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BIOL 460 (Westerkamp)

This guide links you to resources and tips to support BIOL 460 research.

Basic keyword searching in PubMed

Basic keyword searching in PubMed

  • There are different ways to search PubMed.  A good way to start is with a basic, keyword search.
  • For basic searches, enter your search concepts (be specific). 
  • Do not include Boolean operators or punctuation as you might for other searches.
  • PubMed will match your keywords to the MeSH headings (a controlled vocabulary that indexers use for many of the journals indexed by PubMed).

Adjust results display and apply filters to narrow your results

 

Adjust PubMed results display and apply filters to narrow results.

  • Adjust results display from Display options link in upper, right portion of screen (Abstract or Summary view of results, Best Match or Most Recent and change Per page display up to 200 results).
  • Select filters from the left side of the results screen to narrow your search.
  • If limiting your Text Availability to full text results (results that are available to read in their entirety right now), make sure to select the "Full Text" option, which links you to FLITE subscriptions in addition to what is freely available through PubMed.
    • Remember limiting to full text may exclude some good article citations that you could get through Illiad Interlibrary Loan.

You can use the Article Type limit to help you find original primary research articles

You can use the Article Type filter to help locate original research

  • Make selections under the Article Type filter to get original research such as Clinical Trials and Randomized Controlled Trials
  • Click on Additional filters to select other original research study types of interest (For example, Comparative Study, Multi-Center Study, Twin Study, or others that make sense for your topic). *After making selections, make sure to click on Show.
  • The Article type filter will populate the new options you chose. Click on them to apply those filters to your search as well.Display of all available filters under the Article Type filter.

Send citations to Clipboard for abstract screening

Save results titles of interest to Clipboard in PubMed for abstract screening.

  1. When viewing your refined results list, send titles of interest to your Clipboard for abstract screening by clicking Send to (link is above results) and then Clipboard 
  2. You will see a confirmation notice that your selections were added to the Clipboard.
  3. Visit your Clipboard anytime by clicking on the Clipboard link under the search bar. *Clipboard will display after citations are added.Where PubMed Clipboard is located under search bar.

From your Clipboard, click on article titles to screen abstracts

Screening abstracts at item level in PubMed clipboard.

When in your Clipboard, click on an individual title to view the abstract and details for that citation:

  • Read the abstract to make sure you have an original primary research article of interest
  • Access a PDF of your article by clicking the Ferris Full Text icon. *Other full text options including publisher often prompt you for payment.
  • You can collect a citation at this point if you wish in a format of your choice by clicking the Cite link
  • If you found an especially on topic article, find others like it by visiting Similar articles
  • Return to Clipboard and review other abstracts and details for other citations

From the Clipboard view, email citations to yourself for articles you plan to use

Email yourself citations of interest from PubMed clipboard.

From the Clipboard, select citations of interest that you have screened abstracts for and select the Email link to email citations to yourself.

Follow prompts to email yourself citations after selecting email link in PubMed clipboard.

Follow prompts to email yourself citations. Don't forget to check your Junk Mail if you don't see the results in your Inbox.