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Biology Lab Reports: Finding Database Articles

Database Pro Searching Tips

Envision your perfect article.  What words would be in the title of the article or in its summary? 

1.Take advantage of advanced search features:

  • Limit to:  Full text and Peer-Reviewed

  • Put quotation marks around phrases

  • Keep it simple. Search for only two or three keywords at a time, not whole sentences.

  • Use only important words--drop the, an, a, or, for, of, from, to, or even effects or how.  

  • Use Boolean operators like: AND, OR, NOT

  • Limit source type: Scholarly Journals, Magazines

  • Limit Document type: Article

  • Narrow Date of Publication

2. If no results-- try, try again!

  • check your spelling 
  • try different keywords--synonyms-- or something slightly different

3. Use the Tools menu and copy the APA citation to paste in NoodleTools

4. Citing in NoodleTools first, creates a permanent link to the article.

 

Ebrary--Non-fiction Ebooks

Use ProQuest eBook Collection to find non-fiction ebooks. 

Student Resources in Context

For a broad overview and context, search:

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Science Reference Center

JSTOR

Full text and peer-reviewed scholarly articles:

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ProQuest

Limit your search to full text and peer-reviewed to find scholarly articles:

Science Databases

The articles in these science-specific databases are all peer-reviewed.