This document provides an overview of different types of scientific literature for environmental topics, how to evaluate websites, and what databases to use. It discusses tertiary, secondary, and primary sources. Tertiary sources provide broad overviews, secondary sources summarize primary research, and primary sources present original research results. It recommends databases like Environment Complete, GreenFile, and Science Citation Index for finding secondary and primary sources. The document teaches how to search the databases, identify different source types, and get full-text access. It also covers evaluating websites and citing sources in RefWorks.

1. Biology 2011:
Environmental Issues
Kathleen Baril
Librarian

2. What we will cover:
Types
of scientific literature
How to evaluate websites
Main databases to use for
environmental topics

3. Science Research
Three Main Types:
 Tertiary
 Secondary
 Primary

4. Science Research - Tertiary
 Very
broad topics.
 Useful
place for finding background
information on a topic.
 Usually
contains well-established facts in
science.
 Examples:
encyclopedias, textbooks, handbooks.
Adapted from Marian Koshland Bioscience and Natural Resources
Library:
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/BIOS/bio1bscholcomm.html

5. Science Research - Secondary
 Summaries
 Broader
of primary literature/research.
and less current.
 Helpful
because of long bibliographies on a
subject.
 Examples
include: books, literature review
articles.
Adapted from Marian Koshland Bioscience and Natural Resources
Library:
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/BIOS/bio1bscholcomm.html

6. Science Research - Primary
 Write-ups
of results of research.
 Current and specialized.
 Often analyzes data collected in the field
or laboratory.
 Examples: articles in peer-reviewed
journals, dissertations, technical
reports, etc
Adapted from Marian Koshland Bioscience and Natural Resources
Library:
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/BIOS/bio1bscholcomm.html

7. Evaluating Online Sources

What? is the page/site about

Who? created and maintains this site

Where? Is the information coming from

Why? Is the information presented on the web

When? Was the page created or last updated

How? Accurate or credible is the page
From the University of Wisconsin Library, worksheet for
evaluating web sites

8. Evaluating Online Sources
Use the domains from the URLs to determine whether the
web source will have useful and authoritative information.
.edu = educational institution
.org = organization or association
.gov = government site
.com = commercial site
.museum = museum
.net = personal or other site

9. Tertiary Information
Find this information in the library catalog: POLAR.

10. Scholarly versus Popular Periodicals
Magazines or Popular Periodicals
• Glossy pages and lots of pictures
• Edited by magazine editors
• Articles usually written by staff journalists
• Short articles
• Targeted to general audiences
Scholarly Journals/Periodicals
• Peer-reviewed
• Longer
• Citations/Bibliography
• Written by scholars, experts in the field of
study
• Targeted to scholars, students in a particular
field of study

11. Secondary and Primary Information:
Databases
Environment Complete and Greenfile

12. Environment Complete and GreenFile
Use limiters to refine results.

13. Environment Complete and GreenFile:
Literature Review – Secondary Research
To find literature reviews, combine your search term with
literature reviews. Literature reviews often cite primary
research and provide good overviews of topics.

14. Environment Complete and GreenFile:
Primary Research
Look for clues in the citation, look for data tables and scan the abstract
for a description of the methods or materials used, hypotheses, etc.

15. Environment Complete and GreenFile:
Primary Research
When looking at the full –text article for primary
research look for components such as:

Methods or Materials and Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusions

References

16. Environment Complete and GreenFile
Results Page: Look for full-text PDF or HTML article
at the bottom of the citation.

17. Environment Complete and GreenFile
Click on the Find It @ ONU link if there is not a PDF
or HTML full text article available.

18. Environment Complete and GreenFile
After clicking on the Find It @ ONU link, click the link
provided to access the full-text article.

19. Environment Complete and GreenFile
If the article is not available, request it through Interlibrary
Loan. The article should be delivered electronically in 2-3
days.

20. Science Citation Index Expanded

21. Science Citation Index Expanded :
Refine Results
Refine Results using :



Web of Science
Categories
Document Types
Research Areas

22. Science Citation Index Expanded
Results
Click on the abstract link to read a summary of the article.
Viewing Abstract

23. Science Citation Index Expanded
Results
Click on the LS icon to connect to full-text articles.

24. Citing Sources
Refworks
Use RefWorks to keep track of
citations, store full-text articles and create
bibliographies.

25. Review

Use the library catalog and internet to find background
information.

Internet - - evaluate sources carefully.

Primary sources - - look for clues like data tables, article
laid out with methods/materials, results, discussion and
references.

26. Need Further Assistance?

Contact the Reference Desk at 419-772-2185.

Contact the Reference Desk via email at
reference@onu.edu.

Contact me directly k-baril@onu.edu or 419-772-2188 to
set up an appointment.

Reference Desk hours:
Monday-Thursday 8AM-12PM, 1PM-4:30PM, 6PM-9PM
Friday 8AM-4:30PM