Research Methodology

GLOSSARY: 

               The dramatic increase in scientific and medical publications over the past three decades makes it imperative that scientists and clinicians have a focused and defined strategy for searching the scientific and medical literature.

DEFINATION:

               The creation of computerized databases has provided increased access to the literature and has facilitated organized approaches to searching the literature. The majority of relatively simple and small searches can be performed directly on-line without the need to leave the office or the home. This is in sharp contrast to the long, tedious hours spent in the library searching Index Medicus-a practice quite common less than two decades ago. This chapter outlines the basic sources of online scientific and medical literature and provides generalized guidelines for planning and executing computer-based searches. The appendices (10-1 through 10-6) provide lists of major North American and international providers of on-line scientific data and sites of interest on the world wide web.