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Biosis Previews Guide

Shapiro Science Library

Biosis Previews Guide

About Biosis Previews

Biosis Previews is a comprehensive index to life sciences research literature. It covers journals (5000+), reports, meetings (1500+), reviews, and books in all areas of biology.

The University of Michigan subscribes to Biosis Previews through ISI. Access is available to any authorized UM user.

Getting Started

Access Biosis Previews from the UM Library's Find Databases (Search Tools) page: http://searchtools.lib.umich.edu/V?func=find-db-1

From that page, select "B" from the alphabetical list, then scroll down to select Biosis Previews.

Or use this direct link via Find Databases (Search Tools): http://searchtools.lib.umich.edu/V/?func=native-link&Resource=UMI01948

Searching Biosis Previews

The front page allows you to select General or Advanced search, and to limit search results by date.

General Search supports searching by author, subject term, journal, taxonomic data, concept code and more. Most users will wish to start with General Search.

Search examples:

  • Author - Da Costa C* OR DaCosta C* (to find both variants)
  • Topic - recycl* AND glass*
  • Source Publication - Animal Behaviour (type full journal name, or paste from list)

Biosis Previews uses controlled vocabulary for some searches; use the lists provided for:

  • Taxonomic data - (ex.) Placodermi
  • Major Concepts - (ex.) Marine Ecology
  • Concept Codes - (ex.) Economic entomology - Biological control

Limit searches by language, document type (ex. Literature Review) etc. by using dropdown boxes at the bottom of the screen.

See the online help for more search examples, and detailed explanations. You can use the Search History to refine or combine results from previous searches.

Wherever possible, use the buttons within Biosis Previews for navigation, rather than the browser Back button.

Working with your Search Results

Sort the search results - use the drop down box provided

Analyze the results - use the menus provided

Mark records:

  • Select some, or mark all
  • Click Submit Marks. An icon for "Marked List" will appear at the top of the page.
  • Select Marked List to print, email or export to reference management software

Citation Searching

As the University of Michigan access to Biosis Previews is through the ISI Web of Knowledge, the results include links for citation searching. When viewing an individual record, you will see a link at right for "citing articles." That link will search within ISI Web of Science for later articles which cite the one whose record you are viewing.

Finding the Articles

Biosis Previews results include a UM Library MGet It button MGet It button. It provides a link to full-text of articles and to a Mirlyn catalog search if fulltext is unavailable.

For Further Help

The database includes context-sensitive Help screens. For help in locating specific items, or with any other questions, ask Scott Martin, Biology Librarian, contact Science Library Reference, or AskUs.

Handout created by Betsy Williams, Shapiro Science Library

 

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