The quality of your literature review is dependent on you knowing how to identify the. to use them effectively SESSION OVERVIEW THOUGHT OF THE DAY

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1 THE LIBRARY OF TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN Approaches to Literature Reviewing A brief guide from the Library Isolde Harpur Assistant Librarian imharpur@tcd.ie SESSION OVERVIEW Identifying resources for a literature review: Our Databases Our Library Catalogues Institutional Repositories Using Other Libraries Click to edit Library Master Supports subtitle style Summary of key points THOUGHT OF THE DAY The quality of your literature review is dependent on you knowing how to identify the Click resources to edit Master subtitle you style need and how to use them effectively

2 IDENTIFYING RESOURCES FOR A LITERATURE REVIEW Databases Bibliographies in relevant books and journals Theses Grey literature (internal documents, reports, conference proceedings) Key journals (they may not be indexed in the databases or the most current issues may not yet be there) Other scholars working in the area Internet: Wikipedia Google Scholar But use these two internet sources wisely WIKIPEDIA Useful for some disciplines as a starting point but double check any references you find GOOGLE AND GOOGLE SCHOLAR Both are good to get you started Google Scholar is useful for finding a particular article you already know about, or others that cite it BUT No-one outside Google really knows how Google assigns relevancy It s very likely articles you want but don t know about are listed in Google Click to Scholar edit Master but finding subtitle them styleis another matter The ability to search Google Scholar like other databases just isn t there at present

3 DATABASES Library subscribes to 350+ databases: Identify databases relevant to your subject area. You can search by subject and by name of database USING DATABASES EFFECTIVELY Understand how searches work in a database Always check to see if the database uses controlled vocabulary basically standardised subject terms Search for your keywords normally best to limit to title and abstract, if you are also running controlled vocabulary searches Think of synonyms Use Click Boolean to edit Master Operators subtitle style Consider using truncation (usually an asterisk) Decide on a reference management software package (EndNote for example) to import your results from across multiple databases CONTROLLED VOCABULARY Examples: In PubMed, MeSH Medical Subject Headings In CINAHL, CINAHL Headings In PsycINFO, PsycINFO Descriptors

4 SYNONYMS Use a thesaurus Ask a friend or colleague for five words that mean the same as X SYNONYMS Searches for well-defined terms conditions, for instance are normally quite simple. They generally have a standardised index term, and only a few synonyms But searches for softer terms are much, much harder, as there are often so many variations of the idea it could be I m looking for people s experiences of Most Click searchers to edit Master will only subtitle search stylefor the exact word experiences But what words could it be? Have a think, write them down SYNONYMS As well as experiences, ANY of the below could be used instead in an article: experience OR experiences OR experienced OR view OR views OR viewpoint OR viewpoints OR perception OR perceptions OR perceive OR attitude OR attitudes OR belief OR beliefs you can probably think of more

5 BOOLEAN OPERATORS AND OR NOT These three Boolean operators allow you to combine terms to Click narrow to edit or Master broaden subtitle your search. style BOOLEAN OPERATORS AND - narrows (combines) BOOLEAN OPERATORS OR - broadens (either /or)

6 BOOLEAN OPERATORS NOT- narrows (excludes) TIPS TO NARROW A SEARCH Combine terms by using AND operator Phrase Searching usually by putting your phrase in quotation marks Limit your search by Language Date range Type of publication etc. Example drug addiction AND teenager, english language only TIPS TO BROADEN A SEARCH Use the operator OR Remove some search terms, or use more general terms Truncate your search term Think of alternative spellings Wild card operators

7 SEARCH TECHNIQUE EXAMPLES Synonyms and phrase searching: back pain OR back ache Variant spellings: Organisation or organization Defence or defense Theatre or theater Wildcard Click to operator: edit Master subtitle style behavio?r = behaviour or behavior Truncation: therap* = therapy; therapies; therapeutic; therapeutics SAMPLE SEARCH What causes some children to be bullies? Decide on your keywords Look at synonyms Truncation Combine Terms LIBRARY CATALOGUES Stella Search + Classic Catalogue Accessions Catalogue ( ) 1872 Catalogue Online (pre 1872) MARLOC 20,000 manuscripts & archives from 13 C Digital Collections - books, maps, paintings, manuscripts & photographs More info available at:

8 MORE ABOUT STELLA SEARCH Works like a search engine Includes printed and electronic resources Most relevant results can be retrieved and then refined Gives direct links to articles (where available) Click on Library Catalogue Only to find titles of printed/electronic books and journals held in the Library DATABASES NOT CURRENTLY IN STELLA SEARCH Including but not limited to: American Chemical Society: SciFinder (Chemical Abstracts) American Mathematical Society: MathSciNet Brepols Publisher: International Medieval Bibliography, Library of Latin Texts, etc. * Elsevier: Compendex, EMBASE Euromonitor: Euromonitor Passport ProQuest: Dissertations, Archives, Newspapers, Periodical Databases, etc. Thomson: BIOSIS Previews, Zoological Record Westlaw INSTITUTIONAL REPOSITORY Forms a permanent record of all digital output from an institution Enables a university to compile a complete record of its intellectual effort Fulfils a university s mission to engender, encourage and disseminate scholarly Click to edit work Master subtitle style Marketing tool for a university

9 TARA RIAN USING OTHER LIBRARIES Inter-Library Loans Other Libraries ALCID Card Letters of Introduction MusicPAL

10 LIBRARY SUPPORTS Subject Librarian Duty Librarian Library website Library HITS (and other Library training events) EndNote See for more details SUMMARY OF KEY POINTS Decide on your topic Articulate/define the topic clearly Keep track of keywords/synonyms that describe your topic Choose relevant, authoritative resources Organize your work from the start Refine your topic when necessary Identify your Subject Librarian and ask for help & guidance if necessary Use opportunities to build skills you need by attending relevant training courses, including Library HITS ANOTHER THOUGHT OF THE DAY

11 THE LIBRARY OF TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN Thank You!