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Conducting a literature review MLWGS Library W. DeGroat March 2013
Conducting a literature review
MLWGS Library
W. DeGroat
March 2013
Conceptual framework
Concept mapping
Key concepts in your research question
Related, broader, and narrower concepts
Building your word list
Subject thesauri
Subject indexes
Found articles
Author-supplied key words
Assigned subject terms
Skim for key words
By culturecat
Key word vs. subject searching
Key word
Literal, so need multiple searches
Casts a wider net
Subject headings
Unites/connects terms
About topic
Reduces result set
Combine in Advanced Search
AND vs. OR
Using * (e.g. math*)
Preliminary reading & search strategy
Literature reviews
Stand-alone literature reviews
Meta analysis
Systematic review
Sections of published studies
Subject encyclopedias
Print or digital
Identifying databases
VCU Databases by Subject
VCU Journal Locator
By florian.b
Evaluating Lit Reviews
1. Scope – explicit about topic limits
2. Information search – extent clearly explained
3. Documentation – accurate and complete
4. Selectivity – criteria/rationale described
5. Balance – in source types and publications
6. Organization – sources similar enough to be grouped under designated subheadings
7. Synthesis – summaries describe relative importance, connections, comparisons in findings/methodologies
8. Conclusion – analysis identifies opportunities for future research (e.g. gaps, conflicting results)
Adapted from Williamson (2002, p. 533).
Sources to examine
Journal articles – peer-reviewed primary research
In subscription databases
In reputable, peer-reviewed online journals
In archives/databases of preprints
Government publications
Scholarly books
Dissertations and theses
Conference proceedings and forums
Reports published on organization web sites
A-B-C-D of Evaluation
Authority
Bias
Does the researcher begin the
experiment with an open mind?
Was there a sponsor for the
study? If so, is there a potential
conflict of interest?
Currency
Documentation
Adapted from the University of Southern Maine (n.d.).
By ChicagoEye
Peer-reviewed vs. scholarly
Peer-reviewed (a.k.a. refereed)
Rigorous review by experts (editors or anonymous)
Typical criteria for acceptance by journal
Contribution to current body of knowledge
Sound methods
Objectivity / neutrality
Scholarly
Written by experts in the field
Before including, evaluate for relevance, quality & bias
Example - reports published by government agencies
Adapted from the University of Southern Maine (n.d.).
Potential pitfalls
In your process
Trying to read everything
Reading without writing
Not keeping track of sources
In your product
“Exhaustive summary” of every
article you read
Including only conceptual OR
research literature
Adapted from Conducting a literature review (n.d.).
By Mr.Guybrarian
Conceptual literature
Discusses theory, summaries, or critiques of
research studies
Provides a general overview of the concepts
related to your study
Gives insight to assumptions and the historical
development of the problem
Adapted from Conducting a literature review (n.d.).
Avoiding pitfalls
Take notes rather than highlighting passages
Tag or otherwise identify key concepts/threads for later sorting (may lead to subheadings)
Create an outline for your literature review
Begin writing early
Share early drafts with trusted peers for feedback
Adapted from Conducting a literature review (n.d.).
Note-taking methods and tools
Passive paster vs.
Active learner
Templates at bottom
of Taking Notes page
Tools
Noodle Tools
Word/Excel/Docs
Evernote
By podcom
By re-ality
Reference sources
Virtual Reference Library (also in PowerSearch - Books)
EBSCO eBook Collection
l
Search this book vs. Table of Contents/Index
My Library
Find this book in a library
V
LC call numbers and reference v. stacks
VCU e-books (their collections are much larger than ours)
Resource Guides
Journal articles
MW Library
AP Source
Science Direct
JSTOR
PowerSearch
VCU Libraries
Find Articles
Journal Locator
Open sources
Government documents
Government data – Data.gov
Digital documents on the open web
USA.gov
Opencrs.org
Government documents at VCU
Federal government depository
See their Government Guide for access information
Digital
Dissertations and theses
VCU Libraries
Dissertation Abstracts Online
Dissertations from VCU
Digital Library of Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Google Scholar
Archives/open access repositories /local archives of
universities with related research focus
Conferences and conversations
Conference Proceedings
Open web
Databases (e.g. JSTOR)
Hangouts, discussion groups, forums
Google or Yahoo Groups
Professional organizations
“Schools” or “centers” at universities
Listservs (search CataList)
Blogs
Resources
MW Library’s Data and Statistics Resource Guide
Link from MW Research Commons home page
Bookmark/Favorite it!!
Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL)
Extensive list of APA References
Powerpoint showing how to format paper
References
Conducting a literature review [PowerPoint slides]. (n.d.). Retrieved February 20,
2008, from California State University Stanislaus, Social Work Department
Web site: http://web.csustan.edu/Social_Work/
5991%20literature%20review.ppt
University of Southern Maine. (n.d.). Module 2: Conducting the lit review. In
Department of Environmental Science, Literature Review Online Tutorial.
Retrieved February 20, 2008, from http://library.usm.maine.edu/tutorials/
esp/module2/03a_sources_to_use.htm
Williamson, J.W. (2002). Healthcare informatics and information synthesis.
Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
