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

Information RetrievalInformation Retrieval

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

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

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

find new knowledge find new knowledge Conduct the experiment Conduct the experiment Observe and interpret the Observe and interpret the

results results Revise the experiment Revise the experiment Interpret the final outcome Interpret the final outcome

of the experiment of the experiment

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

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

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

strategy using relevant strategy using relevant terminology in subject terminology in subject databases 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 findings from the initial answer set set

Explore alternative search Explore alternative search options 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 is a publication issued periodically that reports original periodically that reports original research. research.

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

proceduresprocedures Highly SpecializedHighly Specialized

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

Cell biology and toxicology  Cell biology and toxicology   Journal of cell biology   Cell and tissue biology   BMC cell biology   DNA and cell biology  

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

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

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

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

Examples of Conference Examples of Conference ProceedingsProceedings

European Society of Animal Cell European Society of Animal Cell Technology. General Meeting (9th : Technology. General Meeting (9th : 1988 : Knokke-Heist, Belgium)1988 : Knokke-Heist, Belgium)

International School of Structural Biology and Magnetic Resonance 7th Course: Structure and Biophysics--New Technologies for Current Challenges in Biology and Beyond (2005 : Erice, Italy)

Review JournalsReview Journals

Condensed version of a research Condensed version of a research journaljournal

Summarizes research Summarizes research developments over a short timedevelopments over a short time

Omits detailed experimental Omits detailed experimental proceduresprocedures

Examples of Review JournalsExamples of Review Journals

Annual review of cell and developmental biology  

Quarterly review of biology    

Multidisciplinary JournalsCovering Cell Biology

Science Nature

MagazinesMagazines

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

Written by journalists rather than Written by journalists rather than researchersresearchers

Biology MagazinesBiology Magazines

American Scientist Discover Scientific American Smithsonian 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 Reports research over a longer

period of timeperiod of time Brings the research to a much Brings the research to a much

wider audiencewider audience

EncyclopediasEncyclopedias

EncyclopediasEncyclopedias introduce introduce researchers to specialize fields of researchers to specialize fields of study. study.  Encyclopedia of Life ScienceEncyclopedia of Life Science Encyclopedia of Human BiologyEncyclopedia of Human Biology Encyclopedia of Molecular BiologyEncyclopedia of Molecular Biology

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 knowledge on a topictopic

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 Does not undergo

the peer review the peer review processprocess

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

Flow of Scientific InformationFlow of Scientific Information

Types of DatabasesTypes of Databases

Bibliographic - includes the elements Bibliographic - includes the elements needed to identify the document needed to 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 Abstract - a one paragraph summary of the article to help the researcher decide the article to help the researcher decide if it is relevant to the research question if it is relevant to the research question

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

Database FormatsDatabase Formats

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

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

World Wide Web (1990s to the World Wide Web (1990s to the presentpresent))

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 Types of Publication (i.e. journals

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

the retrieved documents or links to the retrieved documents or links to themthem

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

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

Library Library Databases Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery For

m

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 Academic Search PremierAcademic Search Premier Scifinder Scholar (Chemical Abstracts)Scifinder Scholar (Chemical Abstracts)

BioMedCentralBioMedCentral

Publisher of 208 peer-reviewed Publisher of 208 peer-reviewed open accessopen access journals journals

BioOneBioOne

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

You may search this database for You may search this database for free, but will have to go to Rutgers to free, but will have to go to Rutgers to get the full-text of articles.get the full-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 other countries. The database contains over 12 million citations dating back to the mid-12 million citations dating back to the mid-1960's. The Pubmed version is free.1960's. The Pubmed version is free.

PubgetPubget

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

ScopusScopus

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

Academic Search Premier

This multi-disciplinary database provides full text for more than 8,500 journals, including full text for more than 4,600 peer-reviewed titles

Was discussed in the NJIT Research Roadmaps (given to freshmen)

Can be used to find articles on evolution or ecology

Scifinder Scholar Electronic Version of Chemical Abstracts Electronic Version of Chemical Abstracts

(1907 to the present) (1907 to the present) It contains many links to full-text articles It contains many links to full-text articles Searchable by chemical substance, Searchable by chemical substance,

reaction, research topic, author or reaction, research topic, author or affiliation affiliation

Its coverage of cell biology is limited to Its coverage of cell biology is limited to "chemical aspects" such as "chemical aspects" such as pharmacology.  It would not cover “pure pharmacology.  It would not cover “pure biology.”biology.”

Scifinder Scholar Only one person at NJIT may search

Scifinder Scholar at a time.  Please minimize time you are using it by: Evaluating your answer set while you are off line Using the database during off-peak hours.  It is

available almost 24 hours a day/7 days a week Waiting at least 10 minutes before attempting to

login again.

How-to guides are available at: http://www.cas.org/support/academic/sf/htg/index.html

Databases related to Biology(At Rutgers but not at NJIT)

Biological and Agricultural Index Biosis Previews Web of Science

Boolean LogicBoolean Logic

ANDAND The Boolean AND narrows your search by retrieving The Boolean AND narrows your search by retrieving

only documents that contain every one of the keywords only documents that contain every one of the keywords that you enter.  The more terms you enter, the narrower that you enter.  The more terms you enter, the narrower your search becomes. your search becomes.      EXAMPLE: chromosome AND mutation     EXAMPLE: chromosome AND mutation

          EXAMPLE: chromosome AND mutation AND ratsEXAMPLE: chromosome AND mutation AND rats

OR OR The Boolean OR expands your search by returning The Boolean OR expands your search by returning

documents in which either or both keywords appear.  documents in which either or both keywords appear.  The more keywords you enter, the more documents you The more keywords you enter, the more documents you retrieve. retrieve.    EXAMPLE: DNA OR RNA   EXAMPLE: DNA OR RNA

      EXAMPLE: DNA OR RNA OR mitochondriaEXAMPLE: DNA OR RNA OR mitochondria

Boolean Logic NOT NOT The Boolean NOT limits your search by The Boolean NOT limits your search by

returning only the first keyword but not returning only the first keyword but not the second, even if the first word the second, even if the first word appears in that document, too appears in that document, too    EXAMPLE DNA NOT RNA     EXAMPLE DNA NOT RNA  

To do an effective search you must To do an effective search you must choose the most relevant database(s) choose the most relevant database(s) and the appropriate Boolean Logicand the appropriate 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 articles that you retrieved from the search that you think are relevant.  They may be that you think are relevant.  They may be available: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 Not available at NJIT - order through

interlibrary loaninterlibrary loan

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 Use all relevant search terms and appropriate Boolean logic appropriate 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 Look at the abstract to judge if the paper is relevant to your topicpaper is relevant to your topic

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

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

Citing Your Sources and Citing Your Sources and Managing ReferencesManaging References

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

researchhelpdesk/howto/cite.phpresearchhelpdesk/howto/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