Asish Balu
ENGL 202C

Introduction ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2
What’s in this Guide? ----------------------------------------------------------------2
Who is this Guide for? ---------------------------------------------------------------2
What Does this Guide Assume? ---------------------------------------------------3
How is this Guide Organized? ------------------------------------------------------3
Tips for Using this Guide ------------------------------------------------------------ 5
Learning About Your Topic ---------------------------------------------------------------------6
PhET Interactive Science Simulations --------------------------------------------7
Khan Academy -------------------------------------------------------------------------8
Researching Your Topic -------------------------------------------------------------------------9
Science Daily --------------------------------------------------------------------------10
The National Science Digital Library ---------------------------------------------11
The Public Library of Science - Biology ------------------------------------------12
MathSciNet ----------------------------------------------------------------------------13
Evaluating Your Research ----------------------------------------------------------------------14
Catalog of U.S. Government Publications --------------------------------------15
Money Math -----------------------------------------------------------------16
Statistical Abstract of the United States ----------------------------------------17
Federal Research and Development -----------------------------------18
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Mathematics and Science are extremely broad fields that hold numerous opportunities for research. However, it can sometimes be difficult to get started studying a topic. In fact, some students have trouble finding a topic to research! This guide will help you get started on your research and give you the resources you need to have a solid foundation. Within the guide there are two resources to help you understand the material. Once you feel comfortable with your material, you can move on to the actual research. There are four websites that will help you learn more about your topic. These online sources feature hundreds of articles that will help you understand the relevance and details of your intended subject. Finally, after choosing and studying your topic, the final two resources will give varying opinions as well as useful statistical information. The U.S. Government runs these two websites, so they include plenty of information that will help you see all sides of the subject matter. Many parts of math and science are quite controversial, and it is good to study all viewpoints.
VERY IMPORTANT: This guide is NOT going to help you write any essays or complete any projects. It will only help you find the sources you need to finish your intended tasks.
The intended audience of this guide includes first and second year college students in college studying mathematics, science, engineering, or a related field. The guide is written directly for students at the Pennsylvania State University, but other students will find it helpful as well.
Most of the websites listed are open to everyone, but Penn State students will benefit more from the MathSciNet resource because it allows library requests. These are explained more on page 14.
Although most math and science majors will find this guide useful, those wishing to conduct research will find it especially valuable. High-achieving first and second year students often desire a research position for the following summer, but they first need a place to start and a topic to study. “A Beginner’s Guide to Online Math and Science Resources” details the beginning of the research process and can help students get their feet wet in math and science.
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This guide assumes that you are familiar with the internet and have a working network connection. Since the target audience is first and second year students, we assume you are taking introductory courses such as calculus, physics, and chemistry. Most of the sources will help newer students begin researching a topic, but older students may want to search elsewhere. Naturally, many engineers will read this guide because engineering involves the same technical background as the science majors.
We also assume that you are interested in mathematics or science and enjoy learning new things. To make the guide accessible to everyone, it is assumed that you have had no prior research experience. This guide is meant to give students a place to start their search for information.
This guide is organized in a way meant to mimic the research process. When studying a new topic, the first step is always to lay the foundation. It is crucial to understand the basics of the topic before moving on to the next step. In this guide there are two resources that will help you understand any topics that you find unclear. These are “Khan Academy” and “PhET”.
The second step of research is to read, read, and read. This step involves searching for articles relating to your subject either online or in print. There is no limit to how many articles you should read; you must keep learning information from new sources until you can form a clear, concise summary of the topic. To help you find sources related to your research area, this guide includes four databases and journals. Searching through these sources will help you find the information you need for your own purpose, whether it be to write a paper, prove a point, or simply increase your knowledge.
The final research step is to compare your work and your findings with others. Two of the sources listed here can help you find opposing viewpoints or statistical data about your topic.
Both of these sources are run by the U.S. government. Reviewing your own research in relation
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to others will prevent you from being biased and only seeing things from one angle. In addition, analyzing your accumulated data against a statistical reference can help you see where you may have made an error.
To make things more clear, here is a simple flowchart detailing how to use this guide:
Do you know what your topic of research is?
Yes No
Do you understand the basic mathematical and scientific principles behind your topic?
Yes
You are ready to start searching for sources! Go to NSDL (pg.10), Science
Daily (pg. 11), PLOS (pg. 12), or
MathSciNet (pg. 13) and read some articles and professional journals.
Once you have enough information, you should begin your project.
Yes
No
Finished with your work? Check out other people’s opinions and papers through Statistical Abstracts of the
U.S (pg.15) or the Catalog of U.S.
Government Publications (pg.17). The former will let you compare your research to statistical data, while the latter will provide you with opposing viewpoints.
Head over to PhET (pg.7) or Khan
Academy (pg.8) and look through their websites. Find something that interests you!
Head over to PhET (pg.7) and check out the simulations that relate to your subject area. Alternatively go to Khan
Academy (pg.8) and watch videos relating to your subject until you feel comfortable with it.
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Start with the flowchart above to get a sense of where you are in the research process and what you have to do next.
There is no limit to the number of sources you can use for researching a topic. Feel free to use the sources listed in this guide as stepping stones to more advanced articles and publications.
You do not have to go through each source one by one. Jump around if you need to.
The examples given for the two government sources are only a few of the many articles available through those databases. We highly recommend you search thoroughly for publications that relate directly to your subject.
Even if you do not intend on conducting research, take a look through this guide to see how you can learn more about any topic of your interest!
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Where can I find it?
Home page: http://phet.colorado.edu/
What is it useful for?
PhET is a website created by the Colorado State University that includes many scientific simulation applications for students and teachers. The applications are almost like little games, and they are simple and easy to use. Most of the simulation software on PhET is for students interested in physics or mathematics. However, there are quite a few chemistry-based applications as well. For example, one simulation allows the user to build molecules from scratch.
If you are unsure about how a certain mechanical phenomenon works in real life or are unable to experiment at home, then PhET is the perfect choice. You can simulate different experiments and learn scientific principles in comfort. Whenever you need help with science or math, check
PhET for any helpful simulations.
Tips and Tricks
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From the home page, there are various places to which you can go. Click on the “On
Line” link under the “How to Run Simulations” title near the bottom of the page. From here, you are taken to the main simulation list.
Having trouble running an application? There are three links on the left-hand navigation bar that will come to your aid. The “How to Run Simulations” tab is probably the most important and we recommend you start here. If you are still having problems, click on the “Troubleshooting” or “FAQs” links to see if you have a common problem.
At Penn State, introductory physics can be very difficult. To those who need help with basic force laws, check out the application titled “Forces and Motion: Basics.” It is the third link on the simulations page.
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Where can I find it?
Home page: https://www.khanacademy.org/
What is it useful for?
Khan Academy is a large collection of 10-15 minute videos that cover a wide variety of topics.
There are videos about mathematics, science, and even history and geography. The creator of the website, Salman Khan, talks in most of the videos, and the concepts are explained in a thorough yet informative way.
The site is split into various categories, making it very easy for users to navigate to the video they desire. In addition, the videos are ordered sequentially, so students will not have to search for the next video in a series.
Not only are there videos about different school subjects, but there are also video guides for standardized tests. These guides can help those studying for important exams review important or valuable information. All in all, Khan Academy is a great place to start learning about a subject or reviewing previously incomprehensible material.
Tips and Tricks
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From the home page click the link labeled “BROWSE OUR LIBRARY” located near the bottom of the initial viewing window. This link will allow you to view videos without having to sign in with Facebook or Google. For those who don’t want to give out personal information, this is the way to go.
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Having difficulty in organic chemistry (CHEM 210 and CHEM 212 at Penn State)? Khan
Academy has an entire section devoted to organic chemistry. The link is located under the title “Science.” These videos assume you have a basic understanding of chemical principles; if you do not, simply watch the chemistry videos under the same title!
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Where can I find it?
Home page: http://nsdl.org/
What is it useful for?
The National Science Digital Library is a large database full of textbooks, scholarly articles, and other educational works. The database has complete texts for many of the articles and books it hold. This means when you find a book, you will not have to pay to see more of it; everything is freely available. However, some books will require you to pay a little bit of money to see more.
It is important to note that the content found in this database is not created by The National
Science Digital Library. The articles come from various sources that donate or sell their information to the NSDL.
A large percentage of the articles on the NSDL relate to STEM fields: Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Mathematics. There are quite a few articles for other fields as well.
Tips and Tricks
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The National Science Digital Library is a very powerful resource if you know what you are looking for. On the other hand, if you are assigned a paper in class and do not know where to start, you should try one of the other resources listed below. Once you have clearly determined your topic, simply type it into the search bar and begin your research.
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Unlike PhET and Khan Academy, the NSDL will not help you understand a brand new topic. For example, if you are struggling in Physics, it would be a better idea to watch some videos on Khan Academy than to search through the database for educational articles
The NSDL is available on Apple devices through the iTunes software. From the home page, highlight the “Explore” tab and click on “NSDL on iTunesU” for more information.
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Where can I find it?
Home page: http://www.sciencedaily.com/
What is it useful for?
Science Daily contains many articles about a wide variety of mathematical and scientific subjects. The website features articles that span from computer science to biology to geology and nearly everything in between. Some are written by staff members, while most are written by professional journalists. Whether you are looking for current events or research information,
Science Daily is a great place to start searching. Science Daily can help you find something interesting to research about, and if you already have a topic in mind, it can provide you with the knowledge you need. This website is especially useful for relating science to the real world; the numerous articles about breakthroughs in technology prove that math and science are relevant to our daily lives.
The articles on this website are up-to-date and new works enter the website every day. This means the information from Science Daily will be fresh and applicable to your studies.
Tips and Tricks
Science Daily has an application for both Android and iPhone users. We recommend downloading it to keep up-to-date with scientific news. Click on “Android” or “iPhone” near the top of the homepage for more information.
You can access Science Daily’s free RSS News Feeds at a link at the top of the homepage.
These are useful when combined with the application, allowing you to read new articles when traveling.
This website not only has articles, but videos as well. There are numerous links underneath “Featured Videos” on the homepage.
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Where can I find it?
Home page: http://www.plosbiology.org/home.action
What is it useful for?
The Public Library of Science – Biology (PLOS) is a free to access journal that details current accomplishments in the fields of biology and biochemistry. The journal comes with its own blog that is updated daily. This allows readers to stay up-to-date on all biology-related news. When you click on any article, the article’s details are clearly shown underneath the title and picture.
The citation information is provided as well, making it easy to include various publications in your bibliography.
Every article has a comments section where users can post questions and give solutions to others’ uncertainties. This encourages readers to discuss what they have read. Many parts of biology can be confusing to understand, but the PLOS’s easy-to-use comment section makes the task less daunting.
Students interested in biology-related subjects can check out PLOS’s other seven journals. They cover subjects ranging from “Computational Biology” to “Neglected Tropical Diseases”.
Tips and Tricks
For those conducting research, it is useful to know how many times a certain article has been cited by others. After clicking on the desired article, click on “Metrics” near the upper-middle of the page to see how many other publications cited this work. Here you can also see the number of people that have read the article.
Under the article’s title there is a link titled “About the Authors.” This page provides the email address of the writer. We suggest emailing the author if you have any lingering questions that were not answered in the comments section.
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Where can I find it?
Since MathSciNet is an online database index, it requires users to purchase a login ID and password. However, the American Mathematical Society has created a similar database by the same name. This free-to-use database is very similar to the aforementioned one, and should suit your purposes.
Home page: http://www.ams.org/mathscinet/
What is it useful for?
Just like Science Daily, The Public Library of Science – Biology, and The National Science Digital
Library, MathSciNet is great for finding publications that deal with mathematics and science.
The nice thing is that all fields of science are represented. There are articles about physics, papers about chemistry, and essays about biology. Each article is reviewed by professionals to make sure the information is accurate.
What makes MathSciNet so unique is that it is directly connected with the Penn State
University Library. Print copies are sometimes more useful than their online counterparts. Next to almost every paper, there is a button to send a request to the library. In just a few days, that publication will be available at the Paterno Library for pickup.
Even if you are not a Penn State student, do not worry. Nearly every article can be opened in
PDF form online with the click of a button, making them easy to access whoever you are.
Tips and Tricks
If the grey box next to an article says “Reviewed” it means that Mathematical Reviews
(an organization that reviews mathematical articles) has taken a look at that publication.
You should look for these papers first because they are guaranteed to have accurate information.
Click on the “Citations” tab and then on “Top 10 Lists” to see the ten most popularly cited mathematical works. These could be the starting point of your research!
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Where can I find it?
Home page: http://catalog.gpo.gov/
What is it useful for?
The Catalog of U.S Government Publications is an online database that contains thousands of articles, reports, and requests made by members of the United States government. For example, some of the articles were published by the U.S. Committee of Science and Technology and others were published by the United States House of Representatives. Each article includes a synopsis that details the URL of the source as well as the source’s author, ISBN (International
Standard Book Number), and bibliography.
The Catalog is best used when writing about a topic that has opposing viewpoints. Most controversial documents from this database have copies written from the other side’s point of view. Using both viewpoints will prevent you from being too biased in your paper. Another use of the Catalog of U.S. Government Publications is to find statistical information about the entire country. For example, one article called “The Nation’s Report Card” is about students’ science test scores across the U.S. This information is applicable in applied mathematics and statistics courses where sorting large amounts of data is a key subject.
Please see the next page for an additional example of a publication from this database (“Money
Math”).
Tips and Tricks
The Advanced Search option will allow you to narrow your search to very specific details. Click the “Advanced” tab at the top of the home page to begin an advanced search.
This database is not just for government publications. When conducting an advanced search, click the drop down menu next to “Catalogs” to change the type of source. You can search for various internet publications as well as serial articles.
The “New Titles” tab lets you search for publications that are recent and relevant.
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Database Source:
Catalog of U.S. Government Publications
URL: http://www.treasurydirect.gov/indiv/tools/tools_moneymath.pdf
Description:
Money Math is a guide written by Mary C. Suiter and featured on the U.S. Treasury website. It details the process of investing money for those wishing to accumulate interest on their current assets. This article engages and teaches readers about money math by including sections where the reader must calculate interest rates.
Citation:
Suiter, Mary C. "Money Math." Treasury Direct. St. Louis, MO : University of Missouri-St. Louis, Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Education, 2008. Web. 5 Feb. 2014.
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Where can I find it?
Home page: http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/science_technology/expenditures_research_developm ent.html
What is it useful for?
The Statistical Abstract of the United States provides numerous files that show various government related statistics for the United States. These statistics focus mainly on expenditures of different federal grants and regulations, although they range from “Food
Consumption” to “Nuclear Power Plants” as well. Most of the files are both in spreadsheet and
PDF form, providing easy access on any computer.
Having statistics can be very useful when researching topics related to money and spending. For instance, if your topic is about increasing the cost efficiency of cars, then it would be a good idea to look for statistics related to transportation costs. You could show how your new solution would be cheaper than what is currently in use.
The Statistical Abstract is published every single year, so it is advisable to use the 2013 edition for your research. Please see the next page for an example of an article from this database.
Tips and Tricks
If you do not have a spreadsheet viewer (such as Microsoft Excel) downloaded onto your computer, click “PDF Version” near the top of the home page. Doing so will only show files that are in PDF form.
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The “Science and Technology” tab is best for mathematical or scientific research; however, you are not limited to these articles. Plenty of statistical data for scientists exist in other tabs, especially under “International Statistics” and “Energy and Utilities”.
Within any specific category, the files are ordered. Those with higher numbers to the left of their titles are more recent. We recommend using more recent data to keep you research up-to-date.
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Database Source:
Statistical Abstract of the United States
URL: http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s0809.pdf
Description:
Federal Research and Development (R&D) Obligations to Selected Universities and Colleges:
2006 and 2007 is a table that shows the universities with the most research funding. Below this table is another set of data; this second table shows the number of graduate degrees earned for each scientific field. This data could be used in statistical analyses to see how funding affects student performance.
Citation:
"Federal Research and Development (R&D) Obligations to Selected Universities and Colleges: 2006 and
2007." Census Bureau. Statistical Abstract of the United States, 2012. Web. 6 Feb. 2014.
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