This document provides an outline for a library research guide on researching for a biology/biotechnology course. It covers academic research, principles of good searching, searching research databases and the library catalog, and citing sources. The outline includes sections on literature reviews, peer review, types of scholarly sources, using citations to find articles, developing an effective search strategy using keywords and Boolean operators, and searching specific research databases.

1. LIBRARY RESEARCH FOR BIOL/BIOT 6838
Clarke Iakovakis
Research & Instruction Librarian
Neumann Library
“Improving Crop Yields” image courtesy BASF via Flickr. Licensed under CC
BY-NC-ND 2.0

2. http://libguides.uhcl.edu/BIOL6838

3. OUTLINE FOR TODAY
 Academic Research
 Principles of Good Searching
 Searching in the Research Databases &
Library Catalog
 Citing Sources & EndNote

4. SECTION 1:
ACADEMIC
RESEARCH
Scholar. Image licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 on Flickr by Anjan Chatterjee.

5.  A literature review is part of the published work referencing
related research, theory, and background information
 A review of the literature (literature search) may be conducted
to…
 understand a topic
 help you form a research question
 provide confirmation of an already existing
hypothesis
 analyze and interpret your own data
 gain exposure to past, current, and ongoing
research about a subject you are exploring for
research of your own
REVIEWING LITERATURE

6. PEER REVIEW
 A process for establishing authority of
scholarly research
 Experts in the field/discipline review the
original ideas to certify the accuracy, validity,
and value of the results
Chubin, D. E., & Hackett, E. J. (2005). Peer Review. In C. Mitcham (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Science, Technology, and
Ethics (Vol. 3, pp. 1390-1394). Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA. Retrieved from
http://libproxy.uhcl.edu/login?url=http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CCX3434900491&v=2.1&u=txshr
acd2589&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w&asid=67e06d81c0d758521a67ba637722e45c
“AUTHORITATIVE” INFORMATION:

7. WHAT ARE SOME SOURCES OF
SCHOLARLY INFORMATION?
Peer-reviewed journal articles
Books
Reference works (encyclopedias, textbooks)
Gray literature
 Reports (government, industry,
non-governmental organizations)
 Theses & dissertations
 Conference proceedings
Archives
“Computer laptop” by Steve Hillebrand, licensed under public domain

8. PERIODICALS (JOURNALS, MAGAZINES)
Peer-reviewed
Refereed
Scholarly
Academic
Trade
Professional
Practitioner
Industry
General
Popular

9. DISSECT THIS CITATION
What is the…
 Article title
 Authors
 Journal name
 Volume number
 Issue number
 Page number range
 Year of publication
 DOI
Hails RS, Morley K. 2005. Genes invading
new populations: a risk assessment
perspective. Trends Ecol Evol. 20(5):245-
252. doi:10.1016/j.tree.2005.02.006

10. HOW DO I FIND AN ARTICLE
WHEN I HAVE A CITATION?
A. Google
B. OneSearch
C. A subscription database, such as
Biological Abstracts or BioOne

11. Hails RS, Morley K. 2005. Genes invading
new populations: a risk assessment
perspective. Trends Ecol Evol. 20(5):245-
252. doi:10.1016/j.tree.2005.02.006

12. EXERCISE 1: SEE PAPER HANDOUT
Title: Proposed Definition of Environmental Damage Illustrated
by the Cases of Genetically Modified Crops and Invasive Species
Lead Author: Bartz
Journal name? Database? Year of Publication?
Using OneSearch, search for the subject:
genetically modified crops invasiveness
Use the refinement tools on the left to limit the results to journal articles
published in the last 10 years and browse the results for a relevant article

13. SECTION 2: PRINCIPLES OF GOOD
SEARCHING
On the Scent. Image licensed CC-BY on Flickr by stephen bowler.

14. • Determine your research question1
• Identify the key concepts2
• List alternate keywords, synonyms, and related words3
• Join terms and concepts with appropriate Boolean operators4
• Make use of database’s limiters & suggested subject terms5
• Organize and cite your sources6
SEARCH PROCESS

15. One
• What are some ecological risks of introducing
genetically modified crops into the environment?
Two
• What effects do genetically modified crops have
on invasiveness, vertical/horizontal gene flow,
biodiversity, and influence on other products?
Three
• What are the risks of genetically modified crops
invading natural communities?
1. DETERMINE YOUR RESEARCH QUESTION

16. 2. IDENTIFY THE KEY CONCEPTS
Genetically modified crops
invasiveness
risks
What are the risks of genetically
modified crops invading natural
communities?

17. Geneticall
y modified
crops
Genetically
modified foods
Genetically
modified
organisms OR
GMO
Transgenic
plants
Biotech
crops
3. LIST ALTERNATE KEYWORDS, SYNONYMS,
AND RELATED WORDS
What are the risks of genetically
modified crops invading natural
communities?

18. Invasiveness
Invasive
species
Introduced
species OR
introduced
organism
Gene flowBiodiversity
3. LIST ALTERNATE KEYWORDS, SYNONYMS,
AND RELATED WORDS
What are the risks of genetically
modified crops invading natural
communities?

19. WHICH STATEMENT BELOW WILL
GENERATE MORE SEARCH RESULTS?

20. 4. Join terms and concepts with
appropriate Boolean operators

22. Transgenic
plants
Genetically
modified crops
Biotech crops
Genetically modified crops OR transgenic plants OR
biotech crops

23. Invasiv* OR
eigenfaces OR skin texture analysis
Genetically modified crops
OR transgenic plants
OR biotech crops

24. Concept 1:
GENETICALLY
MODIFIED CROPS
Concept 2:
INVASIVENESS
Alternate
term:
transgenic plants invasive species
Alternate
term:
biotech crops biodiversity
Alternate
term:
genetically
modified plants
gene flow

25. m

26. QUOTATION MARKS: EXACT PHRASE

27. TRUNCATION (WILDCARDS)
predator
predators
predation
predate
predating
predat*
*
predatory

28. WHICH STATEMENT BELOW WILL
GENERATE MORE SEARCH RESULTS?

29. WHICH SEARCH WILL FIND
FEWER RESULTS?
A.
B.

30. • State your research topic1
• Identify the key concepts2
• List alternate keywords, synonyms, and related words3
• Join terms and concepts with appropriate Boolean operators4
• Make use of database’s limiters & suggested subject terms5
• Organize and cite your sources6
SEARCH STRATEGIES

31. SECTION 3: RESEARCH DATABASES
&
LIBRARY CATALOG

34. EXERCISE 2: SEE PAPER HANDOUT
 Write down two key concepts for the topic:
How has three dimensional printing been developed for use in bone
and tissue?
 Write down 1-3 alternate terms, synonyms, and related words
for each concept
 Go to Biological Abstracts, Environment Complete, BioOne, or
MEDLINE
 Join terms together with parentheses () and Boolean operators
(AND/OR)
 Use database limiters to narrow and refine your results. Write
down additional alternate terms above as you browse the results

35. SECTION 4: CITING SOURCES

36. Too much information?

37. Ask a Librarian
Stop by the reference desk or schedule a
research consultation!In person
library@uhcl.edu
Email
281-283-3910
Phone
Text
http://libanswers.uhcl.edu
281-816-4341
IM

38. FEEDBACK PLEASE!