Planaria Research at the Morgan Library
LS103 - Biology of Organisms
| Types of resources | Finding search words | Finding the right database |
| Finding reference materials | Finding books | Useful links |
Types of Resource
There are three sources for information on Planarians in Morgan Library. Some resources may be more successful than others depending on your topic so you may need to try all three sources.
| Resource | Description | Search strategy | Search in |
| Journal articles | Articles describe the methods and results of a specific experiment. | Use specific (narrow) search words when searching for articles. Try synonymous terms. | Databases (see below for more information) |
| Books | Synthesizes many research results and presents the information in a readable format. | Use broader search terms and refer to the index in the book. | SAGE catalog |
| Reference material | Provides quick facts and short overviews on a variety of topics. | Use broad search terms and use the index in the book. | SAGE catalog |
Finding Search Words
One of the biggest challenges when conducting a search is finding the right search words. For example, if you are looking for information on bullfrog deformities the initial search words might be bullfrog and deformity. However, you might get better results if you search for Rana catesbeiana and malformity. You may want to broaden the search and look for injury in Amphibians or the physiology of the Ranidae family.
Exercise: Take a moment to think about your research question. Identify the key concepts and come up with 3 synonyms or broader terms for each concept.
Key Concepts e.g. deformity ________________ Synonyms malformity ________________ injury ________________ Broader terms physiology ________________
Hint: If you are looking for broader terms for a species try going to the website Animal Diversity Web at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/index.html. Search for the species name. The results will include the genus, family, and class for that species
Finding the Right Database
Researchers can develop a database rut where they rely on one database for all types of research. Think about your topic and find a database that has appropriate content.
Standard Biology Databases include: Biological Abstracts
Web of Science
Zoological RecordFor aquatic species try: ASFA (Aquatic Sciences & Fisheries Abstracts)
For animal behavior try: PsychInfo
Hint: For more information on choosing a database go to "Choosing a Database" Tutorial at http://lib.colostate.edu/tutorials/database_info.html
Finding Reference Materials
Reference books are helpful because they provide an overview and quick facts about a topic. Another advantage of reference material is that they are always available in the library. Remember to use broad search terms when searching for reference books. A search for Amphibians would be more productive than a search for Rana catesbeiana in this section.
Finding Books
When searching for books, begin with specific search words. If there are no results, use broad search words for your topic and then search the book index for the more specific subject. For example, it is unlikely that I would find a book that dealt specifically with bullfrog deformities. However, I could find a book on amphibian physiology or vertebrate physiology and then look for a chapter or section dealing with deformities.
Links
Find a book - try the tutorial at http://lib.colostate.edu/tutorials/sage_info.html
Find an article try our Help with Databases webpage http://lib.colostate.edu/databases/help.php
Use Inter Library Loan try the tutorial at http://lib.colostate.edu/tutorials/illiad.html
More Questions?
Ask the subject specialist.
Brian Westra - Biological Sciences Librarian
491-1881