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BIO103 - Unit Guide

Exercise 3 Journal Articles

Searching the Scientific Literature

Journal articles are scholarly sources that explore very specific topics, usually through research.

Many, although not all, journal articles undergo a peer review process where the quality is checked prior to publication. The author’s credentials are provided, allowing you to form judgements about their expertise and authority to be writing about the topic. References in the article provide supporting evidence, enabling readers to find related research.

They can be produced quickly, within weeks, allowing fast access to current information.

When you already know the journal article details, you can use Library Search to find the article. For example, you can use the following reference information to locate the article. This one is in Chicago referencing style:


McBride, Timothy C., Aaron Organ, and Elizabeth Pryde. 2019. "Range Extension of Leadbeater's Possum (Gymnobelideus Leadbeateri)." Australian Mammalogy 42, no.1 (February): 96-102.


Note: Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) are unique strings of alphanumeric characters that form a persistent link to individual publications. They are assigned to different resources when they are published electronically, including journal articles, books and chapters. Note: not all publications have a DOI. DOIs offer persistence and permanence that standard URLs do not, making them an important tool when locating resources.

Library Search searches across most subscribed databases with online links to materials held at Murdoch.

  1. In Library Search type in the article title "Range Extension of Leadbeater's Possum (Gymnobelideus Leadbeateri)"
  2. Select the link "Available online" to access the record for the article "Range Extension of Leadbeater's Possum (Gymnobelideus Leadbeateri)"
  3. From the "View Online" heading in the resource record, click on the link to CSIRO Journals to open
  4. Several functionalities are highlighted:
    • Use "Full Text" to view the article in plain text (useful for copying quotes)
    • Use "PDF" to open or download the article in PDF format
    • Use the Supplementary Material link to access data tables, etc.
    • Use "Export Citation" to export the reference into a reference management program such as EndNote
    • Use "Cited By" to access articles citing this article

To test your knowledge of the library resources discussed in Exercise 3 Journal Articles, please go to Quiz 3 - Journal Articles on the Quizzes page.