The document provides an overview of peer-reviewed scientific literature, noting that research articles report original studies conducted by their authors, answer questions about what was found and what it means, and follow a typical format including an abstract, methods, results and discussion sections. It also explains that peer review involves evaluation of an article's methodology and contribution to knowledge by experts in the field prior to publication in a scientific journal. Students are assigned to use at least two peer-reviewed research articles to understand the biology and population trends of their chosen species.

1. Understanding Peer Reviewed,
Scientific Literature
BIO 105
Spring 2013

2. RESEARCH ARTICLES
• Report the results of a single study or experiment
• The author(s) is/are the person(s) who conducted the
study or experiment; i.e. it is firsthand information
• Answers: Why, how, what was found, what does it
mean
Example: Habitat Selection, Home Range, and Activity of
the White-Nosed Coati (Nasua narica) in a Mexican
Tropical Dry Forest

3. RESEARCH ARTICLES HAVE A TYPICAL
FORMAT
• Detailed title
• Authors with their credentials and/or
affiliations given
• Summary/abstract
• Purpose of study & literature review
• How the study was conducted
• What was found and what it means
• Reference list

4. “CLASSICAL” FORMAT OF A PRIMARY RESEARCH
ARTICLE
• Abstract
• Introduction-purpose, lit review
• Methods-how study conducted
• Results-what found
• Discussion-what it means
• Works cited
Not all research articles will follow this format.
Some brief reports, etc do not.

5. PEER REVIEW
• Research articles undergo peer review:
– Experts in the field of study (peers) evaluate an article’s
methodology, merit, and overall unique contribution to
knowledge PRIOR to publication
• In the sciences and medicine, research is almost
universally peer reviewed
• A journal is considered peer reviewed if it uses this
process for any of it’s material (typically the research
articles)
• An article is considered peer reviewed if it
undergoes this process

6. What is contained in a peer reviewed
scientific journal?
• Research articles • Book reviews
• News • Advertisements
• Letters to the editor
• Job announcements
**But only the research is
• Obituaries actually peer reviewed

7. Your assignment
• To use at least 2 scientific, peer reviewed
articles (and other sources) to understand the
details of the biology of your species and use
actual research that has been done on their
population trends and factors that affect their
biology and survival

8. Finding Peer Reviewed Literature
• Use the “search all” box on the library’s home
page
• Type in the name of your species. Hint: Use
both the scientific & common name. Ex:
Mexican Spotted Owl or Strix occidentalis
• After the search is run, use the following limits
on the left hand side:
– FULL TEXT
– SCHOLARLY (PEER REVIEWED JOURNALS)

9. ADDITIONAL HINTS
• To make your search even more specific you
might want to include additional keywords
beyond the name of the species:
Example:
(Mexican spotted owl OR Strix occidentalis) AND
“population trends”
Example: (Mexican spotted owl or Strix
occidentalis) AND ecology

10. For more help
• Call or come to the library whenever we are
open
• Use our 24/7 chat assistance
• Contact Danielle Carlock at 480 425 6765 or
d.carlock@scottsdalecc.edu