BMS1503 Literature SearchingMarch 2014Adam John Miller [email protected]
BMS1503 Literature Searching March 2014© Middlesex University
By the end of this session you will be able to…
• Use Summon and electronic databases to find out what BMS literature has been published in academic journals.
• Plan an effective search strategy
• Identify and access useful Journal articles
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BMS1503 Literature Searching March 2014© Middlesex University
What is a Journal..?
• Similar format to a magazine
• Published regularly (in Volumes and Issues)
• Focus on a particular academic discipline
• Contains articles by different authors
• Also contains book reviews and editorials
• Traditionally in print but increasingly electronic
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BMS1503 Literature Searching March 2014© Middlesex University
What is Peer Review…?
• A formal procedure for checking the quality of
research before it is published.
• Articles are checked and authenticated by
independent, third party academics (peers)
• The quality control system of academic publishing
established for hundreds of years.
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BMS1503 Literature Searching March 2014© Middlesex University
What is a database of Journal articles..?
• Details of articles, including…
• Author and title
• Volume, Issue and Page Numbers
• Abstract
• Title of the Journal in which it was published
• Subject keywords
• (and sometimes)… The full text of the article
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BMS1503 Literature Searching March 2014© Middlesex University
Plan your database search…
• Break the topic down into concepts
• List the words or phrases that you could use
use for each concept (consider synonyms,
alternate terms, etc…)
TOPIC: Clostridium Tetani Vaccinations
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BMS1503 Literature Searching March 2014© Middlesex University
Evaluation Criteria…
• You must evaluate your search results
in order to pick the most useful, relevant articles.
• What criteria do you think you would use?
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BMS1503 Literature Searching March 2014© Middlesex University
Evaluating Information.
• Currency When was it last updated?
• Authority Who wrote it? Are they qualified?
• Intent What is the purpose of the information?
• Relevance Will it answer my question?
• Objectivity Is it a balanced view?
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BMS1503 Literature Searching March 2014© Middlesex University
Summon.My UniHub > My Study > My Library > Summon
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BMS1503 Literature Searching March 2014© Middlesex University
To access Journal databases for your subject…
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MyUniHub
My study
My library
Library subject guides
Biomedical Science
Resources
My library
Finding Journal articles/
Using databases
BMS1503 Literature Searching March 2014© Middlesex University
Key databases for BMS literature.
• Medline The premier biomedical database
• Science Direct Elsevier’s excellent online Journal package
• Science Citation Index The leading science and technical Journals
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BMS1503 Literature Searching March 2014© Middlesex University
Sample search…
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• Narrow your search…
e.g. tetanus AND vaccine
• Widen your search…
e.g. vaccination OR immunisation
• Find different spellings
e.g. immuni?ation
• Truncate words to get different endings
e.g. vaccin*
BMS1503 Literature Searching March 2014© Middlesex University
If it’s not in the Library…
• Complete an online Inter-Library Loan form
with the full details of the article.
• We will order it from the British Library and if it
is available electronically it will be emailed to
you within 48 hours.
• A charge of £3 will be added to your Horizon
record for this service.
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BMS1503 Literature Searching March 2014© Middlesex University
Other Libraries.
• SCONUL Access scheme
http://www.sconul.ac.uk/using_other_libraries/access/
• The British Library
http://www.bl.uk
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BMS1503 Literature Searching March 2014© Middlesex University
Referencing.
• It is Vital that you follow the Natural Sciences
Referencing guide. This can be found at…
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Biomedical Science Library Subject Guide
Information Skills
Referencing and Plagiarism
BMS1503 Literature Searching March 2014© Middlesex University
Any Questions?
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