Step 1.

Do preliminary research for a basic understanding of your topic. Use encyclopedias, the PubMed Plus Health Topics page, http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthtopics.html and other reference sources.  See Guide to Library's print resources.

Step 2.

In one sentence write your research topic.

For example: migration patterns of cougars in the Sierras

Step 3.

Pick out key terms/concepts/phrases from the sentence.

1. migration patterns  2. cougars   3. Sierras

Step 4.

Combine terms/concepts/phrases with the Boolean operator “and”.

For Example:  migration patterns and cougars and Sierras

Step 5

Apply search to one of the biology literature databases and indexes listed on the Biological Sciences Resources page, http://www.csuchico.edu/lref/guides/rbs/biosub.html, found under the category "Periodicals/Journals: Indexes & Articles"

Step 6.

Expand your search with truncation and the Boolean operator  “or”. 

·          When truncation is used you will find all words beginning with the word/letters in front of the truncation symbol.  Many databases use an asterisk.  For example:   cougar*    finds   cougar, cougars, cougaring, etc.   For a list of truncation symbols for various databases see the Database Command Guide.       

·          Use “or” between synonymous and related terms or phrases. You can find such terms in dictionaries & thesauri, or from your teacher.  Try www.dictionary.com or www.thesaurus.com  for online help, or use the library's print resources listed at Guide to Library's print resources. For scientific names, i.e. Family, Genus, or Species, try the Intergrated Taxanomic Information System at www.itis.usda.gov. Use atlases for synonymous and related geographic terms.

Always enclose “or” statements with parentheses.         

For Example:   (cougar* or panther* or mountain lion* or puma* or puma concolor or felis concolor)     

Our new expanded search may now look like this:

(migrat* pattern* or population distribution* or population stud* or biogeography) and (California or sierra*) and (cougar* or panther* or mountain lion* or puma* or puma concolor or felis concolor)

Step 7.

Apply revised search to biology literature databases & indexes.