Information Retrieval: SciFinder and SciFinder Scholar

Information Retrieval: SciFinder and SciFinder Scholar

by Damon D. Ridley, D. D. Ridley
     
 

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Information retrieval is arguably one of the most important skills a scientist needs in the 21st century. The SciFinder interface to the world's scientific literature is both unique and innovative. While it is intuitive and has a very user-friendly interface which requires minimum training, nevertheless searches will be performed more effectively and efficiently with… See more details below

Overview

Information retrieval is arguably one of the most important skills a scientist needs in the 21st century. The SciFinder interface to the world's scientific literature is both unique and innovative. While it is intuitive and has a very user-friendly interface which requires minimum training, nevertheless searches will be performed more effectively and efficiently with an understanding of the databases involved and the search processes. This text is thus a 'behind the scenes' look at SciFinder, complementary to the proprietary websites and manuals. SciFinder is rapidly becoming the preferred means to access scientific information in industry and universities worldwide. It accesses databases which span the chemical, engineering, life, medical and physical sciences, including the Chemical Abstracts Service databases and the National Library of Medicine database. No other single information access tool has such breadth of coverage for scientific journal and patent documents.

I have done a search.... but why did I get this answer? This text explains why, and more importantly, discusses how you may best use the 40+ options in SciFinder, such as topic, bibliographic and chemical substance explore options, to get the best answers possible.

Key features:
* Summarises the databases and explains how to take advantage of the unique search and analyse options

* Explains selected algorithms behind the operation of SciFinder and why it helps to understand them

* Discusses why it is important, and how to apply scientific method to information retrieval

* Includes problems at the end of each chapter designed for teaching purposes
Are you a researcher in the chemical, life, medical or physical sciences? If so, this text will help you use SciFinder in a way which will increase your research creativity and productivity. Written by a scientist for scientists Information Retrieval: SciFinder and SciFinder Scholar will be an essential resource for scientists in industry as well as an important component of science teaching and research programs, for academics, students as well as library staff in universities worldwide.

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Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher
"This reviewer who has searched the chemical literature for over 20 years and who has used SciFinder Scholar for 2 years found this book quite useful" (Chemweb - The Alchemist, 29 April 2002) 

"...Armed with Ridley's book you'll be able to carry out efficient searches of SciFinder..." (New Scientist, 12 October 2002)

"...will undoubtedly be a valuable aid in courses that cover the use of scientific literature...will equally serve the needs of...researchers who want to improve their command of SciFinder." (Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol. 124, No. 42, 2002)

"...an excellent text, highly recommended for any scientist..." (Issues in Science & Technology Librarianship, 16 December 2002)

"...there are useful tricks even for the expert, in this great value guide..." (European Peptide Society Newsletter, 1 January 2003)

"...I would recommend this text to the serious scientific researcher...it will also be of value to librarians..." (New Library World, Vol.103, No. 1182/1183, 2002)

"…I strongly recommend this book for the library and the laboratory. It is carefully written, very readable and packed with tips…" (Chemistry & Industry, 21 April 2003)

SciFinder Scholar provides desktop access to several databases from the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) and to the bibliographic database from the U.S. National Library for Medicine. This guide identifies what and how information is organized in SciFinder Scholar, and recommends strategies for searching by topic or chemical substance. A separate chapter on searching for chemical reactions helps synthetic chemists find information in the complex area of chemical reactions. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Product Details

ISBN-13:
9780470843512
Publisher:
Wiley
Publication date:
04/19/2002
Edition description:
Older Edition
Pages:
252
Product dimensions:
5.98(w) x 9.11(h) x 0.63(d)

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