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Literature search planning template
This document provides guidance on developing an effective literature search plan. It recommends formulating a research question and identifying key concepts. Researchers should brainstorm keywords and consider truncation, wildcards, and searching phrases. Ideas should be connected using Boolean operators, and limits such as document type, date range, language and location should be identified. The document lists databases to search and notes training sessions and research support services available from the library.
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Literature search planning template
- 1. University Library October 2013 Planningyour literature search www.le.ac.uk/library Formulate your own literature search plan 1) Key concepts What is your research question? What are the key concepts? 2) Selecting the keywords: Brainstorm or mind map all the words that describe the subject you’re looking for:
- 2. 2 UNIVERSITY OFLEICESTER · LIBRARY www.le.ac.uk/library 3) Truncation, wildcards and phrases Question: Can you truncate any words using *? Question: Can terms be searched as “phrases”? 4) Connect ideas Group the different aspects of your search together with the appropriate Boolean operators. 5) Identify limits Question: What types of document are you looking for (e.g. journal articles, patents, standards, legislation, news?) Question: What age of material are you looking for? How far back do you want to go? Question: What language/s are you looking for? What geographical location/s are you looking for? AND OR NOT AND OR NOT
- 3. 3 UNIVERSITY OFLEICESTER · LIBRARY www.le.ac.uk/library Question: Any other limits? E.g. human, animal, age of research participants? 6) What resources and databases do you need to search? Further Help with literature searching: Training sessions available for PhD students: Planning your literature search Conducting your literature search The library’s Research Services team are available to help: • E: libstem@le.ac.uk (Science & Medicine) • E: liblass@le.ac.uk (Arts & Social Sciences) • Visit the Graduate School Reading Room on weekday afternoons, 2-4pm Adapted, with permission, from materials produced by Loughborough University.