Best Bets for Starting Your Research in...
:: Biology ::
Use databases to find articles
on your topic. These databases are the best place to start.
- BIOSIS Previews
Citations to the journal and book literature in the life sciences fields
Date coverage: 1998-present.
- Proquest Biology Journals
Provides access to a wide range of biology topics. The database includes over 285 titles, with more than 250 available in full text.
Date coverage: 1998-present.
- Academic OneFile
A premier source for peer-reviewed, full-text articles from leading journals and reference sources. With extensive coverage of the physical sciences, technology, medicine, social sciences, the arts, theology, literature and other subjects.
Date coverage: 1980-present.
- Web of Science
Provides citations and abstracts to approximately 8,700 of the most prestigious, high impact research journals in the sciences and social sciences.
Date coverage: 1994-present.
Tips: When searching
databases, use AND, OR, and parentheses
to focus your search.
The asterisk * symbol will search for all variations of a word. For
example: intell* will search for intellect and intelligent and intellectual. Using quotes
will search for a phrase.
Combine synonyms with OR and put them inside parentheses, like this:
("global warming " OR "climate change") AND penguin*
Here's another example:
t-cell* AND diet AND (HIV OR
AIDS)
Already have the citation? Find an article with citation linker!
Did you know...
Databases are
basically just search engines for
articles on specific subjects.
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Find books using the library
catalog. Browse these subjects
to get general information on your topic.
- Biology
- Life Sciences
- Botany
- Zoology
Search the library catalog! Find books, media
materials, and more.
Other searches:
Browse | Advanced Search
Tips: When searching
the library catalog with keywords, use the dollar sign
($) to search for a word and all of its variations.
For example: Teach$
will search for teachers or teaching
Did you know...
- WorldCat is a catalog of thousands
of libraries around the world!
- If a book isn't in the Fairfield U.
catalog, search WorldCat and request the book from
another library. Just click on the Interlibrary Loan button.
- You can search ReQuest to search just the libraries
in Connecticut.
- Contact John
Cayer, Interlibrary Services, with questions.
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Reference tools such as dictionaries
and encyclopedias are good places to
start your research because they provide an overview of
the topic as well as keywords,
dates, and facts.
Dictionaries and Encyclopedias
- Oxford dictionary of biochemistry and molecular biology
Ref. QP512 .O94 2006
- Encyclopedia of evolution
Ref. QH360.2 .E54 2002 V.1
- Encyclopedia of life sciences
Ref QH302.5 .E54 2002 V.1
- Animal behavior desk reference : a dictionary of animal behavior, ecology, and evolution 2nd ed.
Ref.
QL750.3 .B37 2001
- Encyclopedia of molecular biology
Ref.
QH506 .C74 1999 V.1 1999
- The dictionary of cell and molecular biology 3rd ed.
Ref.
QH575 .D53 1999
Tips: Try looking at
the bibliography at the end
of the entry for a list of other sources
such as relevant journal articles and books.
When you have found books on your topic, look
at the books on the shelf nearby to see if they are
related to your topic.
Did you know...
Wikipedia
can be edited by anyone,
so make sure you use another source to
confirm the information you find there.
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These web sites have been evaluated
by librarians (that's a good thing) for your use in an
academic setting.
Did you know...
There are billions of web pages and Google
only finds a fraction of them (about 15%). The rest is
held in what's called the "Invisible Web", which is made up
of dynamically generated information, password protected sites, and
databases-driven sites!
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Use these short e-learning modules to get quick
answers!
Still have questions?
Curtis Ferree , Reference and Electronic Resources Librarian
By phone at (203) 254-4000 ext. 2185
By e-mail at cferree@mail.fairfield.edu
AIM: cferree1
IM the Reference Desk at FairfieldULib - AOL and Yahoo
FairfieldUlib@hotmail.com - MSN
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