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Biographies are dictionaries and indexes devoted exclusively to information about people. Information included in biographical sources usually includes the place and date of birth, details about the person's education and major work experiences, character, personality, and contributions to their chosen field. Biographical sources vary as to how much detailed coverage is provided.
| The Biographical Dictionary of Scientists | REF Q 141.B526 |
| Blacks in Science and Medicine | REF Q141.B58 |
Books are written or printed works produced by one or more authors. Individuals or committees with expertise in the field often edit books. Because they provide comprehensive information on their subject at the time of publication, books are very valuable in the research process. For many subject areas this is the best starting point for research. Many books contain valuable bibliographies at the end of each chapter or at the close of the book. This provides an excellent entry point into the subject material as well to the authors publishing in a particular field of study.
| The Ascent of Science | Q 125 .S5425 |
| A Brief History of Disease, Science, and Medicine: from the Ice Age to the Genome Project | SURG-TECH R 131 .K44 |
| Career Opportunities in Science | Q 147 .E24 |
| The Discoveries: Great Breakthroughs in 20th Century Science | Q 180.55 .D57 L54 |
| Evolution vs. Creationism: an Introduction | QH 367 .S395 |
| Favorite Demonstrations for College Science: an NSTA Press Journals Collection | Q 181 .F28 |
| Genetic Engineering, Dream or Nightmare?: the Brave New World of Bad Science and Big Business | QH 442 .H6 1998 |
| How the Laser Happened: Adventures of a Scientist | QC 887.2 .T68 |
| Instability Rules: the Ten Most Amazing Ideas of Modern Science | Q 162 .F56 |
| The New York Times Book of Genetics | QH 437 .N48 |
| Science | Q 147 .K4 |
| Science & Technology Firsts | REF T 15 .B684 |
| Scientists at Work: Profiles of Today's Groundbreaking Scientists from Science Times | Q 151 .S2945 |
Critical Surveys are attempts to “survey” the field of literature for a particular time and place, with attention to high, and even low, points. Such surveys discuss the works of authors who are considered to be the most important, exemplary of the era, widely read, and or critically regarded. Surveys include information on literary forms and styles of the era. Literary Histories describe the significant literary events of each period or era.
| Magill's Survey of Science, Applied Science Series; six volumes. | REF TA 145 .M298 |
| Magill's Survey of Science, Life Science Series; six volumes. | QH 307.2 .M34 |
Online information databases are large, regularly updated collections of digitized information -- including but not limited to abstracts and full text articles from journals and newspapers, conference proceedings and submitted papers, dissertations, government reports, essays, book chapters, web pages, etc. The content is created by publishers who release print versions, then lease the rights to their information to database vendors. Database records are easy to search and retrieve because the content of each record has been analyzed and assigned appropriate subject headings, keywords, names, etc. New records are regularly downloaded from the producer of each database.
In order to access these resources off-campus, you must first obtain the passwords.
If you are looking for a specific journal within a database, use the E-Journal Portal. It returns the names of databases which contain the desired journal.
A dictionary is any single or multi-volume work which briefly explains terms and topics related to a specific subject, usually arranged alphabetically. Dictionary entries are usually shorter than those found in an encyclopedia. Dictionaries assist with the understanding of terminology and concepts, suggest synonyms, related terms, and scientific names, and are useful resources to consult when formulating and refining your research strategy. Often illustrations and references to additional resources are included.
| The Facts on File Dictionary of Environmental Science | REF TD 9 .W95 |
| McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms | Q 123 .M15 |
Encyclopedias are among the most widely used reference sources and contain articles of varying lengths covering all fields of knowledge. Typically encyclopedias cover many topics but without going into a great deal of depth on any one thing. Encyclopedias are a good starting point for researching topics that you do not know much about or that are completely new to you. They can give you background information which can help when you move to more in-depth sources later. Specialized encyclopedias may cover just one field or even a sub-unit of that field. Subject encyclopedias can be consulted for detailed or technical information on a subject.
| The Gale Encyclopedia of Science; six volumes. | REF Q 121 .G35 |
Government information is generated by local, state, national, and international governments on almost all topics. Most government information is undergoing a major shift from traditional formats such as print and microfiche, to a variety of electronic formats available through the Internet. Government information is considered to be a primary, authoritative and reliable resource. To find government information on your topic, search the library catalog, specialized indexes, and government agency web sites.
An excellent resource for all types of government information in virtually any subject area or topic is the GSA Federal Citizen Information Center. Individuals can access information online or by using the Consumer Information Catalog to locate items.
Handbooks, manuals and guides are resources which supply concise factual and statistical information, often in the form of charts, graphs, tables and formulas. These sources have very basic information, with little or no discussion or analysis of the facts they present. They cover a wide variety of topics, and as with other reference sources, these tools may be general or specific to a field, group of people, or era. These sources are frequently updated, which makes them valuable for locating current information. Try searching the online catalog using the keywords of your topic combined with one of the following keywords: handbook, manual or guide.
| Asimov's Guide to Science | Q 162 .A8 |
| Handbook of Chemistry and Physics | REF QD 65 .H3 |
| Math Survival Guide: Tips for Science Students | QA 11 .A664 |
| Milestones in Science and Technology: the Ready Reference Guide to Discoveries, Inventions, and Facts | Q 199 .M68 |
| Radiologic Science: Workbook and Laboratory Manual | RADTECH R 895 .B862 |
Journals are scholarly periodicals which publish current research and commentary on their specific field of study. Most scholarly journals are peer-reviewed which means they have been reviewed and verified by a panel of experts in the field.
Statistical sources attempt to answer questions beginning with “How much?” or “How many?” The tool needed to answer such a question is determined by the question's depth and complexity. Typically a straightforward question requires searching for statistics already analayzed and recorded in books, journal articles, and the publications of governments, associations, and organizations.