Getting Started on a Literature Review
Chapter 3: Searching for Literature in Professional Journals in Preparing Literature Reviews: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches by M Ling Pan provides a simplified, organized process for finding relevant information for your lit review. It may be well worth your time to read this chapter. You may find other chapters helpful as well. This is an online book available through the library catalog.
Heplful Tips
1. Create a Search Strategy.
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Begin by brainstorming alternate words for your concepts or keywords.
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Keep track of your search results - which concepts are most effective for your topic.
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Consider saving your search strings in EBSCO fore easier retrieval - contact a Librarian for help.
2. Review Social Work Literature Review Guidelines on Purdue Owl
3. Finally, don't spend more than 20 minutes being frustrated. Reach out to the Library!
4. Review Class Presentation Slides below.
Library Presentation
Tip 1a: Brainstorm Keywords
Use the template below to help your organize your core concepts and keywords.
Tip 1b: Keep Track of Searches
It is a good idea to keep a written record of how your search was conducted, especially if you are doing a literature review. You might create a document, table or spreadsheet with:
- Names of sources you searched (e.g. EBSCO, Google Scholar, ProQuest, Specific EBSCO databases)
- What terms, keywords or subject heading you used in your search
- How you combined search terms ( e.g. AND/OR)
- Any limiters used (e.g. Peer Reviewed, Full Text, Time Frame)
- The number of results from each source and each strategy used.
- See example below:
Tip 3: Contact the Library!
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