Conducting a Literature Search Nola du Toit Center for Family and Demographic Research Workshop Series Spring 2008 What is a Literature Search? “A literature search is a well thought out and organized search for all of the literature published on a topic A well-structured literature search is the most effective and efficient way to locate sound evidence on the subject you are researching Evidence may be found in books, journals, government documents and the internet.”1 Purpose of a Literature Search  Broadens your knowledge on a topic  Shows your skill at finding relevant information  Allows for critical appraisal of research What is your question?  Create a chart with possible key words   Stay focused Unmarried fertility = out-of-wedlock childbearing = single mothers = nonmarital births Search Strategy  Set limits on your search    What is your perspective? What is your contribution? Check syllabi  Who are the big players? Search Tools  Truncated search words  Marr*  = married, marriage, marry Boolean logic  Use OR, NOT, AND Types of Literature Research Journals  Articles  Reviews/commentaries/replies  Reviews Types of Literature Books  Topic books  Handbooks  Theory books Types of Literature Online reports  Census  Research institutes  Government organizations Sources of Literature Library  Hard copies of books and journals  Interlibrary  Online loan library Add to folder Click on the title opens the abstract Number of times cited in database Narrow by subject Find It! Open link to find full text version of article If it is not online, check to see if it is on the shelf Search for a specific journal Enter journal title or search by subject Provides links to full text version of articles CHECK DATES!!!! OhioLINK Search by keyword, author, etc Pick a book and click on title See if BGSU has a copy If not, request the item Sources of Literature Internet  Online journals  “Google Scholar”  Websites  Government departments, research institutes, etc Google Scholar Can search for books and articles Can an advanced search Title links to abstract and possible source of full text “Find it with OLinks” links to full text version Link to articles that cited the work Link to related articles Now what? Critique the Literature  Is it relevant to my research?  Is the study significant?   Strengths and weaknesses What theories or methods are used? Critique the Literature  Is the research biased by emotions or public opinion?  Who is the target reader?  Public, academic peers, policy makers The CFDR can help! Thank you!  Sources  http://www.nursingtimes.net/ntclinical/how_to_conduct_a_literat ure_search.html  http://newadonis.creighton.edu/HSL/Guides/Lit-Review.html  http://www.utoronto.ca/writing/litrev.html [...]...BGSU Library Homepage 1 Academic Search Complete 2 Search by journal name 3 BGSU catalog 4 OhioLINK Academic Search Complete Type in search word Limit by context (author, title, etc) Add more search criteria Add to folder Click on the title opens the abstract Number of times cited in database Narrow by subject Find It! Open link to find full text version of article If it is not online,... Can search for books and articles Can do an advanced search Title links to abstract and possible source of full text “Find it with OLinks” links to full text version Link to articles that cited the work Link to related articles Now what? Critique the Literature  Is it relevant to my research?  Is the study significant?   Strengths and weaknesses What theories or methods are used? Critique the Literature. .. shelf Search for a specific journal Enter journal title or search by subject Provides links to full text version of articles CHECK DATES!!!! OhioLINK Search by keyword, author, etc Pick a book and click on title See if BGSU has a copy If not, request the item Sources of Literature 2 Internet  Online journals  “Google Scholar”  Websites  Government departments, research institutes, etc Google Scholar... methods are used? Critique the Literature  Is the research biased by emotions or public opinion?  Who is the target reader?  Public, academic peers, policy makers The CFDR can help! Thank you!  Sources  http://www.nursingtimes.net/ntclinical/how_to_conduct _a_ literat ure _search. html  http://newadonis.creighton.edu/HSL/Guides/Lit-Review.html  http://www.utoronto.ca/writing/litrev.html