Searching the literature - How to Develop a literature search strategy
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In doing a literature search it is essential that you keep good records to allow you to refine and/or write up your search. Therefore, fill in all sections. |
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1. Pick a topic you think would be interesting
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2. In order to perform a literature search you need to identify ‘Key words’ – identify below what you would consider to be the ‘keywords’ to explore the issues. (aim for 6) |
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KKeywords
a) …………………………………………………………… b) …………………………………………………………… c) …………………………………………………………… d) …………………………………………………………… e) …………………………………………………………… f) ……………………………………………………………
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3. Identify how many responses your (6) key words achieve. |
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4. As topic areas are often large, one way to fine tune your list is to combine key words. Combine your key words: what does it do to the list – do you still have a viable literature search? |
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5. Another way of refining your literature search is to use limiting factors. Identify suitable limiting factors and identify why each would help. |
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6. Remember specific limiting factors may be essential for a piece of academic work so also double-check the assessment guidelines. |
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7. Although you have now produced a more refined literature search it is still a relatively crude list. |
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8. For academic work the first question is do you have enough potential literature to make it worth proceeding. If not you either need to go back to stage 5 and double check your limiting factors, stage 4 or possibly stage 2 (It may be that you require primary research but only review articles are available). If these do not work then go to stage 1 and pick a new topic. |
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9. If you have a viable but still relatively crude list what will you do to determine which articles you do want to use? |
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a)…………………………………………. b)…………………………………………. c)…………………………………………. d)………………………………………….
Suggested steps for 9 to sort the wheat from the chaff are: Read the titles - Then read the abstract Then read the remaining articles
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Each step should reduce the number you want to explore further, and this reduces the amount of time spent doing a greater examination. At each stage keep a record of how many you reject and why (such as children not adult patients etc.). This helps to demonstrate the logic underpinning your literature search which is essential in writing up the methodology of your dissertation.
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