| Disciplines within the Sciences | Biology, Psychology, Engineering, Computer Science, Agriculture, Chemistry, Astronomy, Geology, Mathematics, Ecology, Geography, Horticulture |
 "Science is not only an intellectual and practical activity; it is a social one. The social, intellectual, and practical aspects of science are interlocking and help to characterize the enterprise of science. Scientific work takes place within a community, and its results must measure up to the standards of that community." Collier's Encyclopedia (1994 edition)  George Washington Carver (1864 - 1943) Agricultural researcher |
History of the Sciences
Collier's Encyclopedia
(1994 edition) defines science as "a human creation arising
from the need to make sense of the world...." |
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Characteristics
and Structure of Scientific Literature
Scientific literature embodies the existing store of objective knowledge, serves as the foundation on which the incremental progress of science rests, and is the product of scientific advances.
The book has never been a medium by which scientists have been able to quickly disseminate new information on scientific developments. In the 16th and 17th centuries, authors had to work several years to accumulate enough information that would warrant the publication of a book.
Observations and discoveries were more quickly published and made available through booklets and pamphlets. Today, this pattern is still in place. Scientists rely primarily on journal articles for up-to-date information.
The literature
of the Sciences incorporates a wide variety of resources:
- Unpublished documents, notebooks, journals, diaries
- Letters to editors, or short articles discussing the nature of current research
- Conference literature such as research paper presentations and published conference proceedings
- Research reports, papers published in refereed primary journals, as well as books, technical reports, dissertations and theses
Primary, Secondary,
and Tertiary Literature in the Sciences
One may also categorize information in the sciences by its place
in the publication cycle.
Primary Sources
Primary resources in the sciences would include experimental samples
used for lab research, experimental results printed in logs and
diaries, and other such raw data that has not been re-worked. If
this information is not available, one can also consider initial
publications reporting scientific research as a primary resource.
Secondary Sources
Tasks of identifying, selecting, and digesting pertinent information
from the mass of scientific literature are important phases of the
total process of scientific research and development. Bibliographies,
indexes, abstracts, catalogs, directories, handbooks, and yearbooks
should be considered secondary resources.
Tertiary Sources
Tertiary publications are derived by further surrogation of secondary
literature. To begin your scientific research, you might consult
a bibliography of bibliographies, directory of directories, or a
guide to the literature in any given scientific discipline.
Users of scientific
information usually reverse the direction of information publication
- from tertiary to primary literature - when they are conducting
research.
Formats and Types of Information in the Sciences
Formats and types
of information in the sciences:
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 How can I apply this information? Consider that the WSU Libraries provides you online access to online Sciences indexes, ejournal collections, ebook databases, encyclopedias & dictionaries, and more. SCIENCE, AGRICULTURE AND ENGINEERING MEDICINE (Including Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy) |