|
| Instructional Guides |
|
Scitation |
What is the scope and coverage of Scitation?
Do I have to register to use Scitation?
How do I search for a journal article?
What are the truncation and wildcard symbols?
How do I find the journal article if not available electronically in the database?
How do I print/view the article?
How do I save/email the article?
How do I search for researchers and Institutions?
What are some related resources?
What if it asks me for a login or password?
What if I need more help?
What is the scope?
Use AIP/Scitation to find articles from:
American Institute of Physics
American Physical Society
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
American Society of Civil Engineers*
International Society for Optical Engineering and related societies.
*Note: Use ASCE Online Journal Database for additional access to the American Society of Civil Engineers journals
What years are covered?
Coverage varies, most back to 1997, some back to 1975.
Do I have to register to use Scitation?
No, you do not have to register to use Scitation. Scitation offers services you can use to customize features, keep and organize articles. Free registration is required to use these features. The registration is brief and you must give your email address and create a password. To search without registering please use How do I search for a journal article.
back to top
To Search for a journal article use SPIN (Searchable Physics Information Notices) Database,
1.) Click on SPIN Abstract Database
2.) Enter your search terms in the boxes. Choose Full Bibliographic Record in the pull down menu for the broadest search. Choose Author, Title, or other fields for a narrower search. See Searching Help or Search Tips and Examples for more hints. The truncation symbol is the *.
Examples:
Keyword or subject search
-or-
Use two or more keywords
-or-
Author search
-or-
Article title search
Note: Make sure words are spelled correctly.
3.) Click 
. Scroll and look at results. Click Full Text or PDF to get the article electronically. Try different search terms if you do not find articles on your topic.
4.) To change how the results are given use the pull down menus below the search box. The results can be sorted by relevance, date or journal, the number of results per screen and the scoring mechanism called threshold. Click on the menu title links for more information.
5.) Use the Search Tips and Examples or click on Searching Help 
for more help and search examples.
What are the Truncation and Wildcard Symbols?
The truncation symbol is the asterisk (*). For example, irradiat* (finds irradiate, irradiation, irradiated, irradiating)
The wildcard symbol is the question mark (?). For example, p?oton (finds proton, photon)
back to top
How do I Print/View the article?
From the results screen, Click on Full Text or PDF below the article you are interested in or click on the article title for the abstract. Do not use GZipped PS. Use the Print feature under the File menu in the Browser or use the Print function under the File menu in the Adobe toolbar or click the printer icon to print the article.
Note: You must have Adobe Acrobat to access the article using the PDF.
How do I Save/Email the article (requires free registration)?
To save results, click on Full Text or PDF from below the article you are interested in. Use the Save features under the File menu in the Browser or Adobe menus.
To email results, click the checkbox on the left side of the results screen for those articles you want to email. You will be directed to a Log-in page. You must register and create a Scitation user name and password. Once you have your user name and password you can select "myArticles" from the "Options for selected articles" menu to send the checked articles. You can then email the articles located in "myArticles." If you have any additional questions click "help" at the upper right of the page.
How do I find the article if not available electronically in the Database?
1.) Copy the citation [Article Title, Author Name, Journal Title, Volume Number, Issue Number, Year Published, Pages ] you need.
2.) Search for the Journal Title (Not the Article Title) using COAST, Journals to see if we have the journal in paper or electronically in a different database.
3.) If CSULB does not have the journal you need, please fill out an Illiad: Interlibrary Services Form.
Note: It takes 5-10 days to get an article through Interlibrary loan.
How do I Search for Researchers and Institutions?
Click on SPIN Web tab in the upper left of the screen. Click on Directories of Scientists 
. The DPAGS (Directory of Physics, Astronomy & Geophysics Staff) is a name, address, and telephone number listing of physicists and astronomers in North America. Follow the links to the other societies keeping in mind we have limited access to the society directories. If you are asked for a Password/Log-In, we do not have access.
What are some Related Resources?
Databases (Search to find journal articles)
ASTA (Applied Science and Technology)
Science Direct
Compendex
Web of Science
Wiley Interscience
General Science Abstracts
CSULB Research Guides
Engineering
Physics and Astronomy
Gray Literature
Civil Engineering
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
What if it asks me for Log-ins or Passwords?
Free Registration is required to use personalization and "myArticles" features of Scitation. You can search for journal articles using the techniques above without registration. If you are given a log-in screen when you try to access a journal article using techniques above it means we do not subscribe electronically to that journal or part of the site. See How do I find the article if not available electronically in the Database for more information.
What if I need more help?
More Help with Searching SPIN
Try the Advanced Search using Scitation/SPIN
Using Magazines, Newspapers & Journals tutorial
Chat with a librarian 24/7
Email the Science and Engineering Librarian back to top
This page created by Kate Peterson and maintained by
Cathy Outten, Science and Mathematics Librarian
University Library, California State University, Long Beach