Table of Contents
Searching Strategies
Keyword Searching and Additional Search Tips
Using Google and Google Scholar
Finding Books
Selected Databases
Best Article Databases for Plant Biotechnology
Electronic Journals Collections
Web Resources
Locating Articles or Books not at Tisch or Tufts (Interlibrary Loan)
Citing and Managing Sources
Biology Research Guide
Cited Reference Searching
- Cited references are found in the bibliographies or works cited sections of a journal article, book or report.
- Cited references can be journal articles, books, reports, white papers, newspaper articles, etc.
- This type of search strategy is useful for locating current articles or research on a topic or identifying top researchers in a field.
- Some of the databases we subscribe to that feature this search startegy are: Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, CSA, Chemical Abstracts, JSTOR, Environment Complete and Google Scholar.
- To learn more about cited reference searching go to http://www.thomsonisi.com/tutorials/citedreference/crs1.htm
Keyword Searching
Keyword Search Rules for the Library Catalog and Databases
Using AND/OR/NOT (Boolean Search Operators) |
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AND |
Use AND to focus search and combine different aspects of your topic. Example: bioethics and plant biotechnology |
OR |
Use OR to expand your search and find synonyms/related terms. Example: transformed plants or genetically modified |
NOT |
Use NOT to exclude a word or phrase from your search Example: biofuels not corn |
Additional Search Tips |
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"Phrase search" - Use quotation marks" " to search for a particular phrase. Example: "genetically modified" |
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Truncation * - Use an asterisk to find variations of a word. Put an asterisk following the root of the word to find all variations of that word, including singular and plural. Example: gene* (finds gene, genes, genetic, etc.) |
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(Grouping/Nesting Keywords) - Use parentheses ( ) as a way to group all your search terms together. Example: ("metabolite synthesis" or biopharming) and plants |
See the Basic Search Tips guides for more information, including examples.
Using Google and Google Scholar
Use more words
When you search the web, a one or two word search often will find hundreds of thousands of websites. To narrow your search and find more relevant web sites, think about your topic and how people might be writing about it. Then use at least three or four keywords or concepts in your search.
Search for phrases
If you can describe your topic with words that could also be used as a phrase, narrow your search by enclosing your phrase in quotations:
"genetically modified food"
"plant vaccines"
Limit your search
Most search engines have advanced or expert features that allow you to limit your search. Search limits can vary depending on the features of the search engine you are using. A few common ways of limiting include:
- Type of web site or domain name (.edu, .com, .org., .gov): If you are finding too many web pages from commercial sources, you can limit to pages that come from an educational institution by typing .edu as a search limit.
- Date: You can search for pages updated within a certain range of time.
- Location: Many search engines allow you to find web pages published in a particular country.
- File type: Reduce search results by limiting to .doc, .pdf, .ppt, etc.
Google Scholar
Use the Advanced Scholar Search when searching in Google Scholar. Journal article searches can be more focused by limiting by by author, publication title, date or subject areas.
From the Google Scholar homepage, choose Scholar Preferences to link to Tufts University libraries resources.
Help with Research |
 Regina Raboin Contact Info Science Research & Instruction Librarian Research & Instruction Tisch Library, Tufts University Phone 617-627-4221 Fax 617-627-3002 Send Email Links: Profile & Guides |
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