Scientific and Technical Literature

Each branch of science communicates findings for the purpose of discussion and further study. The choice of media in which research results are published can have strong professional impact for scientists and researchers. "Scientific and Technical Literature: An Introduction to Forms of Communications" examines the chosen media of scientists and technologists. Each chapter is devoted to the history, development and scientific use of a particular type of media: journal, conference proceedings, technical report, patent, map, secondary literature and online literature. The book is unique in that it approaches each form without regard for its status as primary or secondary, scientific or technical and reports on each forms strengths and weaknesses in authority and accessibility. Concluding with an index, "Scientific and Technical Literature" also contains a variety of useful charts and illustrations.