HOW TO FIND INFORMATION IN HOW TO FIND INFORMATION IN CHEMISTRY, ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY, ENVIRONMENTAL

SCIENCES AND CHEMICAL SCIENCES AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERINGENGINEERING

Bruce SlutskyBruce Slutsky

Robert Van Houten Library Robert Van Houten Library

NJITNJIT

The Scientific MethodThe Scientific Method

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

of databases in his/her field of 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 findings from the initial answer set 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 Research Level Book

(monograph) (monograph) Encyclopedia Encyclopedia Data Compilation Data Compilation

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

Some Journals in Chemistry, Environmental Some Journals in Chemistry, Environmental Science and Chemical EngineeringScience and Chemical Engineering

Analytical Chemistry Combustion and Flame Environmental Science and Technolo

gy Journal of Membrane Science Environmental Science & Policy

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 Chemical Society and the and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers

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

Radical polymerization : kinetics and Radical polymerization : kinetics and mechanism ; selected contributions mechanism ; selected contributions from the conference in Il Ciocco from the conference in Il Ciocco (Italy), September 3-8, 2006 /(Italy), September 3-8, 2006 /

International Flavor Conference (11th International Flavor Conference (11th : 2004 : Samos, Greece) : 2004 : Samos, Greece) 

Review JournalsReview Journals

Condensed version of a research Condensed version of a research journaljournal

Summarizes research developments Summarizes research developments over a short timeover a short time

Omits detailed experimental Omits detailed experimental proceduresprocedures

Examples of Review JournalsExamples of Review Journals

Annual Review of Biochemistry Annual Review of Physical Chemistry Chemical Reviews

MagazinesMagazines

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

Written by journalists rather than Written by journalists rather than researchersresearchers

Examples of MagazinesExamples of Magazines

Chemical and Engineering News - received - received by  members of the American Chemical by  members of the American Chemical Society Society

Chemical Engineering Progress - received - received by members of the American Insitute of by members of the American Insitute of Chemical Engineers Chemical Engineers

Chemical Week - a business publication - a business publication Scientific American - for the lay public - for the lay public

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 wider Brings the research to a much wider

audienceaudience

Data CompilationsData Compilations

Extract selected pieces of Extract selected pieces of information from the journal information from the journal literatureliterature

May be limited by type of compound May be limited by type of compound or propertyor property

May be print or electronic May be print or electronic

Examples of Data CompilationsExamples of Data Compilations

Chemspider CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Phy

sics NIST-JANAF Thermochemical Tables – NIST-JANAF Thermochemical Tables –

available in print at NJITavailable in print at NJIT NIST Web Book

EncyclopediasEncyclopedias

EncyclopediasEncyclopedias introduce researchers to specialize introduce researchers to specialize fields of study.  Some encyclopedias in chemistry fields of study.  Some encyclopedias in chemistry and chemical engineering available in print at and chemical engineering available in print at NJIT:NJIT:

The Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical The Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology Technology

Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry Encyclopedia of Chemical Processing and Design Encyclopedia of Chemical Processing and Design Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Engineering Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Engineering

    WikipediaWikipedia

Is Wikipedia Reliable?Is Wikipedia Reliable?

Can it be trusted as a source of Can it be trusted as a source of chemical information?chemical information?

Advantages and Disadvantages of Advantages and Disadvantages of the Wikipediathe Wikipedia

Advantages:Advantages: Good for obtaining Good for obtaining

background background knowledge on a topicknowledge on a topic

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

Disadvantages:Disadvantages: 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.  perform experiments in the laboratory.  They want to make the results of their They want to make the results of their research public. research public. 

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

Flow of Scientific InformationFlow of Scientific Information

Types of DatabasesTypes of Databases

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

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

Numeric (Data Compilation)Numeric (Data Compilation) - includes only - includes only specific data elements such as thermodynamic or specific data elements such as thermodynamic or spectral data spectral data

History of Database FormatsHistory of Database Formats

Print - Very cumbersome and difficult to Print - Very cumbersome and difficult to use use

Online (1970s to the present) – Dial into a Online (1970s to the present) – Dial into a databasedatabase

CD-ROM (1980s to the present) - Only so CD-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 present) World Wide Web (1990s to the present)

Limitations of DatabasesLimitations of Databases

Subject coverage Subject coverage Journal Coverage Journal Coverage Dates of Publication Dates of Publication Full-text - Not all databases provide Full-text - Not all databases provide

full-text of the retrieved documents full-text of the retrieved documents or links to themor links to them

Chemistry/Chemical Engineering Chemistry/Chemical Engineering related databases from the NJIT related databases from the NJIT

LibraryLibrary Scifinder Scholar Scifinder Scholar ScopusScopus Medline Medline American Chemical Society American Chemical Society

Publications Publications Science Direct Science Direct

Scifinder ScholarScifinder Scholar

Electronic Version of Electronic Version of Chemical Abstracts (1907 to the (1907 to the present) present)

It contains many links to full-text It contains many links to full-text articles articles

Searchable by chemical substance, Searchable by chemical substance, reaction, research topic, author or reaction, research topic, author or affiliation affiliation

Scifinder ScholarScifinder Scholar

How-to guides for the various How-to guides for the various operations in the database may operations in the database may be found at:be found at:

http://www.cas.org/support/scifi/htguides.html

Chemical Abstracts ServiceChemical Abstracts ServiceRegistry NumberRegistry Number

Is a unique numeric identifier Is a unique numeric identifier Designates only one substance Designates only one substance Has no chemical significance Has no chemical significance Is a link to a wealth of information Is a link to a wealth of information

about a specific chemical substance about a specific chemical substance Search Scifinder and many handbooks Search Scifinder and many handbooks

and databases using this CAS numberand databases using this CAS number

ScopusScopus

ScopusScopus is a multidisciplinary database that is a multidisciplinary database that contains records going back to the mid contains records going back to the mid 1960s, offering newly-linked citations across 1960s, offering newly-linked citations across the widest body of scientific abstracts the widest body of scientific abstracts available in one place. available in one place.

Please keep in mind that the coverage and Please keep in mind that the coverage and indexing of Scifinder Scholar and Scopus indexing of Scifinder Scholar and Scopus differ.  It is always advisable to search more differ.  It is always advisable to search more than one database when an exhaustive than one database when an exhaustive search is needed. search is needed. 

You can now use Scopus on the iPhoneYou can now use Scopus on the iPhone

Publisher Databases at NJITPublisher Databases at NJIT

American Chemical Society Journals American Institute of Physics American Society of Civil Engineers American Society of Mechanical Engineers IEEE/IEL Electronic Library Institute of Physics Science Direct (Elsevier) (Elsevier) SIAM Journals Online (Society for Industrial and (Society for Industrial and

Applied Mathematics) Applied Mathematics) Springer Wiley Journals Online

American Chemical Society American Chemical Society JournalsJournals

Selected ListSelected List Accounts of Chemical Research Analytical Chemistry Biochemistry Environmental Science and Technology Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Rese

arch Journal of Physical Chemistry A

American Chemical Society American Chemical Society Journal ArchivesJournal Archives

NJIT subscribes to this database NJIT subscribes to this database which includes the electronic version which includes the electronic version of all ACS journals from there of all ACS journals from there inception to 1995inception to 1995

NJIT has current subscriptions only to NJIT has current subscriptions only to selected ACS Journalselected ACS Journal

Science DirectScience Direct

Selected List of chem/chem eng titlesSelected List of chem/chem eng titles Analytica Chimica Acta Chemical Engineering Science Computational Biology and Chemistry Fluid Phase Equilibria Journal of Membrane Science Journal of Molecular Graphics and Modelling Process Biochemistry Process Biochemistry Progress in Energy and Combustion Science Progress in Energy and Combustion Science Separation and Purification Technology Separation and Purification Technology TetrahedronTetrahedron

Availability of JournalsAvailability of Journals

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

Dates of electronic availability vary Dates of electronic availability vary Check Serials Solutions DatabaseCheck Serials Solutions Database

Open Access JournalsOpen Access Journals Not available at NJIT - order through Not available at NJIT - order through

interlibrary loaninterlibrary loan

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 Selected resources on the Internet Selected resources on the Internet

Selected resources in chemistry and chemical Selected resources in chemistry and chemical engineeringengineering

How to find physical properties of substancesHow to find physical properties of substances

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

Interlibrary LoanInterlibrary Loan

The NJIT Library will attempt to locate books The NJIT Library will attempt to locate books and articles not held in our library needed to and articles not held in our library needed to support research by faculty and students. We support research by faculty and students. We usually get these materials from other usually get these materials from other universitiesuniversities

Please be as complete as possible when Please be as complete as possible when submitting a request for an article or submitting a request for an article or bookbook

Very often bibliographies in journal articles Very often bibliographies in journal articles don’t provide the complete information don’t provide the complete information needed to locate an articleneeded to locate an article

Advantages of Electronic Advantages of Electronic JournalsJournals

Allows for remote access Allows for remote access Allows links to the references in the Allows links to the references in the

bibliography bibliography Most publishers provide HTML and Most publishers provide HTML and

PDF versions of their papersPDF versions of their papers

Selected Chemistry/Chemical Engineering Selected Chemistry/Chemical Engineering Sources on the WebSources on the Web

http://researchguides.njit.edu/chemistryhttp://researchguides.njit.edu/chemistry How to find information in chemistry and How to find information in chemistry and chemical engineeringchemical engineering

http://researchguides.njit.edu/http://researchguides.njit.edu/physical_propertiesphysical_properties How to find physical How to find physical property dataproperty data

Boolean LogicBoolean LogicANDAND

The Boolean The Boolean ANDAND narrows your search by narrows your search by retrieving only documents that contain retrieving only documents that contain every one of the keywords that you enter.  every one of the keywords that you enter.  The more terms you enter, the narrower The more terms you enter, the narrower your search becomes. your search becomes.      EXAMPLE: vapor liquid equilibrium      EXAMPLE: vapor liquid equilibrium ANDAND benzene benzene      EXAMPLE: vapor liquid equilibrium      EXAMPLE: vapor liquid equilibrium ANDAND benzene benzene ANDAND toluene toluene

Boolean LogicBoolean LogicOROR

The Boolean The Boolean OROR expands your expands your search by returning documents in search by returning documents in which either or both keywords which either or both keywords appear.  The more keywords you appear.  The more keywords you enter, the more documents you enter, the more documents you retrieve. retrieve.    EXAMPLE: benzene    EXAMPLE: benzene OROR toluene toluene    EXAMPLE: benzene    EXAMPLE: benzene OROR toluene toluene OROR xylene xylene

Boolean LogicBoolean LogicNOTNOT

The Boolean The Boolean NOTNOT limits your search limits your search by returning only the first keyword by returning only the first keyword but not the second, even if the first but not the second, even if the first word appears in that document, too word appears in that document, too    EXAMPLE toluene    EXAMPLE toluene NOTNOT xylene xylene    EXAMPLE benzene    EXAMPLE benzene NOTNOT chloroform chloroform

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 retrieved Cut down if too many citations are retrieved

Is Your Answer Reasonable?Is Your Answer Reasonable?

If not, what can you do differently? If not, what can you do differently? Keep in mind that the thought processes involved Keep in mind that the thought processes involved

in applying the scientific method to laboratory in applying the scientific method to laboratory experiments apply in the search for technical experiments apply in the search for technical information information

Library Reference desk in person or at 973-596-Library Reference desk in person or at 973-596-3210. Chat reference is now available3210. Chat reference is now available

The library is on Twitter @NJITREFThe library is on Twitter @NJITREF The library is on Facebook – Friends of the NJIT The library is on Facebook – Friends of the NJIT

LibraryLibrary Bruce Slutsky, Technical Reference Librarian, at Bruce Slutsky, Technical Reference Librarian, at

Bruce.Slutsky@njit.edu or 973-642-4950 Bruce.Slutsky@njit.edu or 973-642-4950

Some Chemistry/Chemical Engineering Some Chemistry/Chemical Engineering Resources for Smart PhonesResources for Smart Phones

ACS Mobile (iPhone) $2.99ACS Mobile (iPhone) $2.99 Chemspider -Physical Property dataChemspider -Physical Property data ChemMobi (iPhone) – Physical ChemMobi (iPhone) – Physical

Property DataProperty Data PubMed for handheldPubMed for handheld Scopus (iPhone)Scopus (iPhone) Scifinder ScholarScifinder Scholar

Bruce SlutskyBruce Slutsky

Technical Reference LibrarianTechnical Reference Librarian Chemistry and Environmental ScienceChemistry and Environmental Science Chemical EngineeringChemical Engineering Biomedical EngineeringBiomedical Engineering Civil and Environmental EngineeringCivil and Environmental Engineering PhysicsPhysics BiologyBiology

Contact informationContact information Bruce.Slutsky@njit.eduBruce.Slutsky@njit.edu 973-642-4950973-642-4950 http://njitbruce.blogspot.comhttp://njitbruce.blogspot.com