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Literature Review - A Self-Guided Tutorial: 3. Search

Search Strategies

If you're working on a research project with a professor or faculty mentor, they may recommend articles to help you begin your readings of the literature. You can use these as a jumping off point to locate additional sources.

To locate additional articles, go through these tabs to find tips on searching the literature at UIW:

  1. Brainstorming
  2. Search Strategies
  3. Citation Chaining
  4. Search Tools

Keep these information literacy frame titles in mind when you search:

  • Authority Is Constructed and Contextual
  • Information Creation as a Process
  • Information Has Value
  • Research as Inquiry
  • Scholarship as Conversation
  • Searching as Strategic Exploration
Please contact your librarians if you need help!

Taking a few moments to make a list of terms that you can use will save you hours of time later.

 

Brainstorming Keywords

Detailed description of, "Brainstorming Keyword Diagrams" - opens in new tab

Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT):

This video deveoloped by and sourced from the Florida State University College of Medicine Charlotte Edwards Maguire Medical Library, in conjunction with Instructional Design & Media Production.

 

Searching the databases @ UIW

 

Finding print books @ UIW

Citation chaining is the process by which you use one good information source, such as an article relevant to your topic, to find more relevant articles on your topic.

Backwards chaining: mine the list of References of an article, book, or dissertation

Forward chaining: identify those who have cited the article you originally found

  • Search box on the library homepage (Search Collections) and/or UIW Library Catalog:
    Use to find materials in our collections including books, ebooks, articles, and media.  Will also find open access materials.
  • UIW Libraries' Databases:
    Use to find resources for your research.  Check multiple databases - general/multidisciplinary and subject specific.
  • Journals List
    Use to find specific citations or journal titles. Search results will tell you if UIW owns the journal, which database(s) it is in, and the coverage date ranges.
  • Interlibrary Loan
    Requests materials from other libraries to be sent to you - free service.
  • WorldCat:
    Use to find books available at other libraries.  Will require Interlibrary Loan.
  • UIW Libraries' Research Guides:
    Use for research assistance.  Guides are customized for disciplines, specific class assignments, or topics (like this one).
  • Google Scholar:
    Use to locate scholarly articles or search the UIW Libraries' collections.
    Important: DON'T PAY!!  Try to interlibrary loan the articles you want (free service).

Using the Journals List Search and ILL @ UIW

Quick Tips

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Before searching, brainstorm some keywords based on your topic.

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Search systematically and keep track of your search terms; this will help you figure out which search strategies provide the best results.

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Save and organize the articles and other sources you wish to set aside for further reading and give your files names that make sense for you, e.g. Smith_2015.pdf (Author last name_publication year.pdf).

When do I stop searching?

If you have followed the steps below:

  1. Searched all relevant databases using a variety of keywords and subject headings (change it up)
  2. Citation chained backwards - mined reference lists
  3. Citation chained forwards - Google scholar or Web of Science (to name two tools)

AND you are starting to see the same articles over and over again, then you have done your due diligence and can consider your lit review complete. That isn't to say an article might not slip through, but if you have done the steps above, then the chances of a really important article slipping past you is pretty slim.

Staff LADR