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Forensic Science: Subject Headings

This library resource guide will be helpful to Dr. Cynthia Molitor's CHM 167 students.

General Search Strategies

Searching in the OPAL catalog for your topic:  

SUBJECT AND KEYWORD searches are not the same. The catalog uses controlled vocabularies for subjects. Keywords are natural language. If you find an appropriate book using a keyword find similar books by searching the same subject headings.

A CONTROLLED VOCABULARY like Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) helps ensure the same topics are described using a formalized terminology. The terms are based on broad and narrow topics. Other controlled vocabularies include: Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), or LC subject headings for children's literature.

SEARCH TIPS  on the catalog page explain combining words for the most efficient way to find what you need. Or, ask your friendly librarian for some assistance

MARKING RECORDS enables you to save to a list then print or email a selected group of items.

A BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD  in the online catalog will give important information including the title, author, publisher, publication date, subject headings and the Dewey decimal call number. 

THE DEWEY DECIMAL SYSTEM is a classification scheme used to organize books. Other libraries may use the Library of Congress Classification System. 

Search Term Suggestions

 USE:  

  • Chemistry, forensic
  • Forensic Chemistry
  • Forensic Entomology
  • Forensic Genetics
  • Forensic Pathology
  • Forensic Pharmacology
  • Forensic Serology
  • Forensic Sciences
  • Forensic Toxicology

Narrower Search try:

  • Arson analysis
  • Blood alcohol concentration (BAC)
  • Blood evidence
  • Body fluid testing
  • Crime laboratories
  • Criminal investigation
  • Criminal poisoning
  • Disaster victim identification
  • DNA analysis
  • DNA typing
  • Drug analysis
  • Fingerprinting
  • Forensic ballistics
  • Gas Chromatography (GC)
  • Mass Spectrometry (MS)
  • Poisoning
  • Presumptive tests
  • Trace evidence
  • Wet chemistry methods