Finding Information in the Finding Information in the Biological SciencesBiological Sciences

Bruce SlutskyBruce Slutsky

Robert Van Houten LibraryRobert Van Houten Library

The Scientific MethodThe Scientific Method

The scientific method is the process by The scientific method is the process by which scientists, collectively and over time, which scientists, collectively and over time, endeavor to construct an accurate endeavor to construct an accurate representation of the world.  There are representation of the world.  There are various thought processes that are used various thought processes that are used when the scientific method is employedwhen the scientific method is employed

Information RetrievalInformation Retrieval

Scientists, engineers and students must Scientists, engineers and students must be able to find information at all levels be able to find information at all levels from a multitude of information resources from a multitude of information resources available to them.available to them.

Similarities between the Scientific Similarities between the Scientific Method and Information RetrievalMethod and Information Retrieval

Scientific MethodScientific Method Know the subject Know the subject Require new knowledge Require new knowledge Propose an experiment to find Propose an experiment to find

new knowledge new knowledge Conduct the experiment Conduct the experiment Observe and interpret the results Observe and interpret the results Revise the experiment Revise the experiment Interpret the final outcome of the Interpret the final outcome of the

experiment experiment

Information RetrievalInformation Retrieval Know the scope of and contents of Know the scope of and contents of

databases in his/her field of databases in his/her field of endeavor endeavor

Require new knowledge Require new knowledge Devise an initial search strategy Devise an initial search strategy

using relevant terminology in using relevant terminology in subject databases subject databases

Examine the initial answer set Examine the initial answer set Revise the strategy based on Revise the strategy based on

findings from the initial answer set findings from the initial answer set Explore alternative search options Explore alternative search options Examine the final answer set Examine the final answer set Find the relevant documents Find the relevant documents Use the information foundUse the information found

Formats of the Scientific and Formats of the Scientific and Technical LiteratureTechnical Literature

Journal Journal Conference Proceeding Conference Proceeding Magazine Magazine Review Journal Review Journal Research Level Book (monograph) Research Level Book (monograph) EncyclopediaEncyclopedia

What is a Journal?What is a Journal?

A A journaljournal is a publication issued periodically is a publication issued periodically that reports original research. that reports original research.

Peer Review ProcessPeer Review Process Detailed articles with experimental Detailed articles with experimental

proceduresprocedures Highly SpecializedHighly Specialized

Selected Biology JournalsSelected Biology Journals(Available from the NJIT Library)(Available from the NJIT Library)

Animal Behavior Brain Research Developmental Biology Journal of Animal Science Neuroimage Neuroscience

What is a Conference What is a Conference Proceeding?Proceeding?

Organized by professional societies such Organized by professional societies such as the as the American Physiological Society and and the the American Society for Cell Biology

Scientists and engineers report their Scientists and engineers report their research findings thereresearch findings there

A conference proceedings is a permanent A conference proceedings is a permanent record of the presentationrecord of the presentation

Examples of Conference Examples of Conference ProceedingsProceedings

Evolvable systems : from biology to Evolvable systems : from biology to hardware : 6th international conference, ICES hardware : 6th international conference, ICES 2005, Sitges, Spain, September 12-14, 2005 : 2005, Sitges, Spain, September 12-14, 2005 : proceedingsproceedings

  Proceedings of the course on Proceedings of the course on neuropsychology : the neuronal basis of neuropsychology : the neuronal basis of cognitive functioncognitive function   International School of Neuroscience (3rd :   International School of Neuroscience (3rd : 1991 : Padua, Italy) 1991 : Padua, Italy)

Review JournalsReview Journals

Condensed version of a research journalCondensed version of a research journal Summarizes research developments over Summarizes research developments over

a short timea short time Omits detailed experimental proceduresOmits detailed experimental procedures

Examples of Review JournalsExamples of Review Journals

Annual Review of Neuroscience (NJIT)Annual Review of Neuroscience (NJIT) Recent Advances in Human BiologyRecent Advances in Human Biology Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Biological Reviews of the Cambridge

Philosophical Society (Rutgers)Philosophical Society (Rutgers)

MagazinesMagazines

Scientific and technical articles are Scientific and technical articles are translated into a language suited for a translated into a language suited for a more general audiencemore general audience

Written by journalists rather than Written by journalists rather than researchersresearchers

Biology MagazinesBiology Magazines

American Scientist DiscoverDiscover Scientific AmericanScientific American Smithsonian MagazineSmithsonian Magazine

MonographsMonographs

Another name for a bookAnother name for a book May be written at all levelsMay be written at all levels Reports research over a longer period of Reports research over a longer period of

timetime Brings the research to a much wider Brings the research to a much wider

audienceaudience

EncyclopediasEncyclopedias

EncyclopediasEncyclopedias introduce researchers to introduce researchers to specialize fields of study. specialize fields of study.  Encyclopedia of Environmental BiologyEncyclopedia of Environmental Biology Encyclopedia of Human BiologyEncyclopedia of Human Biology Encyclopedia of Molecular BiologyEncyclopedia of Molecular Biology Encyclopedia of NeuroscienceEncyclopedia of Neuroscience

All of the above are available at the Dana All of the above are available at the Dana LibraryLibrary

Is Wikipedia Reliable?Is Wikipedia Reliable?

Can it be trusted as a source of Can it be trusted as a source of information in the life sciences?information in the life sciences?

Advantages and Disadvantages Advantages and Disadvantages of the Wikipediaof the Wikipedia

AdvantagesAdvantages:: Good for obtaining Good for obtaining

background background knowledge on a topicknowledge on a topic

Articles can be Articles can be revised and edited revised and edited quickly. Information quickly. Information about recent events about recent events will appear therewill appear there

DisadvantagesDisadvantages:: Does not undergo the Does not undergo the

peer review processpeer review process Anyone can write or Anyone can write or

edit an article edit an article anonymouslyanonymously

Suggestion: Do not Suggestion: Do not cite it in your cite it in your bibliographybibliography

Flow of Scientific InformationFlow of Scientific Information

Scientists and engineers conceive ideas and Scientists and engineers conceive ideas and perform experiments in the laboratory.  They perform experiments in the laboratory.  They want to make the results of their research want to make the results of their research public. public. 

The published information flows from the top of The published information flows from the top of the chart (next slide)to the bottom.  Students the chart (next slide)to the bottom.  Students needing information must start their research at needing information must start their research at the bottom of the chart.  Tertiary literature such the bottom of the chart.  Tertiary literature such as handbooks, encyclopedias, and textbooks as handbooks, encyclopedias, and textbooks should be consulted firstshould be consulted first

Flow of Scientific InformationFlow of Scientific Information

Types of DatabasesTypes of Databases

Bibliographic - includes the elements needed to Bibliographic - includes the elements needed to identify the document identify the document Author(s) Author(s) Title Title Journal, Year, Volume, Issue Number, Pages Journal, Year, Volume, Issue Number, Pages

Abstract - a one paragraph summary of the Abstract - a one paragraph summary of the article to help the researcher decide if it is article to help the researcher decide if it is relevant to the research question relevant to the research question

Full-Text - includes the entire article in electronic Full-Text - includes the entire article in electronic format format

Database FormatsDatabase Formats

Print Print Very cumbersome and difficult to use Very cumbersome and difficult to use Online (1970s to the present) CD-ROM Online (1970s to the present) CD-ROM

(1980s to the present) - Only so much (1980s to the present) - Only so much information can fit on one disk information can fit on one disk

World Wide Web (1990s to the presentWorld Wide Web (1990s to the present))

Limitations of DatabasesLimitations of Databases

Subject coverage Subject coverage Number of Publications Number of Publications Dates of Publication Dates of Publication Types of Publication (i.e. journals only, Types of Publication (i.e. journals only,

patents only) patents only) Not all databases provide full-text of the Not all databases provide full-text of the

retrieved documents or links to themretrieved documents or links to them

NJIT Library Home PageNJIT Library Home Pagehttp://library.njit.eduhttp://library.njit.edu

Catalog (Voyager) Catalog (Voyager) Database of the print holdings of NJIT Library Database of the print holdings of NJIT Library

Databases Databases Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery Form Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery Form

Voyager, the NJIT Library Voyager, the NJIT Library CatalogCatalog

Books Books Journals (print) Journals (print) Technical Reports Technical Reports Conference Proceedings Conference Proceedings Theses and Dissertations (by NJIT Theses and Dissertations (by NJIT

students)students)

Databases with Biology Content Databases with Biology Content from the NJIT Libraryfrom the NJIT Library

BioMed CentralBioMed Central BioOneBioOne Medline (PubMed)Medline (PubMed) PubgetPubget ScopusScopus

BioMedCentralBioMedCentral

Publisher of 208 peer-reviewed Publisher of 208 peer-reviewed open open accessaccess journals journals

BioOneBioOne

BioOne provides a unique aggregation of BioOne provides a unique aggregation of high-impact bioscience research journals, high-impact bioscience research journals, featuring timely content on a wide-array of featuring timely content on a wide-array of today’s most pressing topics.today’s most pressing topics.

You may search this database for free, but You may search this database for free, but will have to go to Rutgers to get the full-will have to go to Rutgers to get the full-text of articles.text of articles.

MedlineMedline

MEDLINE is the NLM's (National Library of MEDLINE is the NLM's (National Library of Medicine) premier bibliographic database Medicine) premier bibliographic database covering the fields of medicine, nursing, covering the fields of medicine, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, the health care dentistry, veterinary medicine, the health care system, and the preclinical sciences. MEDLINE system, and the preclinical sciences. MEDLINE contains bibliographic citations and author contains bibliographic citations and author abstracts from more than 4,800 biomedical abstracts from more than 4,800 biomedical journals published in the United States and 70 journals published in the United States and 70 other countries. The database contains over 12 other countries. The database contains over 12 million citations dating back to the mid-1960's. million citations dating back to the mid-1960's. The Pubmed version is free.The Pubmed version is free.

PubgetPubget

Pubget is a search engine for PDFs in the Pubget is a search engine for PDFs in the life sciences. It indexes nearly 20 million life sciences. It indexes nearly 20 million life science research documents, including life science research documents, including those in PubMed®. You search it like you those in PubMed®. You search it like you would PubMed or Google Scholar. The would PubMed or Google Scholar. The difference is Pubget gets you the PDF difference is Pubget gets you the PDF right awayright away. .

ScopusScopus

Scopus is a multidisciplinary navigational Scopus is a multidisciplinary navigational tool that contains records going back to tool that contains records going back to the mid 1960s, offering newly-linked the mid 1960s, offering newly-linked citations across the widest body of citations across the widest body of scientific abstracts available in one place.  scientific abstracts available in one place.  Biology is one of the many subjects Biology is one of the many subjects covered in Scopuscovered in Scopus

Boolean LogicBoolean Logic ANDAND The Boolean AND narrows your search by retrieving only documents that contain The Boolean AND narrows your search by retrieving only documents that contain

every one of the keywords that you enter.  The more terms you enter, the narrower every one of the keywords that you enter.  The more terms you enter, the narrower your search becomes. your search becomes.      EXAMPLE: insecticide AND cockroach     EXAMPLE: insecticide AND cockroach

          EXAMPLE: insecticide AND cockroach AND toxicity and childrenEXAMPLE: insecticide AND cockroach AND toxicity and children

OR OR The Boolean OR expands your search by returning documents in which either or both The Boolean OR expands your search by returning documents in which either or both

keywords appear.  The more keywords you enter, the more documents you retrieve. keywords appear.  The more keywords you enter, the more documents you retrieve.    EXAMPLE: pesticides OR insecticides   EXAMPLE: pesticides OR insecticides

      EXAMPLE: pesticides OR insecticides OR herbicidesEXAMPLE: pesticides OR insecticides OR herbicides

NOT NOT The Boolean NOT limits your search by returning only the first keyword but not the The Boolean NOT limits your search by returning only the first keyword but not the

second, even if the first word appears in that document, too second, even if the first word appears in that document, too    EXAMPLE herbicide NOT insecticide   EXAMPLE herbicide NOT insecticide   EXAMPLE insecticide NOT rodenticide   EXAMPLE insecticide NOT rodenticide

To do an effective search you must choose the most relevant database(s) and the To do an effective search you must choose the most relevant database(s) and the appropriate Boolean Logicappropriate Boolean Logic

Availability of JournalsAvailability of Journals

Once you do a search, you must locate the Once you do a search, you must locate the articles that you retrieved from the search that articles that you retrieved from the search that you think are relevant.  They may be available:you think are relevant.  They may be available:

Print only Print only Electronic Only Electronic Only Print and Electronic Print and Electronic

Dates of electronic availability vary Dates of electronic availability vary Not available at NJIT - order through interlibrary Not available at NJIT - order through interlibrary

loanloan

Devising Optimal Search Devising Optimal Search StrategiesStrategies

Choose the proper database(s) Choose the proper database(s) Be aware of the scope and limitations Be aware of the scope and limitations

Use all relevant search terms and appropriate Use all relevant search terms and appropriate Boolean logic Boolean logic Think of concepts not wordsThink of concepts not words

Devise a search strategy for: Devise a search strategy for: Precise search Precise search

Expand strategy if too few are found Expand strategy if too few are found Exhaustive search Exhaustive search

Cut down if too many citations are retrievedCut down if too many citations are retrieved

Evaluating ReferencesEvaluating References

Look at the abstract to judge if the paper is Look at the abstract to judge if the paper is relevant to your topicrelevant to your topic

If so, is the paper available from the NJIT If so, is the paper available from the NJIT Library?Library?

Follow links in the database that you used to Follow links in the database that you used to check for availability of the article.check for availability of the article.

Citing Your Sources and Citing Your Sources and Managing ReferencesManaging References

Please See:Please See: http://library.njit.edu/researchhelpdesk/http://library.njit.edu/researchhelpdesk/

howto/cite.phphowto/cite.php

For Further HelpFor Further Help

Contact Bruce SlutskyContact Bruce Slutsky Robert Van Houten LibraryRobert Van Houten Library Bruce.Slutsky@njit.eduBruce.Slutsky@njit.edu 973-642-4950973-642-4950 Reference desk at 973-596-3210Reference desk at 973-596-3210

Sample SearchesSample Searches

1.1. Find papers which report maternal Find papers which report maternal infection as a cause of autisminfection as a cause of autism

2.2. Find papers that report on electrical Find papers that report on electrical activity in neurons of ratsactivity in neurons of rats