Searching the Literature for Animal Testing Alternatives

Steps in the Research Process

Define the Question

Construct the Query

Select & Search Databases

Evaluate Your Search

Manage Your Results

Report Your Results

Keeping track of what databases you have searched, what keywords and questions you used in each database, and the results from each search can be a time-consuming and tedious enterprise. It used to be that researchers kept index card files with this information. Now, however, UNC-CH supports three different online citation management programs that can help you organize and manage your literature search results.

These programs are EndNote, Reference Manager, and ProCite. The Health Sciences Library has staff who are happy to help train you in these programs. HSL also has quick search tips for EndNote 7, ProCite 5, and Reference Manager 10.

Citation management software programs have some major advantages over card files or even spreadsheets. One is that you can attach notes to each reference, including keywords, subjects, and abstracts. Another is that the programs will automatically interface with word processors to format your citations according to a huge variety of styles. Finally, many databases offer a specialized format that is readable by these programs, making copying information into a spreadsheet unnecessary.