Understanding Science Articles

(Journals, Periodicals, Primary References)

Understanding Science Articles

(Journals, Periodicals, Primary References)

How do you get the most out of primary references?

How do you get the most out of primary references?

Reference TypesReference TypesPrimary ReferencesPrimary References - - Published scientific Published scientific

papers of actual peer reviewed studies. In the papers of actual peer reviewed studies. In the form of journal articles, periodicals. (Ex. form of journal articles, periodicals. (Ex. Nature, Science, Neurology)Nature, Science, Neurology)

Secondary ReferencesSecondary References - - Summaries, or Summaries, or repackaging of published papers. Often in the repackaging of published papers. Often in the form of magazine stories. (Ex. Discovery, form of magazine stories. (Ex. Discovery, National Geographic,The Scientist)National Geographic,The Scientist)

Tertiary References -Tertiary References - Reference materials. Reference materials. In the form of books, literature guides, library In the form of books, literature guides, library catalogs. ( Ex. Encyclopedias, textbooks)catalogs. ( Ex. Encyclopedias, textbooks)

Primary ReferencesPrimary References - - Published scientific Published scientific papers of actual peer reviewed studies. In the papers of actual peer reviewed studies. In the form of journal articles, periodicals. (Ex. form of journal articles, periodicals. (Ex. Nature, Science, Neurology)Nature, Science, Neurology)

Secondary ReferencesSecondary References - - Summaries, or Summaries, or repackaging of published papers. Often in the repackaging of published papers. Often in the form of magazine stories. (Ex. Discovery, form of magazine stories. (Ex. Discovery, National Geographic,The Scientist)National Geographic,The Scientist)

Tertiary References -Tertiary References - Reference materials. Reference materials. In the form of books, literature guides, library In the form of books, literature guides, library catalogs. ( Ex. Encyclopedias, textbooks)catalogs. ( Ex. Encyclopedias, textbooks)

Primary Literature Sources in SciencePrimary Literature Sources in Science

Not (necessarily) peer-reviewed:Not (necessarily) peer-reviewed: Laboratory Notebooks, Biosequence Data, Laboratory Notebooks, Biosequence Data,

Conference Papers and ProceedingsConference Papers and Proceedings

Peer-reviewed:Peer-reviewed: Dissertations and Theses, Technical Reports, Dissertations and Theses, Technical Reports,

Patents, Journal ArticlesPatents, Journal Articles

Not (necessarily) peer-reviewed:Not (necessarily) peer-reviewed: Laboratory Notebooks, Biosequence Data, Laboratory Notebooks, Biosequence Data,

Conference Papers and ProceedingsConference Papers and Proceedings

Peer-reviewed:Peer-reviewed: Dissertations and Theses, Technical Reports, Dissertations and Theses, Technical Reports,

Patents, Journal ArticlesPatents, Journal Articles

Importance of the Scientific JournalsImportance of the Scientific Journals

journals serve three major functions in the journals serve three major functions in the process of scientific process of scientific

communication:communication:

1. Social -1. Social - To establish and maintain To establish and maintain intellectual property of creative work intellectual property of creative work

so so recognized by peers.recognized by peers.2. Archival -2. Archival - To provide information that To provide information that

has been peer-reviewed for has been peer-reviewed for quality quality control.control.

3. Rapid Dissemination -3. Rapid Dissemination - To allow for rapid To allow for rapid sharing and utilization of sharing and utilization of

knowledge.knowledge.

journals serve three major functions in the journals serve three major functions in the process of scientific process of scientific

communication:communication:

1. Social -1. Social - To establish and maintain To establish and maintain intellectual property of creative work intellectual property of creative work

so so recognized by peers.recognized by peers.2. Archival -2. Archival - To provide information that To provide information that

has been peer-reviewed for has been peer-reviewed for quality quality control.control.

3. Rapid Dissemination -3. Rapid Dissemination - To allow for rapid To allow for rapid sharing and utilization of sharing and utilization of

knowledge.knowledge.

http://www3.wooster.edu/library/sciref/Tutor/libraryresearchscience/importscijournal.php

Finding primary articlesFinding primary articlesSearch specific Databases - Search specific Databases -

BIOSIS - biological researchBIOSIS - biological researchNCBI / PUBMED - biotech. & Nat. Library of NCBI / PUBMED - biotech. & Nat. Library of

MedicineMedicineMEDLINE - human healthMEDLINE - human healthAGRICOLA - agriculturalAGRICOLA - agriculturalGeoRef - GeographyGeoRef - GeographySciFinder ScholarSciFinder Scholar

General searches - Be sure to evaluate results!General searches - Be sure to evaluate results!Google Scholar, Google, Yahoo, AboutGoogle Scholar, Google, Yahoo, About

Search specific Databases - Search specific Databases - BIOSIS - biological researchBIOSIS - biological researchNCBI / PUBMED - biotech. & Nat. Library of NCBI / PUBMED - biotech. & Nat. Library of

MedicineMedicineMEDLINE - human healthMEDLINE - human healthAGRICOLA - agriculturalAGRICOLA - agriculturalGeoRef - GeographyGeoRef - GeographySciFinder ScholarSciFinder Scholar

General searches - Be sure to evaluate results!General searches - Be sure to evaluate results!Google Scholar, Google, Yahoo, AboutGoogle Scholar, Google, Yahoo, About

Evaluating the quality of primary articlesEvaluating the quality of primary articles

The following factors influence quality:The following factors influence quality:

Quality of parent journalQuality of parent journal Extent of peer reviewExtent of peer review Number and quality of internal referencesNumber and quality of internal references Organization schemeOrganization scheme ReadabilityReadability

The following factors influence quality:The following factors influence quality:

Quality of parent journalQuality of parent journal Extent of peer reviewExtent of peer review Number and quality of internal referencesNumber and quality of internal references Organization schemeOrganization scheme ReadabilityReadability

Strategies for Reading Primary ArticlesStrategies for Reading Primary Articles1. Read title1. Read title2. Read abstract2. Read abstract3. Read first and last paragraphs of article3. Read first and last paragraphs of article4. Look at tables and figures / legends4. Look at tables and figures / legends5. Skim article5. Skim article6. Look up any essential unknown vocab 6. Look up any essential unknown vocab

(ignore unessential)(ignore unessential)7. Read article7. Read article8. Take notes in margin8. Take notes in margin9. Write any questions or ideas in margins9. Write any questions or ideas in margins10. Re-read 10. Re-read ∞∞ times or until comprehend times or until comprehend

1. Read title1. Read title2. Read abstract2. Read abstract3. Read first and last paragraphs of article3. Read first and last paragraphs of article4. Look at tables and figures / legends4. Look at tables and figures / legends5. Skim article5. Skim article6. Look up any essential unknown vocab 6. Look up any essential unknown vocab

(ignore unessential)(ignore unessential)7. Read article7. Read article8. Take notes in margin8. Take notes in margin9. Write any questions or ideas in margins9. Write any questions or ideas in margins10. Re-read 10. Re-read ∞∞ times or until comprehend times or until comprehend

How do you get the most out of primary references?

How do you get the most out of primary references?