A literature search is a systematic search of the accredited sources and resources. It involves identifying paper and electronic sources relevant to your topic and method(s)...
- Define the research question so that you can focus your search on material relevant to your purpose.
- Develop a search strategy.
- You may only be interested in theory or methodology, quantitative research or qualitative research, or a combination of these.
- Before beginning to search, think of the type of material you should be looking for such as books, journal articles, newspaper articles, commercial reports, government documents, unpublished dissertations and theses, statistical material, primary sources and so on (see Resources).
- Consider the scope of your literature which may be confined to a geographical area or a period of time.
- Become familiar with the Library's resources to search for material.
- Resources beyond the Library (and beyond Google!) (See Grey Literature)
Hints
- Try typing e.g. "literature searching" biology into Library Search
- Look at Library Search subject headings such as Research methodology
- Keep a research diary
- See these guides to Reading at University from Student Learning
Booth et al. (2016), define a scoping search as:
A type of literature search that seeks to determine rapidly and efficiently the scale of a predefined topic in order to inform subsequent review.
Helpful Reads
Systematic Approaches to a Successful Literature Review by Call Number: LB2369 .B66 2016ISBN: 9781473912458Publication Date: 2016Showing you how to take a structured and organized approach to a wide range of literature review types, this book helps you to choose which approach is right for your research. Packed with constructive tools, examples, case studies and hands-on exercises, the book covers the full range of literature review techniques. With an emphasis on the practical skills, this guide is essential for any student or researcher needing to get from first steps to a successful literature review.
- See Stage One: Scoping Search for both narrative (pp. 111-114) and complex intervention searches (pp. 114-115).
Doing a Literature Review: Releasing the Research Imagination by Call Number: H62.H68 2018ISBN: 9781526419217Publication Date: 2018The ultimate guide to the 'what', 'how' and 'why' of literature reviewing. A thorough exploration of the literature review process from start to finish. Chris Hart′s landmark text provides both the intellectual understanding and the technical skills required to produce sophisticated, robust literature reviews of the very highest standard.
- See p. 12: The Initial or Indicative Search
Social Research: A Practical Introduction by ISBN: 1446254216Publication Date: 2011The text provides a mixed methods approach that challenges historical divisions between quantitative and qualitative research. It adopts a multidisciplinary approach to social science research, drawing from areas such as sociology, social psychology and social anthropology. Explicitly addressing the concerns of emergent researchers it provides both a ′how to′ account of social research and an understanding of the main factors that contextualize research by discussing ′why do′ social scientists work this way. These key themes include research design; the practices of research and emergent researchers: beyond ontology, epistemology and methodology; the impact of technology on research; and putting the research approach in context.
- Book that discusses the key elements of qualitative and quantitative research.
- Developing a Search StrategyA LibGuide from Charles Sturt University that examines where to search for literature.