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Bio 116 Research Guide

Starting Your Research

The Library Catalog is a great place to start your research. Search for both books and digital resources (like articles) here. You may be prompted to login with your CCC username and password. 

Best Bets for Scholarly Sources in the Health Sciences

Best Bets for Current Events in the Health Sciences

Find Background Information: Encyclopedias

Database Searching Pro Tips

  • Not all databases contain the same information. Some have overlapping content, while others will differ. Use more than one for research. 
  • Use advanced search with at least 2 keywords + Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) to narrow or broaden your results and get to relevant resources more quickly. You can also put quotation marks ("") around a term to create a compound keyword.
  • When viewing the full text of an article, always select the PDF version vs. HTML. 
  • Know where the database toolbox is located to use functions including Save, Cite, Share, etc. The most important are Cite (gives citations in various formats) and Permalink (provides a link directly back to the article, using your CCC credentials).
  • Mine bibliographies of relevant resources and use "Related Search" functions for related articles and information.

Resource Tools

  • Getting Started with Zotero Guide: Zotero is a free, open-source desktop application that allows you to collect, organize, cite, and share research. It works on Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems. This guide has information on how to get started with using Zotero, from installing the application and its plugins, to adding sources to your library, to generating in-text citations and reference lists. 

  • APA - Citing Sources - LibGuides at City Colleges of Chicago