services workers who complete the ‘A Guide to Effective Literature Searching’ learning resource on Turas.
This Open Badge is awarded to people who successfully complete the ‘A Guide to Effective Literature Searching’ learning resource.
On completion of the resource, you will be able to:
- define and plan your effective literature search
- define your question
- define your key terms and concepts
- decide where you will search
- build and refine your search.
This learning resource was developed by NES Knowledge Services. It consists of one module for anyone working in social services in Scotland and takes approximately 30 minutes to complete.
The module is freely available to anyone with a Turas Learn account. If you do not have an account already, please register on Turas Learn. This will make sure your learning activity is recorded and you will be able to generate a record of completion.
OB-1284
You must not use any generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to plan, write or improve your evidence for this badge.
To achieve this badge, you must:
- complete the A Guide to Effective Literature Searching module on TURAS
- explain your understanding of an effective literature search (100-200 words)
- describe how you will use what you have learned in your day-to-day practice to improve outcomes for the people you support (100-200 words)
- share what you have learned with others and tell us about how and when you did this (25-50 words).
The total word count for your evidence submission should not exceed 450 words.
Your application will be returned to you with a request for further evidence if it does not meet all the above criteria or is unclear which of these questions you are answering within your evidence.
There are no prerequisites for this badge.
You need to write between 225 and 450 words answering the questions in the criteria. You can write directly on the badge application form or share a link to your own blog or portfolio.
When writing your answers, think about:
Your understanding of an effective literature search (100-200 words)
- what is the importance of the search question?
- What types of literature you would look for e.g. articles, policy etc?
- Where would you search for the information you want?
How you will use this learning in practice (100-200 words)
- How will you use the information you search for?
- How will it improve your interactions with service users?
- Why is evidence based practice necessary?
Sharing your learning with others (25-50 words)
- How you shared what you learned.
- When you did this.
Remember: The evidence you submit will be viewable by anyone you show your badge to. Don’t include private or confidential information.
Badge issuer
The Knowledge Network for health and social care
The Knowledge Network for health and social care is a digital library designed for those working within social care in Scotland. Here you will find high-quality materials like eBooks and eJournals to help inform your research and practice.
Badge standards
Use of knowledge, research and evidence in practice
CPL core learning element for Social workers (including NQSW) and Care Inspectorate authorised officersKnowledge for your role
CPL core learning element for Social care and children and young people workforceSubmit your application
Terms and conditions
1. I have read, understood and completed all activities listed in the badge criteria. The evidence I have provided answers each question from the criteria.
2. I confirm that the evidence I have submitted is free from personally identifiable information of others. Nobody can be identified, directly or indirectly, from any examples I provide.
3. I confirm that I have not used generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) to plan or write any of the evidence I have provided. This is my own original work and I have not copied it from anywhere or anyone else. I understand that all AI assistance is banned under the rules for Open Badge applications.
4. I give consent for the SSSC and the people I share this badge with to use plagiarism and AI detection tools to validate the authenticity of the evidence I have submitted.
5. I understand that it may take up to 28 days to assess my application and that feedback cannot always be provided if it is unsuccessful.
Your evidence, name, and email address will be sent to the organisation who issue this badge