Methods & protocols are a body of literature that describe experimental procedures. While descriptions of experimental procedures are widespread in the scientific literature, the "methods sections" of research articles are often brief and may not provide enough information for a researcher to replicate the process, particularly if the researcher is not already familiar with the procedure.

• Research methods are often published separately. 
• These appear in a variety of formats. 
• There are journals and serials that focus on methods, such as Methods in Enzymology. 
  • These may be indexed in databases such as Pubme,d or Web of Science, or SciFinder. 
• Much of the literature is published in books, and these are not widely indexed. 

A good protocol can save you countless hours in the lab with proven methodologies as a starting point for your research.

Useful keywords to use when searching for additional protocol literature at the Library include:  "laboratory manuals"

You can combine this keyword phrase (using the quotation marks indicates an exact keyword phrase) with a specific area of biology, for instance:

• biology and "laboratory manuals"
• "embryonic stem cells" and "laboratory manuals"
• "developmental biology" and "laboratory manuals"
• proteins and separation and "laboratory manuals"

If you don't find what you need in our Library, expand your search using CSU+. If it's not available in CSU+, you can still order it with Interlibrary Loan services.