BIOL 4900 - Biology Senior Seminar

This webpage gives an introduction to Biology research materials.

http://www.valdosta.edu/library/learn/guides/biol4900.shtml

Anywhere Access

• https://www.valdosta.edu/library/any.php
  • Log into Anywhere Access first when you are off-campus and need to access library databases.
• Anywhere Access Tutorial (video)

Have a Question? Need Help? Asking a librarian is easy with Live Chat!

• Live Chat
  • Chat with, text, or call a VSU Librarian.
  • Email us your questions after hours.
  • Schedule an In-Depth research Appointment with a librarian.

Search Strategies & Skills

• Mapping Your Topic
• Constructing a Search Statement
• Search Tips: Boolean Operators and More (video)
• Search Tips: Boolean Operators and More

Finding Articles in Odum Library

Databases are the best way to search for research articles on your topic

• What is a Scholarly Database? (video)
• Odum Library's Biology Subject Guide lists select databases

Evaluating Your Sources

• What is a primary research article?
  A primary research article reports on original research and findings.
  Primary research articles have the following sections:
  
  • Abstract
    
  • Introduction/Literature Review
    
  • Methodology
    
  • Results
    
  • Discussion
    
  • References
• What is a peer-reviewed journal?
  • VSU Peer Review Guide
  • “Peer review” journals (or “refereed journals”) mean that an article is reviewed by experts in that field before the article gets published.
  • Some databases allow you to limit your search to Peer Reviewed or Refereed articles.
  • In some databases you can click on the Journal title and information about the journal, including if it is peer-reviewed, will be displayed.
  • You can check to see if a journal is peer-reviewed using Ulrich’s, a database.
    • Type the journal title in the search box (leave off A, The, An, etc. at the start of the tile) and click on search button (green magnifying glass).
    • Find your title in the search results and click on it to see the record. Look for “Refereed” and “Yes.” If you do not see “Refereed” in the Basic Description column, it is not. Refereed is the same as peer-reviewed.
      
• Evaluating Journal Articles
• Scholarly Journals vs. Trade Magazines vs. Popular Magazines Auburn University

Retrieving the Articles

• Using the "Find-It" Button (video tutorial)
• Getting Electronic Journal Articles Full Text (Odum Library Guide)
• Locating bound & current print journals in Odum Library
  • Bound periodicals are located on the 1st floor of Odum Library.
  • Current periodicals are located on the 1st floor of Odum Library.  Don't forget to lift up the shelf if you are looking for previous months' issues.
• Use ILL- Odum Express to request articles, or books, not owned by Odum Library.

Locating books, theses, dissertations & government documents

• Search GIL-FIND@ VSU to find materials at Odum Library
  • GIL-Find Tutorial (video) Demonstrates searching for books in the online catalog
• Search the GIL Universal Catalog to find materials in any USG library
• GIL Express (guide) lets you request books from any USG library be sent to Odum Library for you to pick up and check out.

Requesting Books & Articles not Available at Odum Library

• Using the "Find It" Button (video) to location non-full text articles when searching the databases
• Using the "Find It" Button to location non-full text articles when searching the databases
• GIL Express is a service that allows you to borrow items as available from University System of Georgia (USG) Libraries through placing an online request in the GIL Universal Catalog or on site when visiting one of the USG libraries.
• Interlibrary Loan (ILL) allows you to request books and articles that Odum Library does not have.