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Biology: Articles: Primary: Examples: Tip 2
Lewis, T. A. How
to grow some sunshine
in your yard and feed
the birds in the process (growing
sunflowers). Nat.
Wildlife 1998 Apr-May; 36(3):12.
Although it is often impossible to know for sure until
you are looking at the article, you can get some information from just the basic
citation as given above. Looking at it carefully can save you the work of
tracking down an article that may not suit your particular needs.
If you are using a database that gives you abstracts, or
summaries, of the articles, you will have a better chance of categorizing the
article.
 | Scientific
terminology: The use of easy-to-read, common words may mean
that the article is written for a general audience rather than a scientific
one.
 | This does not look primary. |
|
| Genus/species
or place name: The use of specific classification names (or
specific city/state names or field locations) may indicate that the
article is describing one particular series of experiments or observations.
| This is specific in that it is
clearly about birds and sunflowers, however the use of common names
rather than genus/species names may mean a non-scientific audience:
inconclusive. |
|
| Action words
or descriptive nouns: Analysis of verbs and nouns in the title can
give you an idea whether the article is likely to describe one particular
set of experiments or take a broader look at work others have done.
| Although "grow" and
"feed" are active, the words "How to" indicate a
description of a process rather then an experiment. Probably not
primary. |
|
| Journal
titles: National Wildlife is a magazine and therefore not likely to
publish primary scientific research articles. Once you have used a
journal or magazine, you will know what kind of articles you are likely to
find in it.
| This does not look primary. |
|
| Page
numbers: Primary scientific literature will never be just one
page long! |
| CONCLUSION: THIS
IS PROBABLY A GENERAL INTEREST MAGAZINE ARTICLE. IF SO, IT COULD BE
USEFUL FOR BACKGROUND PURPOSES, BUT WILL PROBABLY NOT LEAD TO ANY REFERENCES
TO PRIMARY LITERATURE. |
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