BIO 280 - Research Methods

This research guide identifies select resources to aid you in developing a literature review for BIO 280. The resources identified will primarily identify journal articles, especially peer-reviewed, research-based articles.

Class Notes

See notes from the session on Thursday, January 7, 2021 here.

Call numbers will indicate where an item is in the Library based on its collection. 

 Main Collection

• Items in the Main Collection are materials that you can check out.  This Collection is located on the Upper level of the Library.

Reference Collection

• Reference materials are typically those you use for a short section, such as Dictionaries, Encyclopedias, and Handbooks. These items must be used in the Library building and cannot be checked out. The Reference Collection is located on the Library's Upper level, immediately to the right as you walk through the glass doors.  

Other Collections

• You may note that DVDs, CDs, C.S. Lewis & Friends materials, and curriculum (CRC) have separate collection designations. The locations of these collections may be found on the Zondervan Library map located on the Library's main page.

Proprietary databases to which Taylor University subscribes have distinctive differences from search engines such as Google or Google Scholar. A database, generally, is a collection of information organized to provide efficient retrieval of subject matter, specifically scholarly subject matter. They tend to be narrower in scope than Google or Google Scholar. 

Prominent features of proprietary databases generally:

• Cover specific discipline area/s.

• Include academic (peer-reviewed) articles from journals or magazines, electronic books, newspapers, images and research related resources.

• Provide citation information or full text to what may be included in the text of the article (a works cited or bibliography.)

• Are subscriptions for which Zondervan pays. Whereas Google is free some databases are thousands of dollars per year.

Zondervan Library subscribes to over 75 research databases that contain journal, magazine, and newspaper articles on both general and specific disciplines. There are pros and cons for each option. Awareness of the content, organization, precision of search capabilities can save you time and yield the most appropriate and relevant results.

For more information see What is a library database? (Western Oregon University) http://www.wou.edu/provost/library/clip/tutorials/lib_database.htm

What do Librarians have to do with it? 

Librarians are available for assistance:                                            

• one on one research consultation
• formulation of research question              
• search strategy
• identifying appropriate databases
• advanced information seeking (beyond Zondervan)
• help with citations (Zotero); interlibrary loan (ILLIAD)
• other ideas regarding the literature review/research