Biology 141: Introductory Biology I: Search Tips

This Common Search Tips (2:16 minutes) tutorial provides an overview of commonly used keyword search tips. Generally, you will start your research with keyword searches, so it is a good idea to memorize these tips. Also, instructions for searching databases, including date and format limits and other searches types, can be found on help screens in the databases.
Sample search:

("african clawed frog*" OR xenopus) AND "bisphenol a"

To access library databases, select the Articles/Databases tab on the box on the Andersen Library homepage. Here is a video tutorial that demonstrates Accessing Library Databases (0:59 minutes).

Below are some tutorials about searching in specific databases.

• Biological Abstracts and Web of Science
  • Using Science CItation Index Expanded from Web of Science (2:58 minutes)
  • Web of Science: Tracing Citations (1:22 minutes)
• PubMed
  • How to Use PubMed: Simple Search (2:24 minutes)
  • Topic Searching in PubMed Module 1: Foundations of MeSH in Medline (8 page tutorial, from the National Library of Medicine)

How do you know whether an article is scholarly or not? Check out the Scholarly Journal, Trade Magazine, & Popular Magazine guide.