RESEARCHING IN THE SCIENCES

Research in the sciences generally involves recognizing a scientific problem to be solved, setting up an experiment designed to yield useful data, and interpreting the data in the context of other scientific knowledge. Researchers use library resources to

• keep up with current thinking in the field so they can recognize a question worth asking
• review what is known about a given phenomenon so they can place new knowledge in context
• locate specific information they need to successfully carry out an experiment or project

The large volume of scientific literature being produced can be daunting at first. However, a number of resources are available to help you find what is relevant to your research, and most of the resources are searchable online. Students planning to search for scientific materials should be prepared to

• choose search terms carefully so that they match those used by the sources
• work from the most recent publications to earlier ones, sorting out schools of thought and lines of inquiry
• know when to stop, when they have uncovered a selection of the most important and relevant research for their topic

The resources in Finding Sources will give you an idea of where to start. Consult a librarian to determine which resources are best for your research and whether they are available in electronic format.

Use the menu at the top left for help with Finding Sources or Documenting Sources in the sciences.