Conducting a literature review MLWGS Library W. Sellors February 2009

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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

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

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*)

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

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

Evaluating Lit Reviews Scope – explicit about topic limits Information search – extent clearly explained Documentation – accurate and complete Selectivity – criteria/rationale described Balance – in source types and publications Organization – sources similar enough to be grouped under designated subheadings Synthesis – summaries describe relative importance, connections, comparisons in findings/methodologies Conclusion – analysis identifies opportunities for future research (e.g. gaps, conflicting results) Adapted from Williamson (2002, p. 533).

Scope – explicit about topic limits

Information search – extent clearly explained

Documentation – accurate and complete

Selectivity – criteria/rationale described

Balance – in source types and publications

Organization – sources similar enough to be grouped under designated subheadings

Synthesis – summaries describe relative importance, connections, comparisons in findings/methodologies

Conclusion – analysis identifies opportunities for future research (e.g. gaps, conflicting results)

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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

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

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

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.).

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

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

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

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.).

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

Avoiding pitfalls Take notes rather than highlighting passages Two-column notes (template in library’s share folder) Note cards feature of Noodle Tools Google Notebook Tag or otherwise identify key concepts/threads for later clustering (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.).

Take notes rather than highlighting passages

Two-column notes (template in library’s share folder)

Note cards feature of Noodle Tools

Google Notebook

Tag or otherwise identify key concepts/threads for later clustering (may lead to subheadings)

Create an outline for your literature review

Begin writing early

Share early drafts with trusted peers for feedback

Note-taking methods and tools Library research wiki Passive paster vs. Active learner Many methods Templates Tools Google Notebook Noodle Tools Zotero By podcom

Library research wiki

Passive paster vs. Active learner

Many methods

Templates

Tools

Google Notebook

Noodle Tools

Zotero

By re-ality

Reference sources Gale Virtual Reference Library (in PowerSearch) NetLibrary 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 NetLibrary is larger than ours) Resource Guides

Gale Virtual Reference Library (in PowerSearch)

NetLibrary

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 NetLibrary is larger than ours)

Resource Guides

Journal articles MW Library Gale PowerSearch JSTOR and MUSE Science Direct VCU Libraries Find Articles Journal Locator Open sources Google Scholar DOAJ

MW Library

Gale PowerSearch

JSTOR and MUSE

Science Direct

VCU Libraries

Find Articles

Journal Locator

Open sources

Google Scholar

DOAJ

Government documents Digital USA Search Google Uncle Sam VCU databases for government information Print VCU catalog Limit format to US Government Document

Digital

USA Search

Google Uncle Sam

VCU databases for government information

Print

VCU catalog

Limit format to US Government Document

Dissertations and theses VCU Libraries Dissertation Abstracts Online Dissertations from VCU Digital Library of Electronic Theses and Dissertations Google Scholar Archives/ open access repositories of universities with related research focus

VCU Libraries

Dissertation Abstracts Online

Dissertations from VCU

Digital Library of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Google Scholar

Archives/ open access repositories of universities with related research focus

Conferences and conversations Conference Proceedings Open web Databases (e.g. JSTOR) Discussion groups (a.k.a. forums) Google or Yahoo Groups Professional organizations Schools or centers at universities Listservs (search CataList ) Blogs

Conference Proceedings

Open web

Databases (e.g. JSTOR)

Discussion groups (a.k.a. forums)

Google or Yahoo Groups

Professional organizations

Schools or centers at universities

Listservs (search CataList )

Blogs

Project guide http://mwlibrary.wordpress.com Bookmarks for MW Library (first link on left link menu) walter_vcustats tag (in Project Guides bundle in right column)

http://mwlibrary.wordpress.com

Bookmarks for MW Library (first link on left link menu)

walter_vcustats tag (in Project Guides bundle in right column)

Pour yourself a cup … By Martapiqs

References Conducting a literature review [PowerPoint presentation]. (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.

Conducting a literature review [PowerPoint presentation]. (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.