accessing and reviewing the literature
TRANSCRIPT
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ACCESSING AND REVIEWING THE LITERATURE
JENNIFER THIESSEN
LIAISON LIBRARIAN, EDUCATION
JANUARY 2013
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OUR AGENDA:
• What is a literature review?
• Finding journal articles [refresher]
• Search tips• Google Scholar
• Finding studies that use a particular research design
• Finding out more about research design/methodology
• Did we forget something? Want to know more?
• Go to Sakai, the Library website or contact Jennifer
WHAT IS A LITERATURE REVIEW?•A place to make connections between what you are investigating and what has already been investigated in your subject area
•A place to engage in a type of conversation with other researchers in your subject area
•A place to identify previous research on the topic
•A place to show there is a gap in the literature which your study can fill
•A place from which to begin your own investigation
Ridley, D. (2008). The literature review: A step-by-step guide for students. London: Sage Publications, p. 2.
SIMPLY PUT…Helps you and your readers understand:
• What you know about your topic
• What other people know about your topic
• What research has been done
• How research was done
• Where are the gaps?• Jumping off point for
your study
by wizardhat
HOW TO BEGIN?FINDING APPROPRIATE SOURCES OF INFORMATION• Know what is appropriate:
– Scholarly, academic, peer-reviewed material– Material that presents empirical data/evidence to back up
claims, not just opinions– Material that presents an introduction, purpose,
background literature, method, procedures, findings, discussion, implications, conclusion
• Know where to begin searching:– Book catalogues– Library databases – Education Research Complete, ERIC,
Academic Search Complete, Sage Journals Online
WHERE TO START?
BOOKS
•They gather a lot of information on one topic in one place.
•They can provide a good overview or good background information on a topic.
•They often offer extensive bibliographies.
•Look for encyclopedias or handbooks for info on key theories and researchers
• E.g. Encyclopedia of the social and cultural foundations of education
•E-books
JOURNAL ARTICLES
•Journal articles discuss one perspective.
•Each article makes a unique contribution.
•Articles can supplement information found first in books.
•Articles can offer more up-to-date information.
FINDING JOURNAL ARTICLES
• Use library databases
• Try Google Scholar
For finding info about research methodology
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SEARCH TIPSUse quotation marks for phrase searching
• “popular culture”; “educational leadership”
Use truncation
• Canad*; leaders*; pedagog*
Think of synonyms
• Teenager, adolescent, adolescence, teens, etc.
Limit to peer-reviewed articles
SEARCH EXAMPLE
SEARCH TIPS…Look for subject headings to focus your search
• E.g. internet and teaching:
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• What about Google Scholar?
• Another database• Find works that cite a
particular article/book• See who the important
authors/researchers are• Search for an article by
DOI• Watch:
Get Better Results with Google Scholar
SET UP LIBRARY LINKS IN SCHOLAR SETTINGS
Why?
FINDING STUDIES THAT USE A PARTICULAR RESEARCH DESIGN
Try adding “literature review”
• you will see examples of lit reviews, plus get an overview of some aspect of your topic
Or “narrative” or “quantitative” etc.
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RESEARCH DESIGN HELP
Use Sage Research Methods Online to find background and introductory information about a particular methodology…
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…or to get a visual map of where that methodology fits in.
FOR MORE HELP…
Graduate Education Research GuideResources folder in Sakai
See the Library Help pages: http://www.brocku.ca/library/help-lib
Contact the Library Help Desk
• 905-688-5550 x. 3233 or use email form
Contact your liaison librarian:
• Jennifer Thiessen (phone, chat, email)