Finding Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

1.  Think about your search strategy.  This will save you time in the long run.  Here are some sample search terms:

 

  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • PCR
 AND
  • DNA amplification.
  • Forensics
  • disease identification
  • Research
  • troubleshooting
  • Conditions
  • Primer design

 

2.  Use Boolean logic to join your search terms.​ (These work in most databases.)

Search Term

What it does

Example

AND
  • Both terms must be included in the record. 
  • Narrows the search. 
  • Will retrieve fewer results.
 enzymes
AND
kinetics

OR
  • Either term must be included in the record. 
  • Broadens the search. 
  • Will retrieve more results.
 enzymes
OR
kinetics

NOT
  • Excludes the term following “not.” 
  • Should be used carefully, since it is possible to accidentally eliminate relevant hits. (Think about the search Miami NOT Dolphins - you'll remove results about the sports team, but also remove results about the mammals living near Miami.)
 enzymes
NOT
kinetics

*

Placing an asterisk at the end of a word will find all variations of the word.  

This is called a truncator or wildcard.

enzym* retrieves:

  • enzyme
  • enzymes
  • enzymatic... 

" "

To search for a phrase or title, put the words in quotes.

 "enzyme kinetics"

Search Strategy Tutorials

Explore these quick tutorials to learn various search tips.

Ask a Librarian

Profile Photo
CSU Librarians
Ask a Research Question

Chat for Quick Help

Ask Us About:

  • Finding articles, books, & more
  • Using library resources
  • Citing your sources
Subjects: Accounting, Aerospace & Military Science, Agricultural & Resource Economics, Agricultural Biology, Agriculture (all), Agriculture & Natural Resources, Animal & Equine Science, Anthropology, Apparel & Merchandising, Art & Art History, Atmospheric Science, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Biological & Physical Sciences, Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Business (all), Business (Company), Business (Finance), Business (Industry), Business (International), Business (Marketing), Chemistry, Citation Style Guides, Communication & Journalism, Communication Studies, Composition & Communication, Computer Science, Construction Management, Counseling & Career Development, Criminology, Dance, Design, Diversity & Inclusion, Ecology, Economics, Education, Engineering, Engineering & Math, English Language & Literature, Environmental & Radiological Health Sciences, Ethnic Studies, Family & Consumer Sciences, Fermentation Science & Technology, Film Studies, Fish, Wildlife, & Conservation Biology, Food Science & Human Nutrition, Forest & Rangeland Stewardship, Geography, Geology, Government (U.S.), Health & Exercise Science, History, Horticulture & Landscape Architecture, Hospitality & Tourism Management, Human Development & Family Studies, Human Dimensions of Natural Resources, Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts, Journalism & Media Communication, Languages, Literatures, & Cultures, Legal Studies, Library & Information Science, Mathematics, Music, Natural Resources, Occupational Therapy, Organizational Leadership & Human Resources, Philosophy & Religion, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Public Health, Public Policy & Administration, Social Sciences/Human Studies, Social Work, Sociology, Soil & Crop Sciences, Sport Management, Statistics & Data Science, Sustainability, Veterinary Medicine, Water, Women's & Gender Studies

24/7 Library Help

24/7 Library Help

Connect with library staff via chat, email, phone or text.

URL: https://libguides.colostate.edu/life203 | Print Page