Public Health 113 (Gonzalez): General Science Databases

Access to databases is available from the library home page using the Quick Search, go to our databases page for other options.  Below are direct links to three excellent databases for research in the Natural Sciences, but this is just a sampling of databases you could use. 

Searching in ScienceDirect is pretty straightforward, but there are tutorials if you would like to check them out.

Refine your results with Limits

• by Subject Category: select those most closely related to your area of study.  Check mark and click "Refine".
• by Document Types: select those you view to view e.g. Article.  For instance, you may want ot exclude editorials and letters.
• Try adding metho* (for method, methods, or methodology) to limit to actual research studies.
• By Publication years: especially for topics in the scientific field

Times Cited and Cited Reference

• This information can lead you to other articles related to your topic.  Look for "Times Cited" or "Cited References" hyperlinks.

Trucation*

• Use the * symbol to search for variations of a word e.g. treat* for treat, treated, treatment, treatments etc.

Limit the Search to a Specific Field

• The default search is a Topic search.  At the main search page, you may choose Title from the drop down menu.

Use MeSH Database (controlled vocabulary) from the National Library of Medicine

• Select MeSH from the search drop down menu (rather than PubMed) or use the MeSH Database link under More Resources
• Enter the common term, e.g. nosebleed, flu, heartburn,
• If more than one term is listed, select the desired term with a check mark
• Or, select subheadings that match your topic interest
• Click Add to search builder
• Search for additional terms if desired, e.g. outbreak, causes, therapy, etc.
• Click Add to search builder
• Click Search PubMed

Limit in a variety of other ways. e.g. by population, language, type of article, age group etc.

• See Limits link above search box
• Descriptions and examples of limiters in PubMed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK3827/#pubmedhelp.Limits
• Important: Type of Article
• Publication types in PubMed: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/pubtypes2007.html
• Limits will persist unless you clear them: Limits Activated > Change/Remove

Find related articles

• From search result list, see Related citations link under each item
• From individual article records see links to articles under Related citations or click Related Citations under All links from this record