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Polymer Engineering - Research Methods

Information Cycle

Circular image. Research and publication cycle. Clockwise. Primary sources. 1. Research and development = Laboratory notebooks. 2. Non-formal communication= Invisible college. (subcategories: memoranda, departmental colloquia, correspondence, and email). 3. Preliminary communication = Letter to the editor (subcategory letters, journals) and Biosequence data and patents. 4. Formalize = Conference proceedings, technical reports, dissertations, theses, journal articles. Secondary sources. 1. Organize = Indexes and abstracts (subcategories: bibliographic databases, bioinformatics databases, and bibliograpies). 2. Repackage = handbooks, directories, dictionaries, yearbooks, and almanacs. 3. concentrate = encyclopedias, treatises, monographs, and reviews. Tertiary sources. 1. organize = library catalogs and guides to the literature. Search strategy. counter clockwise meaning, tertiary sources, secondary sources, then primary sources. Guide to library research in science by Julia Gustafson.

Searching the Literature

Polymer References

These are references specifically on polymers, plastics, composites and related subjects.

Chemical References

Use encyclopedias and other general references to get a topical overview before diving into the specific journal literature. Ullmann's opens in new window and Kirk-Othmer opens in new window both offer substantial non-engineering content.

Finding Theses and Dissertations