BIO 565 – Cell Physiology

Linda GallowaySyracuse University Library

Fall 2011

http://library.syr.edu

http://researchguides.library.syr.edu/bio565

Determine what you need:

• Book – • Article– General – Peer-reviewed, scientific– Review articles

• Background information

Think before you search

Types of Literature

• Primary – Original, first hand reporting of new data or experience.

• Secondary – Information taken from other sources and summarized.– Objective – multiple points of view (unbiased). – Subjective – single point of view (biased).

• Tertiary – Refers to an information source (a bibliography)

When does information become literature?

When recorded in a tangible medium such as a book, magazine or journal article or

web site.

Literature Research

• Scientific research builds on previous research.

• Literature search will reveal seminal articles in a field.

• Some databases link live to articles in bibliography.

Recognize the difference between a magazine and a

journal…..

Peer review: suitability for publication credibility quality control Often primary literature

Primary Sources& Peer Review

A peer reviewed primary source is a work that is evaluated by experts in the field of study prior to publication. Serves as a measure of quality.

Primary Source - Original document containing firsthand information– Diaries, interviews– Original research including journal articles and preprints

Secondary Source

Information taken from other sources and summarized and evaluated

• Important Secondary Sources – Annual Reviews of…CQ ResearcherPlunkett Research Online

Finding Articles

Databases!Do you have your own

database?

• Cell phone address book• iTunes

Article Research

1. Background information– Be able to talk about your topic for 5 minutes

before you begin your research!– Annual Reviews

2. Find your “classic paper”– Basis for or generated a great deal of research– A highly cited paper

3. Current primary source articles

Sort by times cited…

Sort by times cited…

Journal Citation Reports (JCR)Database within the Web of Knowledge platform

Primary Research Articles

When searching databases…

Remember: RATS • Key words• Synonyms• Subjects• Suggested topics• Types of materials– Scholarly Journals, Magazines, etc.

Read All The Screens!

How to get help….

• AskUs Service• R & R Clinics in LSC Atrium– Friday, 10/21, 9am-12pm– Wed, 10/26, 9am-12pm– Wed, 11/2, 9am-12pm– No clinic 11/9– Wed, 11/16, 9am-12pm

• Contact me! galloway@syr.edu

Questions???