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Biochemistry

Your guide to biochemistry research at SSU: FInd books, articles, data, and more!

What are methods and protocols?

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.

in biology, research methods are often published separately and appear in a variety of formats. There are journals and serials that focus on methods, such as Methods in Enzymology.

Search Strategies for Methods or Protocols

Use OneSearch to identify materials detailing methods and protocols. Use keywords that identify the type of information you hope to find.

A keyword is a term you use to search that expresses what you hope to find. When you search for information, you will be most effective when you use multiple keywords and combine them in multiple ways. For example, you can connect your topic with a date, place, or item type.

Sample searches include:

  • biology AND laboratory manuals 
  • embryonic stem cells methods
  • developmental biology protocols

Open Access Protocol Platforms

Peer-Reviewed Journals with Methods & Protocols