2008 workshop conducting a literature search

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
1. Research Journals



Articles



Reviews/commentaries/replies



Reviews


Types of Literature
2. Books


Topic books



Handbooks



Theory books


Types of Literature
3. Online reports


Census



Research institutes



Government organizations


Sources of Literature
1. Library
 Hard

copies of books and journals

 Interlibrary
 Online

loan

library


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, 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
2. Internet
 Online

journals

 “Google Scholar”
 Websites

 Government departments, research
institutes, etc


Google
Scholar
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



Is the research biased by emotions or public opinion?



Who is the target reader?
 Public,

academic peers, policy makers